Look For in an EDI Van Service Provider
As an EDI enabled business, you want to ensure your trading partners can access your shipments in a timely manner. For this reason, you rely on an edi van service providers for reliable access to your trading partner’s mailbox. But while the EDI technology remains the same, VAN services vary. This is why it’s important to look for an EDI VAN provider that provides the best support and dependable access.
EDI stands for Electronic Data Interchange and it’s a communication method used to exchange information between businesses over an IT network. EDI VANs emerged back in the 1980’s when direct connections over the internet were deemed too expensive and unstable. Today’s VANs allow companies to send and receive messages via a single point of connection, eliminating the need for businesses to manage multiple connections with their trading partners.
The most significant advantage of an EDI VAN is that it provides businesses with a centralized location for managing their trading partner communications. This reduces the amount of time and resources needed to manage a company’s EDI system, and it increases the reliability of a company’s ability to communicate with their trading partners over the network.
In addition, a VAN allows a business to connect with more trading partners than traditional point-to-point connections can. This is because a VAN can translate a company’s EDI files to comply with the protocol standards of different trading partners. This translates to more business opportunities for a company.
The downside of an EDI VAN is that the cost can be steep. Companies can expect to pay monthly and annual fees to use a VAN, plus additional costs for volume and usage. Additionally, many VANs have restrictive “price cliffs” that can prove costly if a company’s EDI needs change.
What Should I Look For in an EDI Van Service Provider?
To find the right EDI VAN service for your business, consider these five qualities. Look for a reliable VAN that offers excellent customer support, a variety of tools to help you monitor your shipments and the flexibility to adapt to your changing EDI needs.
Choosing an EDI VAN should also be an important part of your overall B2B integration strategy. A consolidated approach to integration eliminates costly EDI VAN services, improves visibility and enables more efficient data flows across your supply chain.
Modern EDI solutions like those from Cleo deliver greater visibility and control over your EDI communications. These solutions streamline EDI communications and expedite partner onboarding times, while allowing you to migrate off of a third-party network on your terms.
If you’re ready to take the next step towards a more agile, collaborative and efficient business, contact us about our Cleo platform. We’ll help you streamline your EDI communications and integrate with your trading partners — all while improving the quality of your B2B data. We’ll make sure you have the visibility to enable proactive decisions and provide the confidence to grow your business. Get started today.
For many businesses, deciding on which edi van service providers to use can feel like a daunting task. The fact is, while the underlying technology is similar, the level of reliable access and support offered varies significantly between vendors. This is why we’ve compiled this list of five qualities to look for in an EDI VAN provider.