As a professional who has helped over 1,000 companies implement EDI with Microsoft Dynamics ERP as their back office, I often get asked "What method of EDI communication is best for my company?" Since there are only two main methods of communications, an EDI Value Added Network (VAN) provider or Direct EDI, my response is typically the same. 20 years ago VANs were the only choice; however, most major trading partners support direct communications. Fortunately, the decision for most companies can be straightforward and should be based entirely on business requirements, such as volume of documents, IT support, and services being provided by your EDI provider.
Differentiating Direct vs VAN
Direct EDI establishes a secure line betw...