Competition is what drives down prices. Demand is partly based on affordability. AS2 is more complex to administer on the local level than traditional VAN communication, so if the cost of using AS2 is kept artificially high by the perceived or prescribed need for interoperability certification, then there is less incentive to use AS2 over a VAN.
Before our software vendor began offering compliant, interoperable, non-certified ASx, I investigated two of the established vendors for AS2 software. The price quoted to convert enough trading partners to eliminate 90% of our VAN cost was close to $100,000. Our VAN costs were $120,000 per year, meaning it would be over one year to receive ROI. We abandoned the idea for the time. Now there are more players in the market, and some like Softshare, Inc., who market compliant, interoperable, non-certified packages that are driving prices down. But the mandated use of Drummond Certified packages forces users to purchase the pricey certified software. The higher the cost, the less likely people will flock to buy it, and so adoption is slowed. I can understand people wanting to make sure that the package being used on the other end is compatible and interoperable with the package they are using, so that implementation will go smoothly. Just as we can get badly mangled implementation of standards from X12 users using interoperable software, an inexperienced AS2 user can gum up the works, certification or not. Maybe we need certified AS2 users. THE DOUGLAS-BLACKWATER GROUP WILL TEST THE INTEROPERABILITY OF AN AS1, AS2, or AS3 USER FOR A SMALL INITIAL FEE OF $49,950 PER STANDARD PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. USERS WHO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION WILL BE LISTED ON OUR WEB SITE FOR ONE YEAR. USERS FAILING TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION MAY RE-APPLY AFTER 90 DAYS FOR A RE-APPLICATION FEE OF $19,950. ANY CHANGE IN THE SOFTWARE BEING USED, INCLUDING VERSION UPGRADES, WILL REQUIRE A RE-TESTING FEE OF $34,950 AND WILL INCLUDE LISTING FOR ONE YEAR. TO RENEW A USER'S LISTING FOR A SUBSEQUENT YEAR, SIMPLY REMIT THE ANNUAL RENEWAL FEE OF $14,950 PER STANDARD. SEPARATE TESTING REQUIRED FOR EACH USER AT AN INSTALLATION. MULTIPLE-USER DISCOUNTS ARE AVAILABLE, CALL FOR DETAILS. Do you think it would work? Art Douglas Chief Consultant Blackwater Network 877-464-8915 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chris Johnson Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 9:25 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [EDI-L] Reducing/eliminating our EDI VAN Quoted text is from <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, by Art Douglas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >My opinion is that Wal*Mart's mandate of Drummond >Certification has significantly delayed widespread adoption of AS2 That is an extremely interesting notion and, whilst I am not sure how one would prove or disprove it, it seems to strike a chord with me. I do know that we have not developed our own AS2 solution, even though it would be a fairly quick lego assembly using code from the parts bin, because the UK demand is not sufficient for the product to sold at a reasonable price when the cost of certification is factored in. The non-VAN Internet technology which is used increasingly in the UK is vanilla FTP, with an ad hoc range of acknowledgement mechanisms. Regards Chris -- Chris Johnson mobile:+44 (0)7785 302122 EDIMatrix Ltd work: 0845 126 0680 or +44 20 8501 3097 fax: +44 (0)20 8501 3096 EDI website http://www.edimatrix.co.uk ... Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Job postings are welcome, but for job postings or requests for work: <JOBS> IS REQUIRED in the subject line as a prefix. Yahoo! Groups Links ... Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Job postings are welcome, but for job postings or requests for work: <JOBS> IS REQUIRED in the subject line as a prefix. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
