I'll go all the way back to our original posted question instead of getting lost in the myriad of replies this thread contains....
First - we use Inovis. We were previously on the IBM Advantis network through QRS and migrated to InovisWorks when G-International took over the Advantis network. <NOTE - I AM NOT CHANGING NETWORKS SO PLEASE DO NOT CALL, E-MAIL, SNAIL-MAIL OR CONTACT ME IN ANY WAY REGARDING CHANGING NETWORKS!> I've noticed that many sales pitches have been made for this VAN or that VAN, but really, Lisa, you need to figure out which one will give you the best product for your money - even if it's a bit more expensive than somebody else.... that seems to be one of the major undercurrents I always see in "which VAN" threads and seems to be the only thing that many reps think about when trying to "sell" their network's services - cost.... and even then, most of them only discuss the monthly kc charges and not any of the other fees that may be associated with their services: * one time set up fees - this can be just a single fee for ALL trading partners - OR - they could charge a few bucks PER trading partner - and that can add up. * interconnect fees - some networks will charge to set up an interconnect to another network and/or charge you a monthly fee to maintain/use those interconnects... I don't have specific examples, but I've heard about it. * trading partner set up fees - some networks will charge you for each time you need to set up a new trading partner - or even just change an existing set up.... ------- The truth is, Lisa, is that there is no single, easy, simple answer to your query.... it will require research on your side to find the one that best meets ALL of your needs - from cost to connectivity; up-time to outages, integration with existing systems and communication protocols..... One other thing I noticed in all of these replies is that so many people having issues with a hub (i.e. the Customer) specifying that they will not work with such-n-such network.... And one of the big reasons for that could be in what I've pointed out above - those interconnect fees.... Let's say that Sterling charges 25 bucks a month to have those interconnects set up and maintained... now, while 25 bucks a month may not sound like a lot - and frankly, it's not even a tank of gas - but to some, ANY "fat" in a deal is bad "fat"... so even for a big hub like Circuit City, that's a fee they want gone, Gone, GONE! Now, I don't know this for a fact, I'm just making a point.... As for "quick and painlessly" - well, pretty much any of them can do this.... and pretty much any of the VANs can get this done by the cut- off date of March 1. Good luck! Craig Dunham EDI Coordinator Big 5 Sporting Goods --- In [email protected], "Lisa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Circuit City is dropping Sterling as a VAN and will no longer accept > data form them. They have closed their testing for AS2 for now so we > can't go there. We need to find a VAN and establish a mailbox on one > of the preferred VANs. Circuit will accept the following: AS2 via our > EDI mailbox on GXS, Softshare, Inovis, Easylink, ICC.net, NuBridges, > SPS Commerce, or DirectEDI AS2 via GXS Intelligent Webforms (IWF) > The only mailbox we have currently is on Sterling. > > Any ideas on how to do this quick and painlessly. The deadline date > is March 1. > > Thanks for any input. > > Lisa > ... 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/
