Richard Ward wrote:
>Everyone needs VANs, whether they run as traditional VANs or over IP - a
>networking protocol doesn't change basic requirements. IP just opens up the
>competition to non-traditional VANs
I have to disagree with Richard that "Everyone needs VAN's". Plenty of
companies have moved off VAN's and onto the Internet (surely you're not
referring to the Internet as a VAN, are you?). The Natural Gas industry
moved from VAN's to the Internet starting in 1997, now virtually all EDI
traffic flows over the Internet. The electric industry is moving from VAN's
to the Internet, Healthcare companies are doing the same and it appears that
a large percentage of HIPAA EDI documents will also be carried by the
Internet!
>So Randy, yes EDI file formats may be allowed to die, but the VAN will live
>on doing the same job as before but wearing trendier clothes.
On a practical note, the VAN's will serve a purpose for the smaller trading
partners who don't have the resources/skills to operate their own E-Commerce
server. However the big players will have a hard time justifying a VAN when
they can communicate directly with their trading partners via the Internet.
E-Commerce is fast becoming a strategic part of corporate business
processes. Companies that want to control their own destiny will want to
control their E-Commerce servers. Whether you're talking about transferring
X12 transactions or online interactive services (e.g. airline reservations,
purchasing, et al) E-Commerce gives companies competitive advantage by
enabling them to offer "UNIQUE" and innovative services. None of the
companies I work with want to be at the mercy of a VAN when it comes to
their E-Commerce capability.
Dick Brooks
http://www.8760.com/
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