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EDI VAN (Value Added Networks)

A Value Added Network, also referred to as an EDI VAN, is a private network for secure information exchange between companies using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Each trading partner has an account with an EDI VAN that serves as an electronic mailbox which is used to send and receive electronic documents. In order to send an electronic transaction, the sender must connect with the EDI VAN, which is used to send the transaction to be stored in the recipient's mailbox. Upon completion, the sender can disconnect from the network. One benefit of this transmission is convenience. At any time, recipients can connect to the EDI VAN and receive their transactions. Another convenient benefit of EDI VANs is the use of alerting services. Most VANs alert the sender once their messages have been sent, as well as alert the recipient when their mailbox contains a new EDI message.

EDI VANs provide several other valuable services in addition to sending and receiving electronic documents, such as trading partner enablement, the management of outsourced EDI, and other EDI integration services. This allows for companies to seamlessly use back office systems together with EDI.