VAN is abbreviated as value added networks used for transmission of private messages between the trading partners. It stands as the gateway of your company when transmitting edi messages to the destined partner. While transferring edi messages, the application on your side creates a connection with the van and pushes the edi document into the van and rest is taken care by this network. The received document is routed basing on the information provided in the trading partner profiles of the van, with a communication standard to transfer the data. There are three communication standards such as AS1, AS2 and AS3 and most of the edi traders use AS2 standard to transmit the documents as it's protocol is cheaper and reliable source for electronic messaging. If the van supports this standard it pushes data packets into the web which are routed to the destination and reconstructed the document and will be processed on the receiver end. In Addition to data security for which Van is most favored, it offers many other services that make van popular in it's own way.

Data security

The edi messages are secured with certain encryption technologies implemented in the van( depends on vendor).The edi data is transmitted by encrypting the data, so that no third person can peep through the data. The strength to break the encryption security depends on cost of the algorithm used. Choose the van that provides sufficient strength to secure your channel, which saves your money and processing speeds.

Non-repudiation

It is the confirmation that the message received is transmitted from the claimed sender. Implementation of non-repudation techniques keeps the channel secured from unintended third parties to send messages on behalf of a valid sender.

Re-transmission

An electronic document may not reach the destination every time and the van confirms by an acknowledgement. If the acknowledgment is not received this network will automatically retransmit the document to the destined receiver.

Email notifications

Van notifies the intended process when a new edi message is deposited in the mail box. This enables the automation of the process reducing pulling of data manually.

Back and Recovery:

The data transmitted and received through van are stored in the back up and provides us when necessary. It has huge searching criteria options available with van software, enhancing it's searching capabilities. The cost maintaining the data depends on the length of storage and the time period. Some companies maintain data for 6 months and some other from one year basing on the requirement.

The features and the uses depends on the network vendor, services accessed and the standards implemented. Quality of Features changes from vedor to vendor.