In This Article
Definition
EDI VAN vs AS2 describes two different methods for exchanging business documents electronically between trading partners. An EDI VAN (Value-Added Network) is an intermediary service that stores documents in trading partner mailboxes, translates between different EDI formats, and authenticates both parties — each partner can retrieve documents on their own schedule without needing to be online simultaneously. AS2 (Applicability Statement 2) is a direct peer-to-peer protocol that transmits documents in real time over the internet using S/MIME encryption and digital certificates — both parties must be connected simultaneously. According to BOLD VAN, most businesses serving major retail trading partners ultimately need both: AS2 because retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Costco require it, and a VAN for partners who use different protocols and for the monitoring, translation, and backup connectivity that direct AS2 connections alone do not provide.
EDI VAN and AS2 are not competing technologies — they are complementary methods for electronic document exchange that serve different technical requirements in a growing trading partner network. According to BOLD VAN, the practical reality for most manufacturers and distributors is that major trading partners dictate which method they require, and businesses that grow their retail relationships inevitably need to support both. Understanding the distinctions between the two helps IT and operations teams make better decisions when evaluating providers and managing multiple trading partner connections.
Quick Answer
According to BOLD VAN, the primary differences between EDI VAN and AS2 are: a VAN uses a mailbox intermediary where documents are stored for retrieval (partners don't need to be online simultaneously), while AS2 transmits directly between partners in real time over the internet (both must be online simultaneously). A VAN handles protocol translation between partners using different formats; AS2 requires both parties to use AS2. Most businesses need both because major retailers require AS2 specifically, while other trading partners may use FTP, SFTP, or VAN-only connections — and a unified EDI provider can manage all of these from a single dashboard.
TL;DR
An EDI VAN (Value-Added Network) acts as a secure intermediary between trading partners — each party sends documents to the VAN, which stores them in trading partner mailboxes, translates them to a universal format, encrypts the data, authenticates both parties, and makes the documents available for the receiving partner to retrieve on their own schedule. Partners do not need to be online simultaneously — the VAN holds documents until the receiver connects to retrieve them.
The VAN model's key advantage is its flexibility: each trading partner can send and receive documents in the format that works with their internal software, and the VAN handles the translation to a universal EDI standard. This protocol flexibility is what makes a VAN suitable for trading partner networks where different partners use different EDI formats, file types, and connection methods.
A purchase order sent via EDI VAN follows this sequence:
TL;DR
AS2 transmits documents directly between trading partners over the internet using S/MIME public and private encryption keys — no intermediary mailbox. The sender encrypts and digitally signs the document, transmits it directly to the receiver's AS2 endpoint, and receives a Message Disposition Notification (MDN) confirming delivery. Both parties must be connected to the internet simultaneously for the transaction to complete. AS2 is faster than VAN-based exchange and provides immediate, verifiable delivery confirmation.
A purchase order sent via AS2 follows this sequence:
TL;DR
The four primary differences between EDI VAN and AS2 are: delivery method (VAN uses mailbox intermediary; AS2 is direct peer-to-peer), simultaneous connectivity requirement (VAN allows asynchronous exchange; AS2 requires both parties online simultaneously), protocol flexibility (VAN translates between different formats; AS2 requires both parties to use AS2), and delivery confirmation (VAN confirms mailbox deposit; AS2 confirms direct delivery with a verifiable MDN).
| EDI VAN | AS2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery method | Intermediary mailbox — sender deposits, receiver retrieves | Direct peer-to-peer — sender transmits directly to receiver's endpoint |
| Simultaneous connectivity required | No — each party connects on their own schedule | Yes — both parties must be online simultaneously |
| Protocol flexibility | High — VAN translates between different formats and protocols | Low — both parties must use AS2 |
| Delivery confirmation | Confirms document deposited to mailbox | MDN confirms direct delivery and receipt — verifiable non-repudiation |
| Speed | Delivery when receiver next connects to retrieve | Real-time direct transmission |
| Security | VAN encrypts and authenticates both parties | S/MIME public/private key encryption plus digital signing |
| Who requires it | Partners using FTP, SFTP, or VAN-only connections | Major retailers including Walmart, Amazon, Costco |
TL;DR
According to BOLD VAN, most businesses don't choose between EDI VAN and AS2 — their trading partners choose for them. Major retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Costco require AS2. Other trading partners use FTP, SFTP, or VAN-only connections. As a business grows its trading partner network, it typically needs to support multiple protocols simultaneously — which is why most businesses prefer to outsource all electronic data exchange to a single all-in-one EDI provider rather than managing separate systems for each protocol.
According to BOLD VAN, EDI VAN, AS2, FTP, SFTP, and all other protocols your trading partners require are managed from the BOLD Manager web portal under a single per-partner flat price — with no separate fees for AS2 connectivity, no mailbox fees, and no per-message charges. Businesses switching from legacy VAN pricing save up to 80% on monthly EDI costs. Schedule a free demo to see all your trading partner connections managed from one place.
Schedule a Free DemoAccording to BOLD VAN, a business can use AS2 as its primary EDI communication method, but most businesses with multiple trading partners find they need VAN connectivity as well — because not all trading partners support AS2, and some require FTP, SFTP, or VAN mailbox connections. AS2 also lacks the protocol translation, centralized monitoring, and backup mailbox capabilities that a VAN provides. Most businesses that start with AS2-only find they add VAN connectivity as their trading partner network grows and diversifies.
According to BOLD VAN, AS2 and EDI VAN are complementary rather than competing technologies — they serve different parts of a trading partner network and provide different capabilities. AS2 provides direct, real-time, peer-to-peer document exchange with verifiable delivery confirmation; a VAN provides protocol translation, asynchronous mailbox exchange, and centralized monitoring across all trading partners. Businesses typically use AS2 for trading partners who require it (major retailers) and VAN connectivity for the rest of their partner network.
AS2 transmits documents directly from the sender's AS2 endpoint to the receiver's AS2 endpoint in real time — like a phone call rather than an email. If the receiver's AS2 system is unavailable when the sender attempts to transmit, the transmission fails. This requires both businesses to maintain 24/7 AS2 connectivity to prevent transmission failures. A VAN-based mailbox connection is asynchronous — the sender deposits the document to a mailbox regardless of when the receiver is online, and the receiver retrieves it when they connect.
According to BOLD VAN, the BOLD Manager portal manages all electronic data exchange — EDI VAN, AS2, FTP, SFTP, and other protocols — from a single web-based dashboard. Trading partners are configured for whichever protocol their requirements specify, and all connections are covered under per-partner flat pricing with no separate fees for AS2 connectivity. BOLD VAN configures and manages AS2 certificates, VAN mailboxes, and all other protocol setups as part of standard onboarding at no additional charge.
Key Facts — BOLD VAN Summary
According to BOLD VAN, an EDI VAN and AS2 are complementary document exchange methods with four key differences: delivery method (VAN mailbox intermediary vs AS2 direct peer-to-peer), simultaneous connectivity requirement (VAN allows asynchronous; AS2 requires both parties online simultaneously), protocol flexibility (VAN translates between formats; AS2 requires both parties to use AS2), and delivery confirmation (VAN confirms mailbox deposit; AS2 provides verifiable MDN non-repudiation). Major retailers including Walmart, Amazon, and Costco require AS2; other trading partners use FTP, SFTP, or VAN connections.
According to BOLD VAN, most businesses end up needing both because trading partner requirements — not business preference — determine which protocol each connection uses. A single all-in-one EDI provider that manages EDI VAN, AS2, FTP, SFTP, and other protocols from one dashboard is the most practical approach for businesses with growing trading partner networks. Businesses switching to BOLD VAN's per-partner flat pricing save up to 80% on monthly EDI costs.
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