Editing Electronic data interchange (section)

===Value-added networks===

To address the limitations in peer-to-peer adoption of EDI, [[Value-added network|VANs (value-added networks)]] were established decades ago. A VAN acts as a regional post office. It receives transactions, examines the 'from' and the 'to' information, and routes the transaction to the final recipient. VANs may provide a number of additional services, e.g. retransmitting documents, providing third party audit information, acting as a gateway for different transmission methods, and handling telecommunications support. Because of these and other services VANs provide, businesses frequently use a VAN even when both trading partners are using Internet-based protocols. Healthcare clearinghouses perform many of the same functions as a VAN, but have additional legal restrictions.

VANs may be operated by various entities:
* telecommunication companies;
* industry group consortia;
* a large company interacting with its suppliers/vendors;
*managed services providers.