Softshare's AS1/AS2/AS3 Solutions
The EDIINT AS1, AS2, and AS3 security standards ensure the authentication, message integrity, nonrepudiation, and privacy of EDI data sent over the Internet. AS2, in particular, is being embraced by companies across many industries, notably grocery and retail, because it allows companies to take advantage of inexpensive HTTP communications as an alternative to more costly third-party value-added networks (VANs).
Softshare's EDIINT-Compliant Software
If your company is seeking AS2 compliance, Softshare has two software applications for you to choose from. Softshare ECS, our e-commerce server, natively supports the AS2 standard (as well as the AS1 and AS3 standards). Our clients currently use ECS for direct AS2 connectivity with several fellow AS2 applications, including:
- BizManager BizLink by Invovis
- Boomi AS2 Transport
- Cyclone Interchange
- Cleo LexiCom
- Cleo VL Trader
- Gentran Integration Suite
- IPNet eBizness
- nuBridges Commerce Suite (formerly iSoft)
- Trailblazer
- WebMethods
Softshare Vista, our Windows-based desktop EDI application, natively supports the AS1 standard and can be enhanced with a custom AS2 bridge that links Vista to a third-party AS2 application such as Cleo Lexicom. With a third-party AS2 application, Vista users can securely exchange EDI documents over the Internet with any trading partner requiring AS2 connectivity.
Softshare's AS2 Network Communities
In addition to providing direct AS2 connectivity to your trading partner via ECS or Vista, Softshare has begun establishing AS2 network communities with large companies that are rolling out AS2. In an AS2 network community arrangement, AS2 connectivity happens over Softshare's network instead of at your desktop via a software application. You'll use our EDI software to view, create, and pass EDI data to our network and we take it from there, handling all the details of AS2 compliance on our network, including EDI data encryption/decryption and the exchange of MDNs.
 View Softshare's current AS2 network communities
- AAFES
- Ace Hardware
- Acosta Sales and Marketing
- Ahold USA
- Albertsons
- Associated Wholesale Grocers
- Bed, Bath & Beyond
- Big Lots
- Cardinal Health
- Cegedim
- Circuit City
- Cloverleaf Cold Storage
- Dollar General
- Dot Foods
- Dunham's Sports
- EDICT
- EMC/DHL
- Giant Eagle
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- GS1 (formerly EAN of Austria)
- Kinray Inc.
- McKesson General
- McLane Company
- Medline Industries
- Meijer
- Nash Finch
- PETsMART
- Safeway
- Source Medical
- SuperValu
- T-Systems (Mercedes-Benz Mexico)
- Target
- The Burrows Company
- The Gap
- Tri-anim Health Services
- Walco International, Inc.
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AS3: Linens 'n Things |
Softshare's Stance on AS2 Certification
Softshare's AS2 solutions are not certified by the Drummond Group—not because our products cannot complete certification, but because Softshare holds the philosophy that e-commerce standards and protocols should not require third-party certification. Our software supports many RFC standards and protocols that the Drummond Group does not certify. For example, e-mail is based upon the SMTP standard. Similarly, FTP is a standard. And, of course, ANSI X12 and EDIFACT are based upon standards. Why should some standards require certification and not others?
It is Softshare's opinion that all standards are created equal. Standards are based upon clear public specifications and enjoy wide usage in the industry for this reason. We believe that certifying commonly-used and well-documented standards causes time delays in implementation and adds unnecessary costs to the end product. And as shown by the thousands of EDI documents our clients exchange via AS2 each day, either using one of Softshare's software applications or our network, Drummond Group certification isn't a requirement for successful AS2 connectivity.
Softshare's software has always relied on the public standards and we strictly adhere to them; not just the AS1, AS2, and AS3 standards, but the EDI, SMTP/POP3, HTTP, and other Internet standards as well. Our reputation depends on it.
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