MINNEAPOLIS--Aug. 24, 2006--SPS Commerce, the leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), has written and published a white paper titled 'Ten Questions to Ask Your Prospective EDI Outsource Vendor.' The document identifies key questions for prospective users of outsourced EDI can use to discern the capabilities and ownership of the EDI solution, and the degree of outsourcing assumed by the vendor. It is designed to help individuals distinguish the true differences behind outsourcing or SaaS options, and uncover the importance of industry terms such as multi-tenant and service level agreements (SLAs).
"Outsourcing is a widely used term that can have a hundred different meanings," commented Jim Frome, EVP at SPS Commerce and author the whitepaper. "At its most basic, it is changing out an employee for a contracted position. At the other end of the pendulum, it can be a complete changeover which replaces an entire function with remotely located infrastructure, or Software-as-a-Service. Many companies are led to believe that all outsourced solutions offer the same capabilities and hands-free operations. Unfortunately, they vary greatly and the terminology is often confusing. Our whitepaper's goal is to help organizations turn the conversation from a vendor-led discussion on their products, to one that addresses only the specific needs of the prospective EDI user."
Software-as-a-Service Requires New Evaluation Criteria
With the increasing adoption of SaaS solutions for EDI in lieu of, or replacing, internal EDI software, past purchasers of licensed EDI software have found that their traditional vendor discussions and evaluation processes need to change. Comparing SaaS offerings effectively requires a new set of criteria. SPS Commerce's whitepaper identifies new or expanded topics that need to be addressed in discussions of SaaS solutions, but may not have been necessary for prior internal systems.
The Ten QuestionsThe whitepaper explores the following questions in depth:1. Is the EDI service capable of performing the requirements with all of my trading partners?2. What infrastructure is included by the outsourcer's solution?3. What implementation tasks are included in the outsourcer's solution?4. What on-going, application management tasks are included in the outsourcer's solution?5. How does the outsourcer assure reliability?6. How does the outsourcer assure availability?7. How does the outsourcer assure serviceability?8. How does the outsourcer integrate to my business application(s) and business partners?9. What other applications can the outsourcer provide your organization now or in the future?10. What evidence can you provide me of your company's leadership?
SPS Commerce's white paper can be downloaded at http://www.spscommerce.com/n_news/wp/2006/wp_10questions.pdf.
About SPS Commerce
SPS Commerce is the leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to the retail and distribution supply chain. Through its online service platform, SPSCommerce.net delivers technologies like EDI, UPC Catalogs, Item Synchronization and Online Ordering sites. SPS Commerce dramatically lowers the setup and on-going costs, along with the time and risks of traditional EDI software by providing a superior alternative to complicated, lengthy and expensive traditional software deployments. Today, more than 12,000 companies are outsourcing their EDI to SPS Commerce. SPSCommerce.net is widely used by companies running a variety of ERP systems including Oracle, NetSuite, SAP, Epicor, Great Plains, QuickBooks, Macola, MAS 90/200 & 500, Microsoft Business Solutions applications, Peachtree and many more. SPS Commerce is headquartered in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. For additional information, please contact SPS Commerce at 866-245-8100 or visit www.spscommerce.com.
