FAQs

Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the GXS TradeWeb Service.

The FAQs are divided into the following categories.

• What is GXS TradeWeb?
• Features
• Pricing
• Strategy
• Market Definition
• Competition
• Architecture
• Security
• Technical

Return to GXS TradeWeb information topics

What is the GXS TradeWeb Service?

• GXS TradeWeb is a subscription-based service that allows the World Wide Web community to trade business documents, and conduct two way electronic commerce with the GXS worldwide network of Trading Partners.

• GXS TradeWeb links the Internet and EDI technologies to reduce the complexity and need for proprietary software; and, it lowers price barriers. Historically, large businesses and enterprises conducted EDI with only 40% of their trading community members. GXS TradeWeb helps to capture the estimated remaining 60% of the trading community identified as small to medium-sized businesses.

• Other GXS TradeWeb features are
  • English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish language support
  • Continuous building upon prior generation successes
  • Trading communities with global reach
  • Community-based pricing
  • Local currency support
  • International EDI Standards support
  • Enhanced EDI Mailbox management features

How does GXS TradeWeb work?

• A client visits the GXS TradeWeb website and registers online to become a Subscriber.
• During registration, the client specifies the Trading Partner or Association with whom they wish to trade.
• All EDI mapping and translation, plus the exchange of documents between Trading Partners, is securely processed on the GXS network.
• Subscribers to GXS TradeWeb become part of GXS community of more than 100,000 Trading Partners.
• Trading Partners, who want to exchange EDI documents with sponsoring Hubs, establish a business relationship with the Hub before their EDI documents are accepted.
• Subscribers to GXS TradeWeb can trade with other GXS TradeWeb Subscribers without establishing a business relationship.

What are the main GXS TradeWeb benefits?

• GXS TradeWeb reduces EDI complexity, eliminates need for proprietary EDI software, and establishes an entry-level price point. Entry-level Trading Partners do not have to purchase, maintain, and support EDI software, mapping agents, and translation tools.

• With the easy-to-use electronic forms, small businesses can trade with large companies and potentially open up new markets of revenue for themselves.

• GXS TradeWeb is integrated with other traditional EDI services, such as EDI*EXPRESS or EDI*EXPRESS TradaNet, provided by GXS, so that businesses with legacy EDI platforms can exchange documents. In this way, clients reach the ever-expanding Web-based electronic marketplace without significant infrastructure re-engineering efforts.

What are trading communities?

GXS TradeWeb supports four types of trading communities.

Hub-sponsored trading communities. A Hub, or Sponsor, is a large, EDI-enabled company with multiple Trading Partners, all of whom belong to the trading community. The GXS TradeWeb EDI forms belong to the Hub. Thus, when a Subscriber trades with a Hub, the Hub-specific forms are used. A Subscriber can trade with multiple Hubs -- in this case, GXS TradeWeb displays forms to the Subscriber depending upon which Hub the Subscriber is trading with at the time of creating, or viewing, a form.

Multiple Hub-sponsored trading communities.This occurs when two or more Hubs decide to co-sponsor a single set of custom forms within GXS TradeWeb. The Subscriber first adds one or both Hubs to their Personal Directory, and when the Subscriber trades with either Hub, TradeWeb displays the same form, for example, a Purchase Order.

Association-sponsored trading communities. Trade Associations are a collection of companies who share common business practices and benefit from the collective interests and efforts of all members of the association. The association defines EDI documents and associated business rules for its use. All members of the Association (Subscribers and Hubs) trade using the same set of forms -- sponsored by the association -- when trading documents with each other.

GXS TradeWeb generic trading community. All Subscribers are automatic members of this community -- each Subscriber can exchange GXS TradeWeb generic documents with any other GXS TradeWeb Subscriber.

For what period of time are documents held within GXS TradeWeb?

GXS TradeWeb retains documents that have been opened for a period of 45 days from the date of delivery to the recipients mail box. Documents that have not been opened are automatically deleted after 60 days of delivery to the recipients mailbox.

Does GXS TradeWeb support both generic and customized trading forms?

Yes. The service supports four generic forms - purchase orders, purchase order acknowledgements, invoices, and functional acknowlegements - that conform to industry standards (ANSI X12 3050 and 4010 only). The service also supports client-specific forms in the ANSI X12, UNEDIFACT (and some subsets), TradaCom, ODETTE, and ANSI VICS standards.

Please explain how GXS TradeWeb is a global offering.

The service supports international EDI standards identified by the market. The most widely-used EDI standards are ANSI X12 and UNEDIFACT. Client (Hub)-specific form templates support these and other standards. GXS TradeWeb provides international Subscribers online terms and conditions and pricing schedules in the languages and currencies of their respective countries. GXS TradeWeb accommodates the various international data formats, standards, and conventions, and is accessible from anywhere in the world where Internet access exists.

What do I need?

The only requirements for Subscribers are a computer and modem, Internet access, and a web browser. The service works with the most popular Web browsers, interacts with standard Internet applications, and is accessible from virtually any desktop.

How do I sign on?

Return to the GXS TradeWeb home page and click the New User Sign Up icon. The registration process is simple to use, intuitive, reliable. However, customer phone support is always available.

How is the GXS TradeWeb Service administered?

The user can self-administer trading relationships through the Trading Partner Directory and an Electronic Forms Library. Subscribers have a variety of online tools to administer trading activity. These tools include online help, Trading Partner Directory, and many other resources for support and service.

What kind of support is provided to GXS TradeWeb users?

GXS TradeWeb support has the same quality of service that GXS is renowned for. The GXS TradeWeb telephone support for US-based Subscribers is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. (Eastern Time). Telephone support for our international Subscribers is through our global GXS Distributors and within their established telephone support hours. Online support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and guarantees a response within 24 hours. In addition, GXS TradeWeb has context-sensitive help files and online tutorials.

Is GXS TradeWeb part of EDI for the masses and Internet strategy?

Yes. GXS TradeWeb expands VAN reach through the Internet, thus expanding the trading community for our customers. The Internet open protocols and standards lets us tie in new Trading Partners quickly and efficiently.

How does GXS TradeWeb financially benefit small businesses?

Small companies participate in the productivity gains of EC -- cycle time reductions, cost savings, quality improvements. They also cement stronger relationships with large Trading Partners.

Before GXS TradeWeb,

• The high price of EDI software, mappers, and translators, and network transmission fees, prevented the manufacturer from using EDI.
• The manufacturer could neither justify the high-performance computer equipment required to run the EDI solutions, nor spend the time to learn about complicated EDI standards and addressing protocols.
• On the other hand, the retailer had to grow the number of Trading Partners using EDI, to minimize technology costs and maximize productivity benefits.

With GXS TradeWeb,

• Upon registration, the manufacturer almost immediately has a low-cost easy-to-use EDI solution to conduct electronic commerce with not only the retailer in question, but all other retailers within the GXS TradeWeb community.
• The retailer has the ability to EDI-enable a larger percentage of the retail trading community.
• Trading Partners still need to establish a business relationship with the partners outside of GXS TradeWeb, just as companies trading EDI documents currently do today, before their EDI documents are accepted.
• Subscribers to GXS TradeWeb can trade with other Subscribers without an established Trading Partner agreement.

What are "Third and Fourth Tier" Trading Partners? Don't these firms have limited resources? Why would GXS TradeWeb be advantageous to them?

Third- and fourth-tier Trading Partners are the smaller companies with revenues generally under $5 million per year that have not implemented EDI in the past due to its complexities, expense, and past orientation towards larger Hubs.

Do all GXS TradeWeb users have to be members of a trading community?

Yes. TradeWeb Subscribers become part of GXS community of 100,000 Trading Partners -- the world's largest trading community -- and can take advantage of all that this membership has to offer. Trading Partners of sponsoring Hubs still establish a business relationship with a Hub outside of GXS TradeWeb, just as companies trading EDI documents currently do today. After establishing a relationship, the Hub and Subscriber can exchange EDI documents.

Do you see any obstacles to GXS TradeWeb acceptance?

No. Our customers want this. In fact, a Forrester report noted that over half of large companies using EDI, want an Internet EDI program to reach their smaller partners. We have created the most cost-effective, easiest solution for small businesses that are required to conduct EDI and electronic commerce. Specifically, we relieve small businesses of burdens such as security, cost, and implementation.

How does GXS TradeWeb fit into the EDI model of the supply chain?

GXS TradeWeb is a critical part of a large company strategic EDI plan to connect with their smaller subsidiaries and suppliers, who were unreachable through previous EDI platforms. Trading Partners, who want to exchange EDI documents with sponsoring Hubs, need to establish a business relationship with the Hub before their EDI documents are accepted. Subscribers to GXS TradeWeb can trade among themselves, without establishing a business relationship.

Example 1. Pharmaceutical supply community

A large pharmaceutical company needs to order goods from its suppliers. A small supplier needs an economical way to conduct the company-required EDI tasks. The supplier currently receives PO requests and sends invoices via FAX, but prefers to do turn-around acknowledgments with a low-cost, easy-to-use EDI solution. GXS TradeWeb is the solution for both Trading Partners -- the small supplier subscribes to GXS TradeWeb while the large pharmaceutical company uses EDI*EXPRESS.

Example 2. High-tech trading community

A medium-sized jet engine manufacturer supplies engines to a large high-tech government defense contractor. To streamline the parts-ordering process, the high-tech manufacturer needs EDI-enabled parts suppliers. GXS TradeWeb is the service that makes this happen -- the high-tech manufacturer can use EDI*EXPRESS; the jet engine manufacturer and the small parts suppliers can use GXS TradeWeb -- all companies can now trade EDI documents.

How do you price the service?

Customers can pay a monthly subscription fee, a discounted annual rate that includes sending 30 documents per month, or pay a small fee for each EDI message sent (Pay-As-You-Go). See our Pricing Information.

How does this compare with competition pricing?

GXS TradeWeb offers the most flexible pricing plan in the marketplace. The community-based pricing option allows the sponsor of each closed trading community to partially or completely absorb their trading partners' GXS TradeWeb fees. This enables the sponsor to quickly increase the number of their trading partners using EDI, which results in streamlined business processes and cost savings.

How would you contrast "entry-level EDI" with EDI currently offered by your VAN?

• Easier implementation
• Less complexity, no proprietary software, cheaper
• Designed for small business with an entry-level price for entry-level features
• Low EDI document volume

What are the competitive differentiators in which GXS TradeWeb is superior in the market?

• GXS TradeWeb removes complexity, eliminates need for proprietary EDI software, and establishes an entry-level pricing structure.
• IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES, a company can have a fully implemented EDI system, transmitting and receiving documents as a Trading Partner in a 100,000 member community.
• GXS has the world's largest EDI community.
• GXS TradeWeb leverages existing customer EDI investments, and is less expensive than internal development.
• GXS TradeWeb handles safety, security, and administration, and provides an open EDI/non-proprietary environment.
• GXS provides a range of business productivity solutions that can meet the evolving needs of customers.

One of the key selling points of GXS TradeWeb is its interoperability with numerous standard Internet protocols. How so?

The service interacts with standard Internet applications, and is accessible from virtually any desktop. Internet standards supported include HTML, SSL, TCP/IP, E-mail, Netscape and Internet Explorer browsers.

What is the GXS TradeWeb architecture?

• Web browser to view, send, and receive EDI documents
• Internet/WWW to transmit EDI documents to the GXS TradeWeb Web Server
• GXS TradeWeb Web Server to provide firewall to the GXS VAN
• GXS secure environment to translate and map forms
• GXS VAN to route forms to hub EDI mailboxes

What is the GXS definition of "security" on the Internet?

Privacy and safe transit. Privacy denies access to non-authorized users. Safe transit ensures data is delivered without being compromised.

How does your security solution work?

GXS TradeWeb uses SSL and User Authorization. For additional information regarding GXS security please see our Security Overview.