Standards

AS2 (Applicability Statement 2)

AS2 (Applicability Statement 2) is a secure internet protocol for sending EDI and other business documents directly between trading partners. It wraps the payload in encryption and a digital signature and returns a signed receipt called an MDN. AS2 is the most common direct connection method in retail EDI, avoiding per-document VAN fees.

How AS2 works

AS2 sends documents over HTTPS, encrypted and digitally signed using S/MIME. The receiver returns a signed MDN, a Message Disposition Notification, which proves the file arrived intact and was read. Partners exchange certificates and AS2 IDs once, then transmit files directly with no intermediary.

AS2 versus a VAN

AS2 is direct, real-time, and has no per-document fee, but you run the AS2 software and manage certificate renewals. A VAN is simpler to operate but bills by volume. Large partners like Walmart and Amazon support AS2, which is why high-volume suppliers favor it.

Related Terms

Value-Added Network (VAN)

A value-added network (VAN) is a private, managed network that routes EDI documents between trading partners like a digital post office. The sender drops a file in their VAN mailbox and the VAN delivers it to the receiver's mailbox. VANs charge per document or per character, which is why high-volume traders look at alternatives like AS2.

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is the computer-to-computer exchange of business documents like purchase orders and invoices in a standard electronic format. It replaces paper, fax, and email so two trading partners' systems can transact directly, without anyone re-keying the data.

EDI Capable

Being EDI capable means a company can send and receive business documents electronically in a standard EDI format that its trading partners accept. A retailer asking if you are EDI capable wants to know whether you can exchange orders, invoices, and ship notices as compliant X12 transactions without manual handling.

Learn More

EDI Transaction Guides EDI Document Types Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

AS2 is used to transmit EDI and other business documents securely and directly between two trading partners over the internet, without a value-added network in between.

An MDN, or Message Disposition Notification, is the signed receipt the receiver sends back in AS2. It confirms the message was delivered and not altered, providing non-repudiation.

Sources: IETF RFC 4130 (AS2)

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