If you are a very small business, you are at a disadvantage competing with larger small businesses because you are operating on a smaller margin. The answer is no. For a relatively small investment, you can greatly expand your business base. EDI is going to increase your opportunity to bid on a wider range of products, including solicitations from all Government Agencies, with only one registration. An EDI-capable vendor at the conference said that a very small business should not hesitate to go EDI and compete.
Persistence is the key.
The vendor added that his business is very small and succeeding. I am concerned about security at the VAN and other points in the transmission, as well as accessibility of the information collected in databases. A Security is being addressed at several levels, including the Contractor Registration database, the network entry points, and the VANs. Groups addressing security issues include DOD, the National Institute for Standards and Technology, and the individual Agencies. The information in the Contractor Registration database is available only under the Freedom of Information Act.