Most companies charge an annual maintenance fee that is usually a percentage of the translator's list price. This fee should include software updates, standards updates, technical support, and customer service. The VANs bill you for transmitting data similar to making a long distance phone call. Some also bill you for connect time. A fast modem helps to lower transmission costs.
Most VANs charge a monthly fee for maintaining a mailbox on their network.
Others charge based upon the number of characters in each document. The cost of paper and paper processing is incredibly high compared to a properly implemented EDI program. Processing an EDI purchase order reduces the cost to a mere 93 cents. If your trading partner wants a copy of a document, instead of calling you they simply check their mailbox. Save Time EDI also saves time over paper processing since the transfer of information from computer to computer is automatic.