1. Installing a NetApp FAS2020 filer with an active-active controller configuration.
2. Migrating recently acquired EDI accounts to Trimaco’s site ID and qualifier.
3. Procuring a new Dell Latitude for more extensive Windows 7 testing.
4. Spinning up LUNs on the new SAN to move SQL data on to for testing.
5. A Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains 10 upgrade.
6. Upgrading vSync too…
7. Procuring a new PIX firewall to replace our legacy unit (the sh running config is extensive).
8. Deploying two laptops to the field (hopefully the last XP units).
9. Upgrading Label Matrix / Label View.
10. Remodeling our bathrooms at home.
11. Kitchen counters maybe?
12. Nothing else because I can’t handle it in February or March.  I’m booked.

I’ve decided to post this email string from Amanda McFarlane at SPS Commerce.  Read through it and decide for yourself just how useful and effective SPS Commerce is as an “outsourced EDI solution”.

Please note that I was told that we must complete the testing detailed in the email by a certain date or face fines and penalties, imposed by SPS Commerce, and potentially jeopardize our relationship with OUR customer who is detailed in the email string.

I’ll let the email speak for itself as to SPS Commerce’s effectiveness.  Never have I loathed a company and their business practices as much as SPS Commerce who claim they are “the intelligent way to work with trading partners”.  Since when is ineffective, unnecessary, fake document exchange testing “intelligent”?

Hey retailers, want to alienate and really piss off your suppliers?  Chose an “EDI Outsourcing Specialist”, like SPS Commerce, to handle your electronic document transactions.  SPS Commerce will work diligently with you to strong arm your vendors into paying their “set up” fees, charges for “testing” and additional charges for “testing penalties”.  Then there are the document fees, monthly fees and other expenses almost guaranteed to make it cost more to sell products to you at a reasonable margin.  In fact the list of fees and charges incurred by your suppliers, payable to SPS Commerce, could make it a hard decision for them to continue doing business with you.

But wait, you are the retailer.  The suppliers and manufacturers need you, right?  They’ll pay whatever necessary to continue having you buy their wholesale products for placement on your shelf, correct?  WRONG.

I can’t name specific accounts but I can tell you that the company I work for has intentionally decided to stop selling to certain customers who have contracted SPS Commerce to handle their EDI implementation.  You see, first you select SPS to handle your EDI interconnects and then SPS goes to work enforcing your EDI requirements for their fees.  It’s very much akin to legal contract extortion and it’s an aggravating business model.   There’s a cure for VAN’s though.  It’s called AS2 direct.

Most major retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot etc., have decided to move to AS2 direct because it reduces and practically eliminates the cost of EDI transactions on both sides.  For the one time price of software, such as Gentran or Biztalk and Lexicom, IT departments can trade security certificates and transmit EDI documents to and from each other with little or no cost beyond simple administration.  This reduces the cost of doing business for the suppliers.  Instead of paying extortion fees to a company like SPS Commerce, for the wonderful privilege of testing through them, suppliers can return the savings to the customer (reseller).

AS2 is a win-win.  SPS Commerce is a failure in both supplier and customer relations.  I’m sure they sell themselves as a cost saving, economical solution for the retailer but just remember the moment you selected SPS as your “EDI Outsourcing Specialist” the next time your suppliers and manufacturers raise their product prices.

Oh and as far as SPS testing AS2, they do.  For an additional $500 fee.