This Week in IDEA | April 15, 2009

New IDEA IRD Customers

IDEA announces three new IDEA IRD customers. Read more about these companies and how you can begin trading with them electronically to expand your business.

New IDEA IRD Customers

IDEA, a 1SYNC Data Pool On-Board Solution (OBS) partner, implements suppliers that subscribe to the 1SYNC data pool using IDEA's IRD CERICOMX® application. IDEA was recently assigned three suppliers: 

• Fleischer’s Bagels, Inc.
• Inland Ice & Fuel, Inc.
• Artuso Pastry Foods

These companies will be trained to use IRD CERICOMX®, an IDEA branded product for supporting and uploading supplier product information into the GS1 Registry® and GDSN via the 1SYNC Data Pool.

If you would like to find out more about the CERICOMX® product, please contact , IRD Product & Customer Support Manager, at .

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Using IDX as Your AS2 Connection

AS2 (Applicability Statement 2) or AS2 EDI-INT (EDI over the Internet) is one of the most popular methods for transporting data securely and reliably over the Internet. The adoption of AS2 grew exponentially in 2002, due in large part to adoption of the standard by the Retail and CPG industry.

AS2 creates an envelope for a message which is then sent securely, via the use of digital certificates and encryption. This method provides additional security protections that enable users to connect, deliver and reply to data, potentially saving money in network costs, and adding flexibility and control on how the data is utilized or reported.  The US retailer Walmart is a good example of a company who uses AS2 on a point-to-point basis to communicate to each of its suppliers.

With Industry Data Exchange (IDX), you can trade with your customers via AS2 without the need to implement a dedicated EDI solution. The outsourced AS2 option hosted by IDX offers many advantages over implementing a dedicated service:

• Comply with AS2 mandates without adding infrastructure, expense and expertise
• No AS2 software, hardware, firewalls, management skills, etc. needed
• IDX does all the AS2 work
• Exchange of AS2 set up information
• Provide testing between your company and your AS2 trading partner
• Access to a help desk to resolve issues
• Real-time document exchange
• Optional translation services
• Often lower cost than implementing direct AS2 when considering the total cost of ownership and risk-avoidance

The most overlooked aspects of dedicated AS2 implementations are initial testing costs for all new trading-partner connections, day-to-day monitoring costs for failed MDNs (Message Disposition Notifications), and recurrent management costs associated with certificate expiration dates. IDX eliminates these costs among many others for IDEA customers that need to communicate to trading partners through a direct AS2 connection.

References:

Frequently Asked Questions: Retail AS2 DGI. 2009. Drummond Group, Inc. 14 April 2009. <http://www.drummondgroup.com>.

AS2 (Internet EDI). 2008. EDI Basics. 14 April 2009 <http://www.edibasics.co.uk>.

“EDI-INT AS2.” Online posting. 17 Sept. 2002. 14 April 2009. <http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=361288&page=5>.

“Help with AS2 Certification Question.” Online posting. 24 Mar. 2006. 14 April 2009. < http://edi.stylusstudio.com/msg016303.htm>.

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Renowned Economic Advisor to Speak at the IDEA E-Biz Forum ‘09

IDEA is proud to announce Todd Buchholz, renowned economist, author and former director of economic policy at the White House, as a general session speaker of the IDEA E-Biz Forum 2009. Buchholz will address the importance of competing on a global scale during these tough economic times. His session will provide you with his views on how to survive and thrive, while learning how to anticipate the new trends that open up fresh opportunities.

About Buchholz

Todd G. Buchholz “lights up economics with a wickedly sparkling wit,” says the Associated Press . He recently jousted with James Carville and Ben Stein, and Successful Meetings Magazine named him one of the “21 Top Speakers for the 21st Century.” His editorials in The Wall Street Journal and commentaries on PBS correctly forecast the 2001 slowdown in the U.S., and the 2008 pop in commodity prices. The New York Times has turned to him to decipher terrorist threats and the job market.

Mr. Buchholz entertains his audiences and shows them how to thrive in a challenging economy, while gearing up for future prosperity. A former director of economic policy at the White House, a managing director of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund, and an award-winning economics teacher at Harvard, he targets his entertaining remarks to the cutting edge of economics, finance, and business strategy. He has advised President Bush, and is a frequent commentator on ABC News, PBS, and CBS, and recently hosted his own special on CNBC. He is Co-Founder of Enso Capital Management, LLC and Co-Founder and Managing Director of Two Oceans Management, LLC.

Todd Buchholz has authored numerous books that have been translated into a dozen languages and are used in universities nationwide. Market Shock: 9 Economic and Social Upheavals that Will Shake Our Financial Future, was released to rave reviews and dubbed “outstanding” by The Wall Street Journal. He is also author of the best-selling New Ideas from Dead Economists and From Here To Economy, which were lavishly praised by The New York Times and Financial Times. His newest books are New Ideas From Dead CEOs, and a novel, The Castro Gene.

Mr. Buchholz is a contributing editor at Worth magazine, where he writes the “Global Markets” column, and he has penned articles for The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Reader’s Digest.

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OSRAM SYLVANIA and Border States Electric: Sponsors of the IDEA E-Biz Forum

IDEA thanks OSRAM SYLVANIA for their Silver level sponsorship and Border States Electric for their Bronze level sponsorship of the IDEA E-Biz Forum 2009. These companies demonstrate their dedicated support of the electrical industry’s only annual event focused on advancing the industry through eBusiness and the latest technologies. Their leadership and support is greatly appreciated by all.

 

OSRAM SYLVANIA is a leader in lighting solutions and services, specializing in innovative design and energy saving technology. The company sells products for homes, businesses and vehicles primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, and also under the OSRAM brand. Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.sylvania.com.

 

BSE provides products and services to the construction, industrial, utility, and data communications markets. Active employees own 100 percent of the company under the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The employee-owned company has approximately 1,400 employees and 57 branch operations in 13 states and Mexico. BSE is one of the 100 largest private ESOP companies in America. Corporate headquarters are located in Fargo. For more information, visit www.borderstateselectric.com.

Interested in joining this industry leader in their support of eBusiness advancements? Take a look at the sponsor benefits to select and confirm your company sponsorship.

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IDX Hot Fact: Trade Directly with Top Retailers

One of IDEA’s top priorities is to manage on-going B2B relationships between electrical industry companies and their trading partners, including those that demand compliance with strict standards. IDX is certified to trade B2B documents with top retailers through a secure AS2 connection so you don’t have to spend time and money setting up direct connections with each retailer and meeting their mandates. We manage the relationship and AS2 connection free of charge with popular retailers and only charge a small fee for additional retail direct connects. Today, you can trade with these top retailers seamlessly through IDX:

• Wal-Mart
• Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
• Ace Hardware
• Do it Best Corp.
• Menard, Inc.
• Active Business Network - Omaha Public Power District
• Deutsche Bank
• Gap

Contact your account manager to take advantage of this AS2 service.

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