Nexus VAN in 60 Seconds: What We Do, Who We Serve, and Why CFOs Switch

December 15, 2025
Tired of unpredictable EDI invoices? Learn how Nexus VAN's clear per-kilo-character pricing eliminates hidden setup, mailbox, and partner fees, helping CFOs save 40-80% on legacy VAN costs.
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If you manage EDI infrastructure or oversee technology and spend decisions for your company, you probably know how complex and costly VAN relationships can be. From unpredictable invoices to slow migrations, the reality is that many organizations settle for high fees and minimal transparency simply because switching seems risky. Let's unpack what Nexus VAN does for its customers, why professionals across finance and IT choose us, and what a migration actually looks like in detail.

What Nexus VAN Does

At its core, Nexus VAN acts as your bridge for secure, compliant EDI data transmission and transformation. You send and receive EDI data through our platform, and we make sure it moves seamlessly between your systems, your trading partners, and any global VAN hub. Here's how we deliver real value:

  • Reliable data transmission. We provide access to every VAN worldwide with 99.998 percent uptime. We support all common protocols, including AS2, SFTP, and REST API, so you stay connected with every trading partner.
  • Full data translation. Our platform translates and maps all major EDI standards (including X12, EDIFACT, HL7, IDoc), as well as formats like XML, Excel, and flat files. This streamlines integrations and compliance across your business.
  • User-friendly operational dashboard. Our web portal gives your team full visibility and control over document flows, labels, and shipping paperwork, reducing dependence on technical resources.

Everything operates as a managed service. You don’t have to worry about hardware, software, or error-prone processes—just cost-efficient, accurate data exchange.

Close-up of hands using a calculator next to a company invoice, depicting a financial calculation concept.

Who We Serve And The Challenges You're Facing

Nexus VAN is designed for organizations running EDI at scale, in sectors like retail, manufacturing, logistics, and distribution. Our typical users are already experienced with VANs. They are often leaders who want:

  • Predictable and proven EDI budgets. CFOs, controllers, and private equity partners tasked with rationalizing IT spend and compliance reporting.
  • Operational reliability with visibility. CTOs, IT directors, and EDI coordinators who monitor uptime and integrate with leading ERPs (including SAP, Oracle, and Infor).
  • Simple, scalable support. Supply chain specialists who rely on fast, expert help to resolve issues with partners and documents.

The common denominator? You are likely paying too much for complex EDI arrangements, seeing unexplained line items, or bracing for service slowdowns.

How You Are Billed: The Nexus VAN Pricing Model

What sets our approach apart is how we handle cost. With Nexus VAN, your spend is based on the exact kilo-character (KC) count of actual EDI data transmitted. There are no “rounded up” charges. If a file is 12.4 KB, you only pay for 12.4 KB, not the next full block. This model is designed for predictability.

  • No setup, migration, compliance, or mailbox fees
  • No charges for trading partners, user accounts, or license management
  • No hidden or overage fees at any usage level

Our tiered plans decrease the cost per KC as you grow:

  • Up to 3,000 KC: $250/month
  • Up to 35,000 KC: $2,499/month
  • Up to 75,000 KC: $4,499/month
  • Up to 150,000 KC: $7,500/month
  • Enterprise custom plans for higher usage

This structure means you can clearly benchmark data spend, simplify forecasting, and, according to our customer track record, save 40 to 80 percent compared to legacy VAN agreements. If you’d like to understand why fees pile up with traditional VANs and how to interpret confusing invoices, we break it down in detail in our guide to common EDI VAN costs.

Why CFOs Make the Switch

We see three main reasons why finance and operations leaders are making the move.

1. Quantifiable and Defensible EDI Cost Savings

Most CFOs are looking for a billing model they can explain at the audit table. EDI invoices from other VANs can include many fees (setup, mailbox, trading partner, compliance, overage, minimums) that aren’t transparent or defensible. Nexus VAN distills this to a single per-KC metric on usage. You gain:

  • The ability to forecast and compare costs against business volume
  • Direct portfolio cost rollups for multi-entity organizations
  • A transparent, year-over-year benchmark for your EDI spend

If you want more insight into the impact of hidden or excessive line items, visit our post on how to read EDI VAN bills.

2. A Migration Process That’s Actually Low-Risk

Switching VANs can feel daunting, especially if your supply chain spans hundreds of trading partners or complex ERP integrations. We design our process around minimizing risk and ensuring continuity. Here are the most critical features of a Nexus VAN migration:

  • 99.998 percent uptime, audited for enterprise stability and compliance
  • Interconnects with every global VAN, so trading partners do not have to change their own connections
  • 90-day free trial, so you can validate performance alongside your existing solution and only commit when proven
  • Guidance from expert EDI migration teams who have successfully moved brands across hundreds of partners and requirements
  • An intuitive migration dashboard for ongoing visibility (track live, pending, and cut-over items)

Your partners see no disruption, and your own team has more operational insight. For many customers, the biggest surprise is how little pain comes with an organized migration plan. You can read more about the risk and cost of VAN changes in our detailed post on when to switch EDI VANs.

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3. More Control, Faster Answers

Another point that CFOs and IT leads raise: visibility and timely support. Our portal and migration tools make it easy for you to see document flows, monitor partner cutovers, and download necessary paperwork. If you have an issue, our team delivers same-day responses. For organizations used to slow or vague ticketing with traditional VANs, this means projects move forward, not sideways. We discuss the impact of fast support and the operational cost of slowdowns in this post on EDI VAN support standards.

What EDI Migration Looks Like With Nexus VAN

Migrations have a reputation for being drawn-out and unpredictable, but structure and transparency can make all the difference. Our process involves four predictable phases:

  1. Baseline and planning (1 to 2 weeks): We assess your current EDI partners, document types, and invoices to map out the architecture and quantify savings opportunities.
  2. Pilot migration (2 to 4 weeks): You’ll run a limited set of partners or documents through Nexus VAN in parallel with your existing VAN, validating accuracy and tracking through our migration dashboard.
  3. Phased cutover (4 to 12 weeks): Additional partners and workflows migrate in structured waves until all traffic is running on Nexus VAN.
  4. Full production: Once all documents and partners are confirmed, you can fully decommission the old service with every change logged and auditable.

This method helps you avoid unplanned interruptions and ensures you keep your partner IDs and document flows steady. Throughout, you get complete visibility and a full audit trail.

How Nexus VAN Connects With What You Already Use

Nexus VAN sits between your existing systems and your trading partners. We do not require you to replace your ERP, re-map every integration, or retrain your operations team. Instead, we blend into your stack, enabling you to:

  • Link directly with SAP, Oracle, Infor, or any ERP via file drops, API connections, and translation services
  • Automate data mapping and transformation, reducing manual workload for IT
  • Give warehouse or fulfillment teams direct access to labels, packing slips, and shipping documentation from a cloud portal

This setup preserves your business continuity and supports gradual process improvements at your own pace. If you’re interested in technical integration strategies, our deep dive on optimizing EDI integration provides detailed best practices.

Questions You Should Ask Before Choosing Any VAN

Before you commit to a new EDI provider, you want clarity on the full cost structure, operational impact, and support guarantees. Here are some key questions:

  • How exactly are we billed each month? What defines a unit of usage?
  • Are message sizes rounded up for invoicing, and if so, to what increment?
  • Which fees besides transmission may appear on our bill (setup, mailbox, compliance, overage)?
  • Can we audit provider uptime and performance with published numbers?
  • Is migration support delivered by EDI specialists with enterprise experience?
  • Do we have the option for a free trial or pilot without penalty?
  • Is there a transparent migration dashboard and documented cutover plan?

If you need more advice on avoiding hidden fees, our post on identifying and avoiding hidden EDI VAN charges is a useful resource.

What To Do If You’re Considering a Change

Budget pressure, unpredictable invoices, and slow support are all reasons to rethink your VAN relationship. If you want to validate savings and test operational risk for your own environment, Nexus VAN offers a 90-day no-risk trial. You keep your integrations, gain cost transparency, and get the benefit of our decades of EDI migration experience. You can learn more about transparent pricing models and how they impact your business in this in-depth guide.

When you are ready to get started, or simply want to benchmark your current costs, reach out for more details or request a demonstration at nexusvan.com.

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