Criteria

Electronic Data Interchange

Web Services

Medium

Value-added network (VAN)

Internet connection

Communication

Computer-computer

Computer-computer, computer-human

Scope

Suites regional connections

Universal

Sharing

Coordinated use of shared database, exchanging transaction information in standardized formats

Provides a standard means of interoperating between different software applications

Platform

The same platform

Running on a variety of platforms and/or frameworks.

Cost

Expensive transformation software, and the cost of VAN services

Reduced expenses (the use of internet, low demand for additional technical aspects).

Security

Information is protected against change, and transferred by means of secure communication

Requires physical and operational security processes for network and server infrastructure, as well as service specific security implementations.