Biztalk Server vs B2B Data Exchange

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Our analysts compared Biztalk Server vs B2B Data Exchange based on data from our 400+ point analysis of EDI Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Biztalk Server Software Tool
B2B Data Exchange Software Tool

Product Basics

BizTalk Server is an inter-organizational middleware by Microsoft that integrates applications across the enterprise and manages business processes through automation. It exchanges business documents between different implementations, within or across the organization.

By making use of adapters to tailor communication, it acts as a message breaker and provides business activity monitoring. Implementation of maps is done with the XSLT standard, while orchestration is done with the WS-BPEL-compatible process language. Developers have the freedom to create and transform messages from one type to another.
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B2B Data Exchange is a comprehensive management and monitoring solution by Informatica that aggregates, exchanges and shares data. Channel partners provide automation, which improves operational performance. It supports advanced data transformation for all formats, complexities and sizes, including unstructured data, XML, industry-standard data, and other proprietary formats. Partners can self-onboard through a partner portal and manage the complexities of large partner communities. Users can measure key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify problems for improvement promptly.
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$10,000 Annually
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$5,000 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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24/7 Live Support
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Product Insights

  • Receive Comprehensive Support: Get support for a wide range of protocols and data formats and ensure seamless communication across different operating systems. 
  • Handle Bad Scripts: Easily manage bad scripts with a retry mechanism or service support windows. 
  • Eliminate Third-party Implementation: Easily integrate with a wide range of programs without having to seek the help of a third-party administrator. 
  • Integrate Diverse Programs: Connect people and information together and get the freedom to conduct B2B communication and EDI transactions. 
  • Enhance Security: Utilize seamless hybrid integration and a new level of security by being closely aligned to Azure. 
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  • Streamlined Operations: B2B Data Exchange software automates the process of exchanging data between businesses, reducing manual tasks and the potential for human error. This leads to smoother, more efficient operations and allows employees to focus on higher-value activities.
  • Enhanced Data Accuracy: By automating data exchanges, the software minimizes the risk of data entry errors, ensuring that the information shared between businesses is accurate and reliable. This accuracy is crucial for making informed business decisions and maintaining strong partner relationships.
  • Improved Partner Relationships: The software facilitates faster and more reliable data exchanges, which can significantly improve relationships with business partners. Timely and accurate data exchanges demonstrate professionalism and reliability, fostering trust and long-term partnerships.
  • Increased Scalability: B2B Data Exchange software can handle increasing volumes of data and transactions without a proportional increase in errors or processing time. This scalability allows businesses to grow and expand their partner networks without being constrained by their data exchange capabilities.
  • Enhanced Security: The software includes robust security features that protect sensitive data during exchanges. By ensuring data is securely transmitted and stored, businesses can comply with data protection regulations and safeguard their reputation.
  • Cost Savings: Automating data exchanges reduces the need for manual processing, which can significantly lower operational costs. Additionally, the increased accuracy and efficiency can lead to further savings by reducing the need for data correction and avoiding potential fines for compliance failures.
  • Compliance Management: B2B Data Exchange software is designed to comply with industry standards and regulations, making it easier for businesses to adhere to legal requirements. This compliance is essential for avoiding penalties and maintaining good standing in regulated industries.
  • Real-time Data Access: The software enables real-time data exchanges, providing businesses with up-to-date information. This immediacy can be critical for time-sensitive decisions and operations, giving businesses a competitive edge.
  • Customization and Flexibility: B2B Data Exchange software often offers customizable options to meet the specific needs of a business. This flexibility ensures that businesses can tailor the software to their unique processes and requirements, maximizing efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Improved Analytical Insights: With accurate and timely data, businesses can perform more effective analysis, leading to better strategic decisions. The software's ability to organize and present data can uncover trends and opportunities that might otherwise remain hidden.
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  • API Management:  Manage different artifacts in the server environment using REST API. Use Azure API management to publish orchestration endpoints. Unlock the potential of data and service by gaining the freedom to publish API to external partners and internal developers. 
  • Analytics: Perform deep data storage using Azure Application Insight and Event Hub and use Power BI for reporting and viewing data. 
  • Office 365 Adapters: Automate workflow and integrate with adapters to send or receive Office 365 emails, transmit Microsoft Office calendars and create contacts. 
  • Hubs Adapter: Send and receive messages with Azure Events Hub, which allows the server to function both as an event publisher and subscriber with the cloud-based, event-driven application. 
  • Application Life Cycle Management: Use Visual Studio Team Services to define multiple server deployments and maintain those systems throughout the life cycle. Utilize Azure DevOps to automatically deploy applications to different environments. 
  • Routing: Route encrypted as well as unencrypted messages to the receiver with no capping on the decryption limit. Ensure safety and security by only permitting messages from those that have a receive-authorization certificate. 
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  • Data Exchange: Gain end-to-end visibility through event monitoring and perform data transactions with scalable integration. Design data transformation projects in a codeless and reusable environment. Business partner management helps streamline interaction.  
  • Data Transformation:  Extract and transform data into usable formats regardless of complexity and size. Quickly integrate files, documents and message-based data in a simplified, codeless visual design and test environment.  
  • Parser: Parse and manage any format with a single data abstraction layer. Immediately deploy and reuse transformation in Hadoop and MapReduce. Develop with an intuitive UI. 
  • Business Activity Monitoring: Monitor common business activities with prebuilt rules. Flexible and customizable dashboards provide a consolidated view of partner gateway business and data activities.  
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Product Ranking

#5

among all
EDI Software

#25

among all
EDI Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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EDI Transaction and Community Management
EDI Translation and Mapping
EDI Protocols and Standards
Document Management
Integrations and Extensibility
Document Management
EDI Transaction and Community Management
EDI Translation and Mapping
Platform Capabilities and Security
Integrations and Extensibility

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

82%
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8%
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

82%
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18%
91%
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9%
83%
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17%
96%
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4%

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Robust EDI Capabilities: Users appreciate BizTalk Server for its strong support for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) standards, enabling seamless data exchange with trading partners.
Integration Flexibility: The platform is lauded for its ability to integrate with a wide range of systems and technologies, making it a versatile choice for complex IT environments.
Scalability: Businesses value BizTalk's scalability, which allows them to start small and expand their use of the server as their needs grow, without significant re-investment.
Reliable Messaging: The guaranteed delivery feature ensures that messages are never lost, providing peace of mind for critical business transactions.
Comprehensive B2B Support: Users find the built-in support for B2B transactions and protocols to be a major advantage, streamlining operations with partners.
Advanced Monitoring and Tracking: The ability to monitor and track data flows in real-time helps businesses quickly identify and resolve issues, enhancing operational efficiency.
Extensive Adapter Library: BizTalk's wide range of available adapters simplifies the process of connecting to various applications and services, reducing development time.
Strong Community and Support: The active BizTalk community and Microsoft's support services are highly valued for providing assistance and sharing best practices.
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Reduced Errors: Manual data entry is prone to human error, but B2B Data Exchange automates the process, leading to more accurate information and fewer costly mistakes.
Improved Efficiency: Instead of manually entering data, businesses can use B2B Data Exchange to automate the exchange of information, freeing up time and resources for other tasks.
Enhanced Visibility: B2B Data Exchange provides businesses with greater visibility into their supply chain, allowing them to track orders, shipments, and inventory levels in real-time.
Stronger Relationships: By streamlining communication and collaboration, B2B Data Exchange can help businesses build stronger relationships with their trading partners.
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Complex Setup: Users often find the initial setup and configuration of BizTalk Server to be complex and time-consuming, especially for those with specific EDI needs.
Steep Learning Curve: New users report a steep learning curve, making it challenging to fully leverage BizTalk Server's capabilities without significant training.
Cost: The total cost of ownership, including licensing, hardware, and maintenance, can be prohibitively expensive for small to medium-sized businesses.
Performance Issues: Some users experience performance bottlenecks, particularly in high-volume transaction environments, leading to delays and decreased efficiency.
Limited Agility: The platform's architecture can sometimes hinder rapid changes or updates, making it less agile in response to evolving business needs.
Dependency on Windows: Being tightly integrated with Windows, BizTalk Server limits cross-platform capabilities, which can be a drawback for businesses operating in diverse IT environments.
Outdated UI: Users often cite the user interface as being outdated and less intuitive compared to more modern integration solutions.
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Limited Protocol Support: B2B Data Exchange primarily focuses on AS2 and lacks support for other common protocols like sFTP, FTPS, and VAN, which might not meet the diverse requirements of businesses with established EDI workflows.
Trading Partner Onboarding Challenges: The process of onboarding trading partners can be cumbersome, often requiring manual intervention and coordination, leading to delays and potential errors in establishing connections.
Limited Visibility and Control: Users have reported a lack of granular visibility into data flows and limited control over message processing, making it difficult to troubleshoot issues or optimize EDI operations effectively.
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BizTalk Server is a powerful tool for businesses needing a robust and adaptable solution for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and application integration. Users appreciate its ability to handle complex data formats and its scalability, making it suitable for large organizations with diverse integration requirements. Its versatility allows for connecting various systems and applications, streamlining business processes. However, some users find BizTalk Server's complexity and steep learning curve to be drawbacks, especially for those seeking a simpler EDI solution. Additionally, while BizTalk Server offers a range of features, it may not be the most cost-effective option for smaller businesses with less complex integration needs. Compared to other integration platforms like MuleSoft Anypoint Platform or Boomi, BizTalk Server stands out with its deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, making it a natural choice for organizations heavily invested in Microsoft technologies. Its strength lies in handling complex integrations and orchestrations, but it may not be as user-friendly or cloud-native as some competitors. Ultimately, BizTalk Server is best suited for enterprises requiring a comprehensive and scalable solution for EDI and application integration, particularly those already utilizing Microsoft products and services. Its ability to manage intricate data formats and automate business processes makes it a valuable asset for organizations with complex integration challenges.

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Over the past year, B2B Data Exchange has garnered attention for its robust capabilities in managing complex EDI tasks and data integration processes. Users have consistently highlighted its flexibility and scalability as key strengths, allowing businesses of various sizes to tailor the software to their specific needs. Compared to similar products, B2B Data Exchange is often praised for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive support documentation, which significantly reduce the learning curve for new users. This ease of use, combined with powerful data transformation features, sets it apart from competitors that may require more technical expertise to navigate effectively. However, some users have pointed out that despite its strengths, B2B Data Exchange can be resource-intensive, requiring significant system resources for optimal performance. This aspect, while not a deal-breaker for larger organizations, may pose challenges for smaller businesses with limited IT infrastructure. Additionally, while the software excels in handling EDI and data integration, its cost has been noted as a potential barrier for smaller entities, especially when compared to more budget-friendly alternatives that offer basic functionalities without the depth or breadth of features. What makes B2B Data Exchange particularly important for businesses today is its ability to streamline data exchange and integration across diverse systems, a critical need in the era of digital transformation. Its capability to handle large volumes of data efficiently and securely offers peace of mind for businesses dealing with sensitive or proprietary information. This software is most suited for medium to large enterprises or those with complex data integration needs. Its scalability and comprehensive feature set make it an ideal choice for organizations looking to optimize their B2B communications and data management strategies, ensuring they remain agile and competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

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