Bob,
It is for this very reason that the ebXML Initiative - a joint effort
sponsored by OASIS and UN/CEFACT. The critical goals are twofold:
1. Provide a standard global framework that will enable interoperability
between XML vocabularies, etc.
2. Ensure that the framework enables participation by even the smallest of
traders (i.e., parties) as well as the biggest.
The mission of ebXML is very simple: To provide an open XML-based
infrastructure enabling the global use of electronic business information
in an interoperable, secure and consistent manner by all parties.
Some of the reasons why ebXML exists are:
Traditional EDI adoption growing
Rate of adoption decreasing
XML/Internet e-commerce applications increasing
Many vendor schemes for near-verbatim EDI-to-XML message translation
emerging
Traditional EDI vendors want to grow EDI market share while transitioning
customers to interface with new XML representations of business objects
Need for a common message structure and syntax so that industry-specific XML
vocabularies will interoperate
No business communicates solely in its supply chain
Must be able to exchange messages with those outside their industry
boundaries
The value of the ebXML Framework and how it's being developed includes:
Provides the only globally developed open XML-based Standard built on a rich
heritage of electronic business experience
Creates a Single Global Electronic Market
Enables all parties irrespective of size to engage in Internet-based
electronic business
Provides for plug and play shrink-wrapped solutions
Enables parties to
complement and extend current EC/EDI investment
expand electronic business to new and existing trading partners
Facilitates convergence of current and emerging XML efforts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Similar to this is an article in the premier issue of Supply Chain
e-Business that discusses forecasting and planning systems. Mikael Ahlund,
a vp for Viewlocity, states " Probably less than one percent of intergration
is currently being done with XML today. I doubt that this figure will grow
by more than a few percentage points for several years to come. The main
problem with XML is that it fails to create a standard internet interface,
despite what most people have been led to believe. There are at least half
a dozen versions of XML that don't talk to one another, such as cXML,
Biztalk and Rosettanet. I love standards-there are so many of them."
The article finishes by stating the need for EDI along with private/public
exchanges for "strategic, high volume goods and services."
Bob Scheuermann
EDI Analyst
Mentholatum Co., Inc.
=======================================================================
To signoff the EDI-L list, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To subscribe, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To contact the list owner: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Archives at http://www.mail-archive.com/edi-l%40listserv.ucop.edu/
