I'm a little confused to the discussion about XML replacing or usurping EDI in the B2B marketplace. Unless I'm way off the mark (which has been known to happen on occasion), I see XML as enhancing EDI, not replacing it. I work as EDI coordinator at a major wholesale supply house in Canada, and we exchange 850 Purchase Orders, 810 Invoices, and several other documents with both customer and supplier trading partners. One question I was asked recently, by a member of our accounts payable staff, was could they have the ability to view the EDI Invoices from vendors on line. After all, when they are processing paper, they can see the invoice in front of them if they need to reconcile any problems or differences. I replied that I could give them the ability, but it would be useless to them, as all they would see is a string of data, separated by all manner of funny characters. While they could be trained to read the raw data, it would not be easy. I could see where she was coming from - she had it in her mind that somewhere on the system was a document that looked exactly like a paper invoice that they could bring up on the screen and view. Not unreasonable, after all, the web is just full of electronic documents that look just like their paper counterparts.
Here is where I can see XML being of great value. If a document is sent to me in XML format, I can split the information two directions. First, I can use the raw data to feed my legacy systems. And what method will I use to feed the system? My existing EDI processes, which are tried, reliable, and understood by a number of skilled technical people in my shop, hence, very supportable. In the other direction, I will use the markup properties to produce an electronic picture of an invoice, that can be indexed, stored on a server, and recalled by anyone who wants to see just exactly what information "the XYZ Trading Company sent on invoice 12345". I won't scrap or replace my existing EDI processes - I will use XML to enhance them.
This is just part of the power I see behind this technology. My 2 cents worth.
Dave.
Dave Irvine
Systems Analyst, EIS
EDI Coordinator
EMCO Limited
519-453-9600 Ext. 2203
Fax 519-453-9314
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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