Report to XML/edi Group members 4 August 2000 On 1 July 2000, the XML/edi Group became three years old and remains the largest grass-roots organization devoted to applying XML to electronic business, with nearly 1,800 members worldwide. I would like to use this opportunity to report to group members on our accomplishments and propose some new initiatives and benefits for the members. Accomplishments Since July 1997, the XML/edi Group has made available guidelines for the exchange of business data and specifications for repositories of business applications based on XML. More importantly, it has helped connect end-users in a network that answers practical questions and encourages development of e-business systems based on XML. Perhaps the top priority for e-business today is the development of a single common message format and syntax for the exchange of XML messages. Members of the group frequently express the need for a common worldwide specification in messages to the list, particularly with requests for XML-based standards and specifications to address specific business functions or industry transactions. The announcement of the Electronic Business XML (ebXML) initiative, designed to address this need, generated considerable discussion on the list, but in the past year has become an important focus for many group members. EbXML promises to enable the global use of electronic business information in an interoperable, secure and consistent manner by all parties, and if successful, will serve as a key accomplishment that many XML/edi Group members have sought since the group started three years ago. New initiatives It is time to consider new initiatives for the group and benefits for its members. At the recent group meetings (XMLOne in Frankfurt, Germany and at XML DevCon in New York, USA), participants recommended advancing the XML/edi guidelines to help evaluate software tools, now that there are several packages available addressing different functions and markets. Participants in the meetings expressed the need for guidance on the questions to ask vendors, to help reduce the potential frustrations and risks with using these tools. Today, no single product meets the guidelines as proposed three years ago by the XML/edi Group. Because of this situation, and because of the various packages available on the market, a checklist of this kind will help customers ask the right questions about capabilities and help vendors focus their presentations on important end-user needs. The checklist will probably be a dynamic document, changing as technologies mature and uses for XML in e-business expand. We plan to discuss this new initiative in more detail at the XML/edi Group�s upcoming meetings and hope to develop a first version of the checklist in the next few months, depending on member participation. We encourage group members to take part in these discussions, either at the in-person meetings or over the list, so the checklist covers the right kinds of questions and vendors can provide the right answers to them. Next meeting: Here is the schedule for the next XML/edi Group meeting, where we will discuss the checklist � Thursday 21 September, 6:00 - 8:00 pm DISA Headquarters Alexandria, VA., USA Please check back to the XML/edi Group site (http://www.xmledi-group.org/xmledigroup/meet.htm) for updates on meeting dates and times, which are subject to change. See the DISA Web site for directions to its offices (http://www.disa.org/DISA_Dir.html) or hotel recommendations (http://www.disa.org/hotelinfo.htm). Member benefits We are delighted announce important new benefits for XML/edi Group members as a result of our partnership with DISA, which began earlier this year. Group members now qualify for a five percent discount from the full (non-member) prices of DISA-produced documents, as well as a five percent discount on non-member registration fees at DISA conferences and training courses. The XML/edi Group is one of DISA�s Collaborative Services partners, joining such leading e-business initiatives as OpenTravel Alliance, the Interactive Financial Exchange Forum, the Mortgage Industry Specifications Maintenance Organization, and the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association. DISA, the Data Interchange Standards Association driving global e-business, is a Virginia-based not-for-profit organization that offers a variety of outreach initiatives and extensive educational programs for every e-commerce endeavor. (http://www.disa.org) is the leading technical management association promoting the application of markup technologies and a supporter of XML since its creation. For details about the XML/edi Group, please contact James M. Devine Jr., Group Administrator, DISA at [EMAIL PROTECTED] +1 703-518-4164. - Bruce ------ XML/edi Group Discussion List ------ Homepage = http://www.XMLedi-Group.org Unsubscribe = send email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Leave the subject and body of the message blank Questions/requests: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To receive only one message per day (digest format) send the following message to [EMAIL PROTECTED], (leave the subject line blank) digest xmledi-group your-email-address To join the XML/edi Group complete the form located at: http://www.xmledi-group.org/xmledigroup/mail1.htm
