Karen,
The approach I would take would be to add a node onto the EDI based
network that
acted as a gateway for smaller trading partners. This gateway would
communicate
with the smaller trading partners on the outside using a transport
protocol such
as ebXML's TRP using XML as the payload containing the business messages.
The
gateway would use a transformation tool, such as the one my company makes
(shameless
plug :-)) to compose EDI from the XML and forward it onto the intended
vendor.
This is a relatively common approach, its the same way network engineers
deal with
connecting a fibre-based connection to a copper-based based one. You
might call it
a "bridge" instead of a "gateway", that's up to you ;-)
Cheers, hope this helps.
--
Matthew MacKenzie
VP Research & Development
XML Global Technologies, Inc.
-----Original Message-----
From: Karen Niklasson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: February 27, 2001 5:42 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: The future of EDI!
A request for ideas and/or opinions.
I am a student doing a project on 'The future of EDI' focusing on the
retail
trade.
I understand the basics of traditional EDI standards and the use of VANs.
Also I have found a number of advantages and disadvantages of using both
traditional EDI and the use of XML to transmit data. However I wondered
if
anyone could help clear up in my mind the idea of how XML can be
incorporated, should you introduce an Extranet scenario or are there other
options? I have read in some articles that there are XML servers that read
the XML message but surely this is not as secure as an extranet?
Perhaps it would be useful for me to explain the context of the problem.
The business scenario that my project aims to solve is:
A large retailer has a number of Trading Partners (TP) already set up on
EDI
using VANs. However is unable to connect the smaller TP's due set up
costs.
Questions:
What would be the best solution for that company?
Would it be to create an Extranet and have the new TPs log in to receive
XML
data?? How can the existing EDI TPs be incorporated into the new system?
I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas or opinions they would care
to
share with me, I would also like to say that many of the previous messages
I
have received through the XML/EDI group have been really useful and I hope
nobody minds being quoted in my assignment.
Regards,
Karen Niklasson
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