Ed,
You are spot on!
Dan Mehlhorn
System Programmer/EDI Administrator
Crescent Electric Supply Co.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed Broomfield" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "XMLEDI Group" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 8:09 AM
Subject: Small-biz e-biz reflections from an EDI'er
As I endeavour to keep abreast of this world's technological innovations in
the field of electronic commerce, I am constantly reminded of the vast
number of small business who still exchange paper invoices.
When I joined the EDI bandwagon in the late eighties it seemed the paper
invoice was doomed and would not last more than a few years (of course,
there would always be some exceptions). Then, the biggest hurdle was finding
low-cost and reliable computers which could exchange documents seamlessly
and efficiently both with the outside world and with internal accounting and
logistics systems.
Computers are now cheap, and reasonably reliable (sic), yet despite all
this, the man on the Clapham omnibus still feels safer with cellulose. Maybe
it's a generation thing. But I wonder whether it's in part due to the fact
that our industry is pathologically commited to generating steadily greater
levels of complexity , whereas manual trading has been around for millenia
and is more or less understood by one and all. Knowledge engendours
confidence and security - lack of knowledge can engendour reluctance and
fear (acronymophobia?).
Are we not trying to run before we can walk with XML and small businesses?
What happened to hitting that critical mass with first-generation EDI? I was
taught by my masters not to impose EDI on a poor system as this would only
consolidate existing problems. This is surely still true for any new
technology.
Reactions at your leisure, please!
Ed Broomfield
----------------
IT & Business Services
Specialists in e-business
Appt 3, Downs View, Holybourne,
Hampshire GU34 4HY, U.K.
Tel +44 (0)1420 543602
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
You are currently subscribed to xmledi-group as: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe send a blank email to %%email.unsub%%
---
You are currently subscribed to xmledi-group as: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
