《B2B Integration》.pdfVIP

Standards Required to Support XML-Based B2B Integration A conceptual model for understanding XML convergence Companies across all industries are realizing the fundamental benefits of using the Internet to integrate their supply chains. The potential to reduce inventory, improve time -to- market, reduce transaction costs and conduct business with a broader network of supply chain partners has direct, measurable benefits to a company’s bottom line. Because of the benefits that result from supply chain integration, companies are exploring open, XML-based standards that help remove the formidable barriers associated with developing a common business language and process methodology for Internet-based collaboration, communication and commerce. Many private companies and industry organizations today are proposing a wide array of standards for creating this common e-business language -- so many, in fact, that it is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate among the multitude of vertical and horizontal industry standards. There is currently no way of easily identifying the e-business standards challenge each standards organization strives to resolve. Perhaps more important, there is no mechanism for standards bodies to identify where their efforts may be duplicative and where they may be complementary. RosettaNet, an industry consortium and standards organization representing the needs of the Information Technology (IT), Electronic Components (EC), and Semiconductor Manufacturing (SM) industries, has surveyed the XML–related standards space and, as a service to the industry, has developed a conceptual model that enables the comparison of horizontal (universal) and vertical (supply chain- or business model-specific ) XML standards efforts. Using a model that identifies nine distinct components required to provide a total e- business process, RosettaNet’s goal is to bring clarity to various indu