Re: [ebxml-dev] RE: [EDI-L] Article on ebXML Core Components ...

["Fred Blommestein, van" <f.van.blommestein@berenschot.com>]

Todd, others,

I always understood that the added value of XML over EDI is that you can send XML to a simple browser, while for EDI you need expensive middleware. Yet the focus of ebXML seems to be a mere replacement of EDI, with expensive middleware, but only more complex. 

In my view ebXML will only be viable (but then very viable) if support for it is built in in operating systems and general utilities like browsers.

To enable that, we should:
- define a message service layer that is handled by (next version) browsers (and mobile phones)
- define browser (and mobile phone) compatible "patterns" or transactions.

A browser compatible "pattern" takes into account that a message (that is crowded with non human readable codes) is not just sent to the other end, but that the receiver (or his stylesheet) may decide what information he needs to retrieve additionally from the sender to take the next step. 

So the "logical" transfer (e.g. send a purchase order) may behave technically as a dialog, resulting in the same commitment.

The challenge is to let this be transparent for the sender, who doesn't know (and doesn't care) whether the message goes to an SME or a multinational. 

Any thoughts?

Fred van Blommestein
Berenschot - EP-NL - OpenXchange

<<< Todd Boyle <tboyle@rosehill.net>  4/22  9:59p >>>
Me too.

Mike Rawlins wrote:

>Excuse me, but I can't help but violently disagree with most of this 
>sentiment!
>[...]
>We need better solutions, not bigger sticks...
>
>Christopher Harvey wrote:
>
>>...my 0.02 cents worth is to ask all involved to understand
>>   the needs of the SMEs but to use the big guys to force change.

Here's one idea: a bettor's approach, or a PicoIPO:


Dear SME Accounting Software vendor:

I hereby offer to pay you to build a UBL interface on your
product.  You will offer it for sale to your users.

Together we will calculate how many unit sales it requires
for you to recover the cost of the development.  You will
repay me for my investment at a flat rate until you reach the
breakeven sales.  Then you will pay me another $1000
winnings, from any further incremental sales.  Then you
can keep the sales proceeds after that.

Stop arguing which came first, the chicken or the egg.

Here is an egg.

Todd


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