Global XML framework for electronic business
The United Nations body for trade facilitation and electronic business (UN/CEFACT) and the Organisation for the Advancement of Structured Information (OASIS) have begun work on establishing a worldwide standard for XML (extensible mark-up language) business specifications. The two organisations have set up an electronic business XML working group to develop a technical framework that will enable a consistent approach to the exchange of electronic data. Industry groups currently working on XML specifications have been invited to participate in the 18 month project, the results of which will be published on XML.org. XML is emerging as a major technology for global communications over the Internet because it enables the exchange of so-called 'smart' data - information that can readily be analysed, sorted, styled and customised. The combination of more efficient processing, more accurate searching and more flexible linking could revolutionise business on the Web. 'To be effective for global business, it is vital that XML specifications are based on a common framework,' explained Bill Smith, president of OASIS. 'That framework does not exist today and, consequently, there are many, often competing efforts underway worldwide. This new Electronic Business XML Initiative will end the confusion and duplication of effort that currently exists.' Ray Walker, chairman of the UN/CEFACT Steering Group added, 'This is good news especially for small and medium-sized companies, developing countries and economies in transition. In the long term, this initiative will contribute to the growth of world trade.' The Electronic Business XML Initiative will be led by Klaus-Dieter Naujok of the Harbinger Corporation, a senior member of the UN/CEFACT Steering committee, and Dr Robert S. Sutor of IBM, the Chief Strategy Officer of OASIS. UN/CEFACT is the United Nations body whose mandate covers worldwide policy and technical development in the area of trade facilitation and electronic business. Headquartered in Geneva, it has developed and promoted many tools for the facilitation of global business processes including UN/EDIFACT, the international EDI standard. It strongly supports the development and implementation of open, interoperable, global standards and specifications for electronic business. OASIS is a non-profitmaking international consortium dedicated to accelerating the adoption of product-independent formats based on public standards. These standards include SGML, XML, HTML and CGM as well as others that are related to structured information processing. OASIS operates XML.org a community resource designed to provide a credible source of accurate information about the application of XML in industrial and commercial settings.