Vision and Scope

The ebXML initiative seeks to provide a common way to electronically exchange business data expressed in XML (or EDI, graphic images, or other formats), from one computer application to another, or between people and computers. This ambitious goal is summed up in the ebXML requirements specification as, "to provide an open technical framework to enable XML to be utilized in a consistent and uniform manner for the exchange of electronic business (eb) data in application to application, application to human, and human to application environments ”thus creating a single electronic global market ."[1]

In its vision statement, ebXML seeks to develop "A single set of internationally agreed upon technical specifications that consist of common XML semantics and related document structures to facilitate global trade." The vision also requires that any specifications comply with World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Recommendations.[2] And whenever possible the specifications need to provide a migration path from previous specifications and standards involving EDI or other XML vocabularies.

The scope of the initiative covers businesses of all sizes, from the largest global enterprises to mediumsize and smaller companies. However, the focus on smaller businesses provides greatest opportunities for ebXML, and the designers of the specifications kept those requirements paramount during the development period. Likewise, ebXML messages need to be open and available to any companies or industries seeking interoperability with trading partners and across industries.[3]

ebXML encourages companies to develop enduring solutions rather than quick fixes.

The general principles behind ebXML call for a single uniform interoperable base to reduce the spread of incompatible XML business vocabularies. Since the emergence of XML, literally hundreds of specialized XML vocabularies have been created to serve single industries or even single companies, as well as specific business functions. In a related objective, ebXML also encourages companies to develop more enduring solutions that improve business processes, rather than concentrating on continual quick fixes.

Another key principle is to keep deployment costs to businesses to a minimum, with the goal of plug-and-play ebXML-compatible software. Systems based on ebXML should avoid imposing conditions that require companies to invest in proprietary software to exchange messages. Programs compatible with ebXML must work with each other, no questions asked. Showing its international nature, ebXML must be a global specification and support multiple languages.[4]