Deployment Considerations and Benefits

Using ebXML as a model, CatXML allows for different levels of support for trading partners of different sizes and sophistication. The CatXML design can support any legacy information structure, while simultaneously providing completely dynamic output. In addition, because the CatXML architecture supports a distributed query information model, it avoids performance bottlenecks, thereby giving small trading partners the ability to take part in a broad selection of online Internet marketplaces .

The simplest CatXML-compliant implementation is a low-cost point-of-presence solution. The most obvious feature of the approach is that any computer system, anywhere , can access the catalog anytime . As a business model, this is well suited to many small suppliers who simply want to enlarge their market presence.

More sophisticated operations, however, are required to restrict and manage trading partner relations, and companies may want to define access channels and profiles for each of their trading partners.

The next level up the sophistication ladder is the interchange server model, which allows two or more trading partners to share information with each other in a closed model, using locally defined custom information formats. A typical interchange server application would be a supplier with three partners, each using different line-of-business systems that export information into fixed formats individually mapped to a CatXML-compliant format. To deliver these enhanced functions, the CatXML specification provides full interchange semantics. This enhanced performance includes a scheduler to acquire information automatically from remote suppliers. Typically, this acquisition would be a daily or weekly event, timed to coincide with catalog updates from the vendors ' business systems. These updates are then consolidated into the existing catalog information. CatXML also supports the use of customized channels within information folders, so only content that matches a partner's retrieval profile will be returned to a remote system.

The highest level of sophistication is the service provider model, in which individual partners contract with a central service, allowing them to manage and control their catalog data distribution. Performance is a major concern in this model, as is support for real-time information access on items such as price and quantity on hand. The CatXML syntax provides a flexible model that supports real-time information querying on an as-needed basis. The CatXML information grid then follows on as an extension by linking a combination of the other CatXML models. Large organizations such as the U.S. government EMall system require these kinds of business capabilities.

The CatXML initiative reflects ebXML in several other ways. It uses XML content in a truly native fashion, without having to require participants to alter the format of their own local XML content.

Additionally, it exploits the capabilities of ebXML syntax to provide a high degree of maintainability and extensibility in line with the original design goals of ebXML itself.