9.8 Overview of ebXML

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Discussion of document transfer automatically leads to the question of a universal standard for transmitted documents. The most popular standard up to now is the EDI standard. The disadvantage of EDI is that it is not an XML document and therefore in a Web services scenario a special treatment is needed. ebXML aims to address this problem.

ebXML stand for Electronic Business using XML. It provides a modular suite of specifications that enables enterprises to conduct business over the Internet. Using ebXML, companies now have a standard method to exchange business messages, conduct trading relationships, communicate data in common terms and define and register business processes.

It is a joint development effort between OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) and the UN/CEFACT (United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business). OASIS (formerly known as SGML group) has brought XML expertise while UN/CEFACT, who was the main sponsor of Electronic Data Transmission (EDI) has brought business expertise.

For further information see the ebXML Web site at:

http://www.ebxml.org/

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