ebXML for Trade

The ebXML standard was created to replace EDI (at least that was the idea), or other electronic commerce standards currently in use. Moreover, ebXML looks to create a set of standards that is affordable and will work in small to medium enterprises. The ebXML standard is open, is free to anyone with interest, and does not seem to compete directly with other standards when you consider its application (but it could have some overlap with other process integration standards such as WFMC or BPMI).

At its essence, ebXML is based on process models and encoded in XML; it is also an XML message system to exchange information and a repository to allow information sharing. The message system supports any type of data, including EDI transactions or binary information. In addition to information, ebXML supports trading partner agreements a fundamental function of EDI partner/profile subsystems and you may use ebXML to express business services agreements.

As with other standards, ebXML is not a product, but a set of guidelines that allow application and application integration technology vendors to design their products to support it. To date, there are dozens of vendors and products that support ebXML, some in part, some completely. More will be added as the standard matures and adoption continues.

In recent years, it's been clear that ebXML (as well as many other modern Internet standards) has to take on a coexistence strategy rather than a replacement strategy. This is due to the fact that most enterprises are reluctant to shut down their existing B2B systems, such as EDI, until new standards have proven their operational value. Thus, we have another evolution not revolution, which seems to be a common theme as we migrate to newer, but more complex and invasive standards.