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Subject: [ubl-lsc] FYI: First draft: UBL and verticals
LSC members, Here's a copy of something I'm posting to the Marketing SC list. Jon ================================================================== At our meeting in Menlo Park, we decided that we needed a statement of the ubl value proposition for industry verticals, and I took responsibility for creating the first draft of this document. See below. The review process for this thing is going to be tricky. The conversation started in the Liaison SC and ended in the Marketing SC. In the tc plenary, msc asserted ownership of this, and we decided then that it would first be reviewed by msc and then by lsc. In looking at it now, however, I don't think that this serialization really makes sense. At this stage, I want input from the union set of msc and lsc. Peter Yim ran into a similar problem in trying to work out something jointly with the ttsc and the lcsc. I don't have a good solution for this. Cross-posting is NOT the solution, but I don't know what is. (If you have something you want to say about this, please contact me directly; I don't want to start a general discussion of mail list logistics right now.) Here's what I'm going to suggest in the current instance. I'm going to post this message on the msc list and post a copy of the message in the lsc list. And then I'm going to ask for comments on the draft OFF THE LIST, i.e., directly to me. I will respond to the comments privately and probably make changes to reflect whatever input I get. Maybe I'll push back privately if I don't agree with a suggested change, but that's OK because we will work through repeated iterations until everyone's happy. If someone raises an issue that can't be resolved this way, we will take it to the appropriate list for general discussion. When I stop getting comments on revised drafts, then we're done. So: members of the msc and lsc, please review this and send comments directly to me. I will revise in light of input and keep posting drafts until we get general agreement. Jon ================================================================== UBL AND VERTICAL INDUSTRY XML STANDARDS The Problem with XML Industry Standardization XML was designed for the specification of multiple data formats optimized for different data exchange applications. So the recent explosion of XML specifications resulting from the efforts of industry associations to develop domain-specific markup languages is neither unexpected nor detrimental. In one area, however, these otherwise beneficial XML industry initiatives are creating interoperability problems and impeding the development of inexpensive software. That area is the specification of XML schemas for common business documents such as purchase orders and invoices. While different industries frequently do have slightly different requirements for these common business forms, their similarities far outweigh their differences, and most of the work devoted to the design of these forms in each industry segment is simply wasted effort that would better be deployed in work on XML schemas for the data that is truly specific to a given industry. The goal of UBL is to standardize XML schemas for common business documents so that industry organizations can concentrate on the part of the data interchange problem in which they have special expertise. The OASIS UBL TC The OASIS UBL (Universal Business Language) Technical Committee is an open, publicly accountable, nonprofit initiative to define a common XML library for basic business documents like purchase orders, invoices, and advance shipping notices. UBL will provide a set of XML building blocks together with a framework that will enable trading partners to unambiguously identify and exchange basic e-commerce documents in specific business contexts. The OASIS UBL effort builds on the ebXML infrastructure for XML registry, messaging, and trading partner agreements, developed in a partnership between OASIS and the United Nations and now under the management of OASIS technical committees. UBL also builds on two other key deliverables of the initial ebXML effort -- the X12/EDIFACT Core Components catalog and the ebXML analysis of context-driven document design. UBL will unite and harmonize a number of currently existing XML and EDI business libraries into a set of internationally recognized de jure standards. The arrival of a standard set of XML business schemas will solve major interoperability problems for both vendors and users and will jump-start the entry of small and medium-size businesses into the electronic marketplace. UBL will be freely available to everyone without legal encumbrance or licensing fees. OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1993 to advance interoperability in data exchange through the use of SGML, the precursor to XML. Over the last two years, OASIS has become known for its partnership with UN/CEFACT in the ongoing ebXML initiative to establish a standard XML-based framework for electronic commerce. As a member of the international Management Group that coordinates the bodies responsible for global electronic commerce standards, OASIS is well positioned to develop the common business library and to advance it through its partner bodies to the status of an international standard recognized as a legal basis for world trade. The UBL Value Proposition for Industry Associations The separate development of basic business documents in multiple industry consortia is not just a waste of effort; it is also a recipe for noninteroperability. It is a rare business that needs to exchange data only within its own industry. A company in the chemical industry, for example, may need to buy containers from a company in the steel products industry so that it can sell paint to a company in the automobile industry. The amount of customization needed to configure systems for data exchange across industry boundaries is in inverse proportion to the amount of standardization achieved in the definition of the data formats. But true cross-industry standardization can only occur in an effort that stands outside of any particular industry while providing an organizational structure that provides for global consultation among industries. UBL is such an effort. The Advantages of Joint Development Pooling resources to develop a single set of XML schemas for generic business documents has a number of advantages. - Joint development is the only way to promote the interoperability of basic business documents across industry boundaries. - Joint development is a much more effective use of resources than the separate development of the same basic documents in multiple standards organizations. - Joint development also allows us to combine marketing resources, enhancing the profile of the effort and promoting its adoption. - Outsourcing the development of "vanilla" business documents to a joint effort enables each industry association to focus on the documents that are unique to that industry. - The development of a common XML business library will enable the creation of inexpensive, off-the-shelf tools for performing everyday supply-chain operations. - Pooling our business and technical expertise will ensure a better set of standards, one that addresses a larger body of business cases and exhibits a superior design. - Placing ownership of the resulting work in a nonprofit organization open to all interested parties and dedicated to the free publication of its specifications will ensure that the joint work will remain free of proprietary control. The Role of Industry Associations in UBL Defining a set of standard XML business schemas that will support legacy EDI systems across industry boundaries is challenging work; doing it free of vendor control without the contribution of expert labor would be impossible. An open, nonprofit effort like UBL can succeed only if its intended users do their part to make it happen. Industry associations have a special role to play in UBL. The goal of interoperability requires that every industry in which UBL is intended to be used must certify that the UBL schemas will support the data exchanged in their business transactions with suppliers and customers. As the owners of industry-specific business expertise, industry consortia are the organizations best qualified to perform this function. The UBL Liaison Subcommittee To coordinate the review of UBL schemas by industry organizations, the UBL TC has established a special group, the UBL Liaison Subcommittee, whose members are individuals formally appointed by industry consortia to represent their interests in the UBL work. The initial members of the UBL Liaison Subcommittee include RosettaNet (IT industry), EIDX (electronics industry), ARTS (retail sales), and XBRL (accounting professionals). Members of the Liaison Subcommittee make the following commitments to UBL: 1. To join OASIS as individual or organizational members. Individual membership in OASIS costs only USD 250 per year; see http://www.oasis-open.org/join for details. 2. To attend Liaison SC phone conferences every two weeks. Travel is not necessary. 3. To arrange for periodic reviews of UBL specifications by business experts within each liaison organization. 4. To help schedule UBL TC meetings in a way that minimizes conflict with industry conferences and other important events and promotes cooperation between the industry organizations represented in UBL. 5. To participate in a cross-industry alliance dedicated to the definition of free vendor-neutral XML business standards. Information about UBL More information on UBL can be found on its web page at http://oasis-open.org/committees/ubl A white paper on UBL is available at http://oasis-open.org/committees/ubl/msc/200112/ubl.pdf Conclusion The UBL effort represents a conversation between the world's industry organizations on how best to arrive at a worldwide consensus on the form of common business data. If your organization wishes to take part in this conversation, please contact the chair of the UBL TC, Jon Bosak <jon.bosak@sun.com>.
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