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                                                                         Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Does it make sense to pioneer with ebXML when you can't make agreements with business partners because ebXML is not complete?

  2. It is said that SME's should be involved with ebXML. How should this be done?

  3. Is the ASP model an interesting approach in order to involve SME's with ebXML?

  4. What are the similarities and differences between an ebXML repository and UDDI?

  5. What are the similarities and differences between an ebXML and the web services?

  6. When will ebXML be completed?

  1. Does it make sense to pioneer with ebXML when you can't make agreements with business partners because ebXML is not complete?

Yes, don’ wait! Both the base technology and the definition of business content are becoming available at an affordable cost.

From a technical point of view most of the ebXML technical specifications are already available at version two. Which imply that the base technology is ready. This is further substantiated as we see an increasing number of ebXML compliant products participating in interoperability testing. As for the development of ebXML compliant business documents, the founders of ebXML will not initiate initiatives or agreements itself. On the other hand we see an increasing number of business communities and associations coming forward with such ebXML compliant business documents and processes.  

  1. It is said that SME's should be involved with ebXML. How should this be done?

It is probably not realistic to expect SME’s to be directly involved in the continued development of ebXML. They do however participate in user communities and trade associations as well as influencing vendors. SME’s should express their requirements for ebXML compliant solutions to the user communities, the trade associations and the vendors in order for these organisations to develop standards and products that meets the requirements of the SME’s.  

  1. Is the ASP model an interesting approach in order to involve SME's with ebXML?

This is certainly a possibility. The ebXML architecture is suitable for "peer-to-peer" applications as well as the ASP model. 

  1. What are the similarities and differences between an ebXML repository and UDDI?

UDDI is mainly focused on the pre-contract phase, i.e. finding a business partners, although it can also describe how you can do business with that partner. ebXML is mainly focused on the post-contract phase, i.e. when you know you are going to do business with a specific business partner and are looking for information on how to do this. 

  1. What are the similarities and differences between an ebXML and the web services?

Current web service standards allow you to define and describe one specific service that you company is offering (i.e. the service of accepting an order). ebXML goes further than that: it allows you to describe all of the services you offer as an consistent business process (i.e. not only that you will accept an order, but also that you will evaluate this order and return an order confirmation, etc.). Also harmonisation of business processes and business documents is an integral part of ebXML, for which eBES together with UN/CEFACT will take a significant responsibility. By the way ebXML does not exclude web services; your business process may consist of several web services. 

  1. When will ebXML be completed?

In a way ebXML will never become completed; the framework and the technology are already available, now it's up to the market to fill the framework with useful business content. Get together with your business partners to define and describe your business process, your business documents and your Core Components. Put these forward to eBES and UN/CEFACT for harmonisation and standardisation and the framework will grow.

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This page last modified on 2003-10-21