XML/EDI

Cyber Assisted Business in Practice

ISBN: 90-805233-2-1

Author:

Dick Raman began his career with IBM in the Netherlands where he was a consultant for the Information Network department.  In 1987 he left IBM and started his own company, EDI-TIE BV which today is a major European provider of standard EDI/eCommerce software.  Raman has gained worldwide recognition as an expert in electronic commerce and EDI.  He is a board member and chairman of EDI/EC workgroup of the EEMA (European Electronic Messaging Association.

Pages:

293 pages

Intended Audience:

This title is not for developers, or really even for implementers.  This book provides a vision for the interlinking of traditional EDI with XML-based eCommerce systems.  The book is recommended reading for upper level management, boards of directors, and governing bodies of standards institutions.  The mission of this book is to place EDI in the context of XML and the new Web-based electronic commerce environment.  Perhaps the major premise of the book is that a great deal can be learned by those trying to succeed in the new electronic business environment by studying the key elements, lessons learned, and business processes of EDI over the past twenty years.

Summary:

This book is divided into two major parts.  The first part of the book focuses on XML/EDI from the business perspective.  It provides background about both the Internet and EDI.  Understanding each is critical to making any business decision about EDI, XML or the XML/EDI alternative.  Often business decision makers come from one or the other worlds.  Those in business are often quite accomplished on the subject EDI.  And many times those in IT departments are biased in both understanding and enthusiasm for the Internet and XML.  This part of the book begins by laying a common foundations so that each group understands the technology and terminology of the other and can therefore explore solutions for the years "beyond 2000."  

Once a common foundation has been provided, Raman then introduces his hypothesis that what we really need is "Cyber Assisted Business EDI."   Raman believes that by "combining the strong points of the Internet with the strengths of VANS" we will have a unique business model for today's business environment, CAB-EDI.  Raman's final chapter in this part of the book focuses on the "Real Time Company."  Here he discusses the effect of technology on the organization, the basic principles behind the real time company, and how an existing company can make the transition.

Part 2 of XML/EDI provides "Selected Background Material."  Here we get into more technical details behind the Internet, XML, the components of building an XML/EDI framework and a step-by-step implementation scenario for CAB-EDI.  My sense is that this part of the book provides brief coverage to all the buzz words that someone might use in the XML/EDI discussion.  It is meant as an executive reference resource, not as a developer or implementer tool.

The final chapter in this book provides case studies from EXPERTS (EDI/XML Procurement Enabling Real Trade Standards).  This is a project aiming to implement, demonstrate and validate the concept of XML/EDI in the European health care supplier sector.  These case studies are interesting in that they provide a working laboratory for XML/EDI solutions.

Recommendation:

This author, Dick Raman, is certainly a man with an opinion.  In the first version of this book (clearly about EDI and not XML, since XML was not developed until 1996-1998) Raman stated that "EDI is the backbone of Electronic Commerce."  This antagonized both the EDI community and the Internet Community.  The Internet Community viewed EDI as old fashioned, legacy and simply not applicable.  The EDI community did not like the implication that EDI would or should ever have anything to do with the Internet.

This book is good for management level that wants to understand a bit more about XML/EDI.  It provides valuable, high-level background on both topics.  And Raman correctly identifies the problems that come with the requirement to integrate XML or EDI with back office systems.  It also points out the importance of having industry specific eCommerce standards for XML/EDI transactions.  Personally, I was looking more for answers than overview and insights.  But that really isn't the goal of this title.

Darold Vredberg

Guest Reviewer, XML Files

Return to TOC