Bill, or should I say, Dear Bill (not FOB)
I think that the article speaks for itself. No you are not missing
anything. And yes, Kleinschmidt offers VAN services, as well as a number of
other services such as translation from X12 (UN/EDIFACT etc.) to XML and ASP
hosting services. I did not see the need to emphasize what we do, but since
you mentioned it.
Back to the article. Many of the previously posted articles have implied
how easy XML is, how it will not require any assistance (read consultants
and/or VANS and/or translation software), how it will replace all other
methods of B2B and A2A, etc. etc. etc. I thought it was refreshing to see
the honesty from the RosettaNet folks, and I applaud their efforts.
However, my comments did not mean to imply that XML does not have a place in
this brave new world of commerce (to borrow a phrase). Today, we use XML
here at Kleinschmidt as a data format when we move data between our Tandems
and servers. We have a number of customers to whom we provide XML to X12 or
X12 to XML translations. We even use XML between ourselves and customers
instead of a customary proprietary flat file.
To your specific questions. I thought that Jennifer Hamilton's comments
were direct and to the point. I suspect that you speculate that not all of
the folks involved in RosettaNet were experienced in B2B connectivity, maybe
they were. I would be willing to guess that some of the vendors/consultants
working with RosettaNet at least implied that it would be relatively easy.
As the article points out, it never is easy.
I am not sure exactly what Viacore does and does not do. Although what
little I could find said in part "Members of RosettaNet, a consortium
seeking to set XML-based supply chain standards, have formed Viacore, a
joint-venture service provider that will build a business-to-business
e-commerce hub for the IT industry." So I would not speculate on if they
are a VAN with a newer spin. But there sure are a lot of them out there,
aren't there. Many of them have had success making VAN a dirty word, and
trying to provide many of the same services. Most of them are internet
based, some of them allow other means of communication, some restrict. But
as far as I know, all major VANS allow communication via the internet (even
the ones that have stopped using the term VAN). Gee, let those sales and
marketing people get a hold of a product and look what happens.
Not sure that the same (maybe less, maybe more) could be saved using good
old EDI instead of new improved XML. But I will say that RosettaNet has
raised many valid business issues to very high levels at many companies.
They (the companies) have invested significant funds (both personnel time
and money) with RosettaNet. Those investments will provide payoff, either
with X12 or XML, as they fix the business issues related to B2B
communication.
Doug
Doug Anderson
Assistant Vice President Sales Support
Kleinschmidt Inc.
450 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
847-405-7457
847-458-5234 (home office)
847-945-4619 (fax)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.kleinschmidt.com
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