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Andy Tan
August 10, 2002
In the beginning of 2002, ITSC's XML working group under the
Information
Exchange Technical committee initiated a program to explore the use
of XML in data exchange amongst SME in Singapore. In May, a draft
specification was completed together with two sample applications.
This set of specification was jointly developed by the following team
members:
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Dr Lee Eng Wah, Chairman of
ITSC Information Exchange TC (IETC), from SIMTech |
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Mr Andy Tan, Member, from
Intrinix Networks Pte Ltd |
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Mr Chin Chee Kai, Member,
from SoftML Pte Ltd |
This specification is available for download at ITSC
websites.
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To act as a leading initiative
to make XML practical for companies and businesses. |
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Oriented towards providing
benefits to as large a community of end-users as possible. |
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Use XIP as a platform for
the promotion of XML technologies |
1. An illustrative system.
An illustrative system includes recommended computer hardware and
software configuration as well as software suite to enable interoperability
and exchange of business documents among companies.
2. A suite of XML e-business documents
Provide a set of document templates and supporting software utilities
to facilitate business document exchange. Companies can use this set
of templates and utilities to enable them to evaluate the system easily.
3. A list of vendors for business companies to follow-up
To provide a list of vendors who can provide supporting services and
products to enable companies to adopt and use the system for their
business. Supporting services include system installation, training
and customization.
The project team adopted the following principle in the design stage:
1. Simple, Measurable and short
This is to serve as a guideline to design and implement the XIP project.
When the team faces many choices, uncertainty or possibilities this
principle shall serve as the guide to preserve the direction of the
XIP. This is to ensure that the project is completed on time.
2. Simple transaction model
The transaction model between partners shall be simple and common
business transaction is selected. 8 business documents are selected
in this phase of the project. The team envisages that more documents
will be added later.
The 8 business documents are:
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Request for quotation |
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Quotation |
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Purchase order |
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Purchase order acknowledge
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Delivery order |
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Invoice |
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Receipt of delivery |
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Receipt of Payment |
3. Simple transaction scenario
The team focuses on common business transaction scenario for testing
and evaluation.
Design Goals
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Simple and easy to implement
- extension to existing applications |
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Low infrastructure cost -
Hardware and Software requirements |
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Initially focus on data exchange
-- using XML |
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Uses proven technology -
Internet and FTP |
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Open system |
System framework
This is a system configuration guideline that consists of a suite
of software, templates and exchange protocol. Companies can quickly
set-up a system base on this information.
The FTP transfer protocol is selected for the initial implementation
of the XIP, however the team does not rule out other transfer protocol
in the future enhancement of the standard.
Two or more companies can implement the XIP based on the following
configuration (refer to figure 1). Companies can also make use of
value added service provider to provide additional exchange support
(refer to figure 2).
Figure 1: Point to point configuration
(With permission from Intrinix Networks)
Figure 2: Via value-added service provider
(With permission from Intrinix Networks)
Documentation
A set of documentation, which includes system specifications, e-business
documents data type definitions files (DTD), user guide of the evaluating
software from participating members and companies are provided.
Transformation
The team has selected a most common application, Microsoft Excel,
to be used as the front end user interface to the XIP. Software utilities
are provided to companies to transform Excel file to XIP compatible
XML files and vice versa as well as documentation transfer software
to enable these XML files to be exchanged between business partners.
Simulations and testing
A set of samples test files is available to enable system testing
and evaluations.
On March 28, 2002, the participating members had conducted the interoperability
test and the project was completed. The project team will continue
to enhance the software and perform further tests.
Simple to use and low cost to implement
The XIP project has demonstrated as a system where companies can exchange
business document easily and at lower cost.
Proof of concept - test bed for evolving standards
XIP can be used as a framework to proof the concept of data exchange
and standards during initial evaluation phase.
Further customization and enhancement is possible
XIP can be easily enhance and expand to include business process integration.
It is a flexible system where other standards can co-exist under the
XIP framework to deliver the value to the users.
Open system
XIP is an open system, which does not depend on any operating system
or platform. Users can choose the software vendors that meet their
requirements and do not lock themselves to any system.
Note: The XIP specification is in RFC (Refer for comment) status.
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