E-commerce enabling systems and Integration tools
What is an e-commerce enabling system and how does it differ from
an "Integration tool"? The answer is that traditionally
the e-commerce enabling system was much more than just a translator.
In addition to the translation functions, it needed to provide communications
functionality to a wide range of Value Added Networks (VANS), provide
validation functionality and a full audit. In our opinion these
functions are best served by the JCommerce system and by the REIMS
and previously ETS set of products.
The advent of the J2EE, .NET and the BizTalk server technologies
and the subsequent take up of the open transfer protocols, most
notably HTTP and FTP have loosened the hold of the VANs. This coupled
with the greater range of "add-on" or internally developed
tools to manage functions such as the audit mean that the days of
the "do everything" system are likely to be numbered.
The only remaining function, that is not easily substituted, is
the management of the mapping and communications functions used
across a community of partners. This will be addressed once the
full Web Services vision, with its use of UDDI becomes established
and used across industry.
In the short term however the advantages of utilizing a "lower
cost" translation / integration tool, with a suite of complementary,
off the shelf packages is becoming an attractive alternative. Systems
that we have evaluated are DataJunction and Covast EDI Accelerator.
Both of these systems appear to offer excellent translation functionality.
DataJunction has perhaps the most complete set of integration options,
with "spokes" that support a wide range of end systems
and databases directly, thus reducing the ODBC speed issue. The
EDI "spokes" are an additional cost. The Covast system,
actually provides connectivity to the majority of the traditional
VANs, but it relies on BizTalk to provide the XML and HTTP serving
capability.
An alternative to the on-site system is the hosted service. This
provides an excellent alternative to a company that does not have
enough trading partners to justify an expensive on-site system.
In these situations the hosting service takes responsibility for
the communications with the end partner and the translation of the
document to and from the end system format. The translated documents
are then transferred from the hosted service using a secure FTP
or HTTP connection.
We believe that our independence means that we can work with you
to select the most appropriate system to meet your requirements.
|