XML: The lingua franca of eCommerce

The Extensible Markup Language (XML) has become the de facto standard for electronic business communications across the web. XML now exists in over 100 dialects, in applications from mortgage banking (MISMO), to weather reporting (WeatherML) to digital property rights (DPRL). Whatever your need, there is probably an XML standard that supports it.

That's nice, but why should I consider XML?

The big three reasons:

• Better: XML standards are carefully tailored to the specific business needs in each area. They represent thousands of hours of analysis and design by experts in the field. They capture the communications needs of a community far better than any individual company could hope to do so. They are easy to understand, designed specifically for the Internet and available today.

• Cheaper: A wide selection of off-the-shelf XML tools is available today at minimal cost--many are free. These tools will require tailoring for your specific application, but this tailoring is normally minimal. In addition, XML provides extensive communications security and document validationÔø‡two more serious problems off your back!

• Faster: Using standards, you can automate much of the business you do with your clients and suppliers.

XML Outside, XML Inside

Most companies that use XML to exchange data with the outside world soon come to the conclusion that it is a valuable tool inside the corporation as well. XML standards such as HR-XML and XML for Workflow are valuable aids to the inner operation of the company. XML has become the most ubiquitous standard in commerce by far.

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