A Practical Approach to Web-Based Internet EDI1
Shiwa Fu, Jen-Yao Chung, Walter Dietrich,
Vibby Gottemukkala, Mitchell Cohen, and Shyhkwei Chen
IBM IAC, T. J. Watson Research Center
P.O. Box 704, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. 10598
1 To appear in the proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems Workshop
(ICDCS’99 Workshop)
Abstract
In traditional business environments, many inter-
company processes (such as buying and billing) are
performed using paper documents, such as purchase
orders and invoices. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
allows companies to exchange these documents in a
structured and computer-processable format. This helps
to automate and streamline business by eliminating or
simplifying clerical tasks, speeding information transfer,
reducing data errors, and eliminating business processes.
Although EDI has been successfully employed in specific
industries (such as retail) and in some large enterprises,
it has not been widely adopted. The primary barriers to
widespread acceptance of EDI are the costs of
implementation and the costs of communication, which is
frequently done using Value-Added Networks (VANs).
These costs are generally too high for companies that do
not conduct large numbers of EDI transactions.
In this paper, we introduce a Web-based Internet EDI
model that provides valued-added functions traditionally
provided by EDI over VANs. In this model, users conduct
business transactions using Java-capable browsers
instead of traditional EDI software, eliminating the costs
of VANs and EDI-related applications. The proposed
model is especially suitable for medium- and small-size
firms that exchange business documents but can not
afford to do EDI using VANs.
1. Introduction
All large enterprises, and many small- and medium-
sized companies have basic business support systems
(Human Resources, financial) or Enterprise Resource
Planning
(ERP) systems
that automate business
operations, such as billing, account