ECOM Journal 2008

Contents > ECOM Activity Results Report > Information Sharing Infrastructure Group > Information Sharing Technology Promotion Committee

Information Sharing Technology Promotion Committee

Hisanao Sugamata, Chief Researcher, Next Generation Electronic Commerce Promotion Council

Outline of Activities

EDI in Japan has developed in each industrial field and corporate group, and contributed extensively to the improvement of productivity in each of these industrial fields or corporate groups. However, in Japan, in order to maintain our international competitiveness, we need further increases in the labor productivity and the effective use of resources throughout all of industry. Additionally, the mature consumers of Japan demand safety, security, and consideration for the environment in their products and services. In order to respond to these demands, it is vital to construct a platform for sharing information, and a wide-ranging engineering chain, supply chain, and recycling chain that considers product life cycle. Information Sharing Technology Promotion WG (as of November 2007, the name has been changed to the "Information Sharing Technology Promotion Committee"), has as its goal the development of an information modeling method for making it possible to share information in a wider range of industries, complying with international standards, and the promotion of the preparation and widespread distribution of shared data specifications based on this information modeling method.

In this WG, up until FY 2006, we have published guides for an information modeling formulation method through core components that are the modeling method for information sharing, a UN/CEFACT modeling method, and XML design standards, among other things. However, in response to current EDI issues, it is necessary to prepare a comprehensive information entity modeling method that includes preparations for context application methods and message construction methods that work to connect the various methods in order to utilize them effectively.

Reflecting on the progress situation of the international standardization of the above technical methods, in FY 2007 we carried out the construction of a domestic common dictionary based on preparing the core components developed by the UN/CEFACT and also a comprehensive survey investigation of information modeling methods for EDI based on the latest international standards (message construction methods, context application methods, etc).

1. Promotion of the international standard for information sharing technology

We became aware of the technical direction of the international standards (the V3 core component technology specifications, electronic message construction technology specifications, context application technology specifications, etc.) related to the structuration and definition of information entities being carried out by UN/CEFACT.

2. Preparation of a common dictionary

In order to prepare a dictionary of information entities (data identifiers, data names, data structure, data meaning definitions, data representation format, etc.) that cut across fields and of information entities used in principal industries, we joined in the shared information entity international standard library development task being carried out by the UN/CEFACT. Information entities that were made compliant with the international standard by FY 2007 were assigned rules for localizing into Japanese for domestic industry use, and based on that an English–Japanese Comparative Dictionary of Information Entities was prepared.

Furthermore, we gained the cooperation of the Next Generation EDI Promotion Council's EDI Promotion Committee, and matched the information entities that cut across fields that have been made compliant with international standards and information entities for trading information (receiving and making orders) that are the target of domestic industry, and have made clear the issues relating to the international standards harmonization of the domestic industry standards.

Results of Activities

1. Information sharing technology

At present, "modeling methods (business processes / business collaboration / business entities)," "core component technology specifications," "EDI messages," "standard document headers," "syntax expressions," and "messaging services" are standardized at UN/CEFACT, and specific task definitions are being progressively introduced, and introduction of them is beginning. (Fig. 1)

However, the method for defining "business information entities" using "core components," the method for bringing out "EDI messages" from "task transactions," and the method for providing transaction conditions at the time of execution (these are collectively known as "context methods") have been formulated, and judgment is done manually.

If these "context methods" are organized, then it will be possible to avoid human interaction, along with the automation of almost all tasks, following the EDI business process design, and therefore an even greater level of mutual operability will be gained. In our FY 2007 WG, we focused on this "context method" and carried out deliberations in exchange with modeling specialists in Japan, and furthermore, we sent specialists to UN/CEFACT technology method group meetings, and worked for the establishment of standards for this method, summing up the results in the "context method" draft proposal. In the future, we shall take another year to create agreement within UN/CEFACT, and, following development testing, we expect that they will become usable some time during FY 2009.

2. Information entity dictionary

In FY 2007, we participated in four international symposiums and weekly international tele-conferences in order to globally harmonize information entities, and cooperated in the preparation of the UN/CEFACT standard information entity library. As a result, the 2007 Standard Information Entity Library, 2nd edition (CCL07B), including 1,051 items of core components (CC) and 1,873 items of business information entries (BIE) was published by the United Nations in January 2008. (Fig. 2)

In the present situation, information entities related to invoices, MSDS (material safety data sheets), and product catalogue task processes, and including the electronic bidding and hotel information originally suggested by Japan, were registered in the UN/CEFACT standard information entity library. Also, as of March 2008, the global harmonization of the information entities related to transport, finance, insurance, accounting, agriculture, and animal and plant health inspection was almost complete, and in April are due to be announced by the United Nations. Furthermore, the information entities for the entire supply chain have already been submitted, and it is likely that during FY 2008, the necessary information entities for manufacturing, distribution, and trade-related orders, the delivery and taking in of goods, and the payment of bills will be added into the relevant library.

In our WG, in order to introduce these globally standardized information entities to domestic industry, and to support the internationalization of industry EDI, we have created a Japanese language UN/CEFACT Standard Information Entity Library. In the creation of the Japanese language library, we set up regulations for localizing into Japanese the naming conventions specified in the core component technical specifications (Fig. 2) and completed the 2007 2nd edition (CCL07B), including the transport-related (draft version) one. In April 2008, we expect it will be able to be downloaded from the ECOM home page.

3. Comparative analysis with domestic industry EDI

In order to consider the mutual operability between the UN/CEFACT standard information entity library, which is finally able to be used, and domestic industry EDI, we carried out a comparative analysis with the electrical and electronics industry's "ECALGA" EDI standard.

This task was performed as a combined task with ECOM based on the cooperation of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association EC Center and the Next Generation Electronic Commerce Promotion Council. In the task, we considered how UN/CEFACT standards invoice-related information could be expressed as "ECALGA" data entities in the first step, and in the second step we considered whether "ECALGA" order documents could be expressed in the UN/CEFACT standard information entity library.

As a result of our analysis, it was found possible to singly match individual information entities, but due to the differences in the business model, and differences in business habits, we concluded that it would be difficult to create an adaptation at the EDI message level. In other words, it is possible to individually refer to the information entities of the UN/CEFACT standard information entity library and the referenced parts are able to be mutually understood, but it is not desirable to create an adaptation as is to EDI messages in the different business contexts.

The principal differences in business models and business habits are the following points:

1. ECALGA is predicated on monthly settlements, and there are no business documents for invoices (case by case billing).
2. ECALGA trading information is predicated on one item, one sheet, and there is no idea of breakdown items.
3. ECALGA is predicated on domestic trading, and it does not deal with trade related information (handover conditions, settlement conditions, etc.), and its foreign exchange is limited to one type, and tax is only consumption tax.
4. ECALGA is predicated on ongoing trading, and information that can be decided at the time of basic contracts (company address, contact address, payment methods, etc.) is outside the scope of EDI.
5. Distribution related information is outside the specifications of ECALGA (there is consensus on using distribution industry standards).
6. Invoices carry multiple functions of ECALGA's shipping information, billing and payment methods information, and accounts payable information.

Therefore, if we were to harmonize domestic industry EDI standards and international standards, we must first match the business model before harmonizing the information entities. With the current model of domestic trading, it is difficult to link with global inter-corporate tasks even if the information entities are matched. Therefore, along with research on the business model standardized and published by the United Nations and other bodies, we need to make the domestic model visible, and promoting it internationally.

Summary

The information entities of the international standard that are proposed and agreed upon predicated on their own business models are, like the electronic bidding and hotel information, easy to use. On the flip side, information entities that are set in compliance with unwritten business models of other countries are very hard to use. It is possible that each time a global trade occurs, not just data exchange but a major revision of the processes accompanying corporate system changes will be needed.

In this sense, it is probably necessary to set up a Japan-based information entity proposal in accordance with the business model devised in Japan, and for corporations to proceed with the globalization of a system that can accept international standard business models itself.

The UN/CEFACT standard information entities are also being steadily established. Domestic industry must participate actively in standardization tasks that reflect their own opinion for them, and work to ensure that using international standards is not detrimental to Japanese corporations.

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