A communication architecture for the digital economy 21st Century EDI

Together with our partner Lufthansa AirPlus, we have developed an XML-based architecture for B2B communication that offers flexible, inexpensive, and secure integration of heterogeneous partners into "supply webs". Using our prototype, formerly expensive and inflexible EDI-processes can become manageable for SMEs, too, enabling the next step towards open communication and cooperation networks and supporting the flow of information throughout entire purchasing and supply chains. The use of XML also enables the efficient support of various data formats, including EDI or EDIFACT standards, and different business documents such as orders, invoices or catalogs opening EDI networks to SMEs and enabling more dynamic business partnerships.