The scope of B2B standards is often underestimated by those enterprises seeking to participate within a trading network. Nothing could be further from the truth. XML vocabulary is only one of many aspects of B2B standards. Figure 1 illustrates the four components that require standardization to establish an efficient trading network. Vocabularies define the business information that flows between enterprises.
Data dictionaries define ranges of shared data values for enumerated elements.
Finally, standard processes define the interactions between trading partners. Subsequent sections of this article discuss details for each component. Key to the success of any standard, and thus the trading network, is an extremely detailed specification. Ambiguity increases complexity and quickly leads to incompatibilities between trading partners as each chooses a different implementation related to the vague elements of the specification. The vocabulary and data dictionary are generally not the most difficult or controversial components of the standard to create.