An inability to share data or communicate with other organizations because systems or formats differ wastes time, effort and money. Typical problems include the need to coordinate incompatible data and recollect existing data for each functional system and for each generation of a system. Move existing data and systems into compliance incrementally, as you upgrade or create new data. Tell vendors what you want. Many times, standards are most easily implemented when vendors include them as part of their package.
Vendors generally respond if enough customers request that standards be included.
Get involved with state and national standards efforts to help ensure that new standards will meet your needs and be easy for you and others to use.