    UDT Series on Data Communication Technologies and Standards for Libraries Electronic Data Interchange: An Overview of EDI Standards for Libraries (1993)7. CONCLUDING COMMENTSThe past few years have seen a great deal of interest and activity in EDI. From its industry-specific origins in the early 1970's, EDI has evolved into a framework for international business communications that is rapidly gaining acceptance throughout the business community. To date, the standardized formats to support the exchange of EDI messages have been developed. Efforts to merge the existing ANSI X12 and UN/EDIFACT standards to form an internationally accepted standard format are also well underway.A host of communications options are available to support the transmission of EDI-formatted messages. The X.400 standard for electronic mail has been enhanced to support EDI-messaging. The use of the Internet is expanding to include commercial use and a new electronic mail protocol with the functionality required to support EDI messaging is being added to the TCP/IP protocol suite. Progress in the development of standards to support the Open-edi conceptual model will also provide a foundation for 'open' EDI communications. However, the adoption of EDI by libraries to support the purchase of library material continues to be slow. Currently, few libraries are purchasing books and serials via EDI. There are many reasons why libraries have not adopted EDI. In order to purchase monographs, serials and other materials, libraries do business with publishers and distributors. They have limited control over commercial enterprises, publishers, subscription agents, distributors and other members of the publishing industry who must reach business decisions that are economically sound. Members of this sector have made substantial investments to develop proprietary automated systems that operate effectively and are therefore reluctant to adopt new standards-based technologies until their marketability is proven. While a publisher may recognize the inherent value of standards-based EDI transactions, altering an existing system to support EDI-based transactions must be economically feasible. There is general agreement that adopting electronic communications based on standards is a goal worth attaining, However, when day-to-day business operations are effected, there are a variety of factors which force organizations to adopt other options. While governments and other standard-setting bodies have made significant accomplishments in developing standards to support EDI and play a coordinating role in developing the infrastructure necessary to support standards-based communications, implementing standards and new systems is costly. This situation is in many ways parallel to the adoption of standards for "open" communications based on the OSI Reference Model. While the value of open communications is openly acknowledged, adoption and implementation of OSI-based communications have been much slower than anticipated. This is largely due to market forces. While standard bodies and government agencies can play a strong coordinating role, their influence in the business decisions of individual enterprises who develop products to support these standards is minimal. This situation makes it difficult to achieve the critical mass required to propagate wide spread adoption of these standards. The same is true for library software vendors, on whom libraries are also dependent to support their acquisitions operations. The vendors of integrated library systems are reluctant to develop EDI-based applications for an uncertain market. This is not to say that the situation will not change. There is no doubt that EDI-based will be the way of the future, particularly given the current trend toward a global economy and doing business in international markets where it is essential that partners "speak the same language" in order to communicate. It is important that libraries continue and increase their involvement in the development of EDI standards to ensure that their requirements are addressed as these standards are developed. As libraries are dependent on library systems vendors to support their computer-based operations, it is essential that librarians understand the elements of EDI-based communications so that their requirements can be specified to the system vendors.
ReferencesBass, Earl J. (1991). The Language of X12 EDI. EDI Forum. Volume 4:202-205.BIC News. Issue 1, March 1992, p.1. BISAC,(1989). Waldenbooks, B. Dalton, Ingram, Baker & Taylor Anounce Joint Electronic Ordering Plans. (Press Release). Borenstein, Nathanial. (1992). Internet multimedia mail with MIME: Emerging standards for interoperability. Upper Layer Protocols, Architectures and Applications. (ed. G. Neufeld and B. Plattner) North-Hollland:Elsevier Science Publishers. Bottomley, Lucy. (1993). Library Network Specialist. National Library of Canada. (personal communication). Clarke, Roger. (1992). A contingency model of EDI's impact on industry sectors. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems. Volume 1(3):143-151. Cline McKay, Sharon and Piazza, Charles, J. (1992). EDI and X12:What, Why and Who? Serials Review. 18(4):7-10. Cline McKay, Sharon and Landesman, Betty. (1991). The SISAC Bar Code Symbol. Serials Review. 17(2):47-51. Cline McKay, Sharon. (1991). SISAC Library and Automation Update. SISAC News. 6(2):7. Collet, Robert D. (1993). The Role of Public Data Internet Service Providers in Corporate Information Networking. Telecommunications (Americas Edition). 27(1):50-52. Consensus. 1992. "EDI standardization and implementation forge ahead." Consensus. 19(3):10. Data Interchange Standards Association. (1990) An Introduction to Electronic Data Interchange. Alexandria, Virginia. EDILIBE. (1992). Electronic Data Interchange for Libraries and Booksellers in Europe (EDILIBE) Project Description. receieved from Margot Wiesner, Stadt Frankfurt am Main, August 1992. EDItEUR Newsletter, 1993. "Book World EDI Harmonisation Imminent". EDItEUR Newsletter. Issue #1 (March 1993):1. External Affairs and International Trade Canada. International Trade Development Branch. (1993). EDIFACT Report - March 1993. Canada. Fincher, Judith A. (1991). The ISO EDI Conceptual Model Activity and its relationship to OSI. Library Hi-Tech. 8(4):83-91. Hill, Ned. C. and Ferguson, Daniel M. (1991). EDI: A Definition and Perspective. EDI Forum. Volume 4(1991). 12-18. Hutcheson, Kenneth R. (1990). Trends and Strategies in ASC X12. Information Standards Quarterly. 2(4):13-14. Information Standards Quarterly. 1992. "Faxon Recieves and Uploads First "Live" TRansfer of Dispatch Data". Information Standards Quarterly. 4(2):7 International Committee on Electronic Data Interchange for Serials. (1992). ANSI X12 Mapping Specification Publisher Despatch Data to 856 Shipnote/Manifest Transaction Set for Subscription Agents. Version 2.00, 1st September 1992. Journal of Information Science, 1990. One world of information: OSI and EDI; publishers', librarians' and booksellers' use of Open Systems Interconnection in Electronic Data Interchange; a joint recommendation of ELP, the Working Group of European Librarians and Publishers.(1990) Journal of Information Science. 16(3):141-2 Khalil, Mounir. (1993) Document Delivery: A Better Option. Library Journal. 118(2):43-51. Knoppers, Jake. (1993) EDI - What is it and Where is it going? Consensus. 20(2):15-17. Knoppers, Jake. (1992). Results of the Work of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on the "Open-edi conceptual Model" and its Importance for EDI Developments. Library Hi Tech News. (1992). "Dartmouth College Library Announces EDI Serials Claiming Project." Library Hi Tech News. (October 1992) No.96:23. Lortie, Pierre. (1993). Going Global: the EDI World Institute is Launched. EDI Forum. 6(1):94-95. Lynch, Karen. (1993). Fax, EDI readied for Internet. Communications Week International. 10 July 1993, p.3. Lyons, Bob. (1991). The benefits of X.400 for EDI users. EDI Forum. Volme 4:228-234. Malhotra, Satya. (1991). Canadian Participation in the Development of EDI Standards Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Mutter, John. (1990). Parlez-vous X12? Do you speak EDI? Publishers Weekly. (Nov.9,1990):27-29. Newcombe, Todd. (1992) Without Human Intervention. Inform. (November):33-35. Olson, Paul. (1992) Megashifts and Future Trends in EDI. EDI Forum. 1992 Issue, No.1. Paul, Sandra K. (1993). BISAC and SISAC: Another Year Later. LITA Newsletter, 14(1):17-18. Peeters, Emile. (1988) "European Community - TEDIS" in EDI 88: proceedings of the conference on electronic data interchange. London, November 1988. London:Blenheim Online Ltd. P. 152-154. Peters, Malcolm. (1993) EDI in the Book World: Linking Libraries and the Book Trade in Networking and the Future of Libraries. Proceedings of the UK Office for Library Networking Conference, April 2-5, 1992. London:Meckler. Publishers' Technical Advisory Subcommittee of SISAC, the Serials Industry Systems Advisory Committee. (1992) Serial Item Identification: Bar Code Synbol Implementation Guidelines. (2nd edition) U.S.A:Book Industry Study Group. Santosuosso, Joe. (1992). Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for Libraries and Publishers. Bulletin of the Amercian Society for Information Science. (October/November 1992):15-17. Schwartz, Frederick E. (1991). The EDI [electronic data interchange] horizon: implementing an ANSI X12 pilot project at the Faxon Company. The Serials Librarian. 19(3-4):39-57. Serials Industry Systems Advisory Committee (SISAC). Book Industry Study Group, New York, New York (Brochure). SISAC, 1990. SISAC Restructures to Prepare Electronic Communications Standards for Journals. October 1990, New York. (Press Release). Swain, Leigh. (1990). Message handling systems and electronic data interchange: an introduction to converging standards for electronic messaging. IFLA Journal. 16(2):204-14. Tallim, Paula. (1991). The work of the BEDIS Committee in the UK. IFLA Journal. 17(3):333-4. Turner, F. Tallim, P. and Zeeman, J.C. (1992). OSI for Libraries: From Standards to Services. UDT Series on Data Communication Technologies and Standards for Libraries. Report #3. Ottawa: IFLA International Office for UDT. UN/EDIFACT Rapporteurs' Team. (1990). Introduction to UN/EDIFACT with latest news and events. United Nations Economic Council for Europe. Woods, Elaine W. (1989). Electronic data interchange : purchase orders : an analysis and comparison of ASC X12 standards with NISO standards and other purchase order standards and conventions used in the library community. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Revelant StandardsISO DocumentsISO 7372 (1986) - Trade Data Interchange - Trade Elements Directory (Endorsement of UN/ECE/TDED, Sections 1,2,3,4,9).ISO 7498 Information Processing Systems - Open Systems Interconnection - Basic Reference Model ISO 9594/CCITT X.500 Information Processing Systems - Open Systems Interconnection - The Directory - Parts 1 to 8. ISO 9735 Electronic data interchange for administration commerce and transport (EDIFACT) - Application level syntax rules. ISO 10021 Information Processing Test Communications - Message Oriented Test Interchange System(MOTIS) / CCITT Recommendations for Message Handling Systems - The X.400 Series for 1988. IS0 10160: 1990 Information and Documentation - Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) - Interlibrary Loan Application Service Definition ISO 10161: 1990 Information and Documentation - Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) - Interlibrary Loan Application Protocol Specification ISO 10162: 1990 Information and Documentation - Open systems Interconnection (OSI) - Search and Retrieve Application Service Definition ISO 10163: 1990 Information and Documentation - Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) - Search and Retrieve Application Protocol Specification Other StandardsBook Industry Systems Advisory Committee - Implementation Guidelines for Electronic Data Interchange (Based on ANSI X12 Version 3.2). New York: Book Industry Study Group. 1993.Data Interchange Standards Association - ASC X12 Electronic Data Interchange Standards - Version 3 Release 3 - Volume 1: Control Standards, Transaction Set Tables, and Segment Directory. Data Interchange Standards Association - ASC X12 Electronic Data Interchange Standards - Version 3 Release 3 - Volume 2: Data Element Directory. NISO Z39.50 - American National Standard for Information Services - Information Retrieval and Protocol Service Definition for Library Applications. RFC 14341 - MIME- Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions Z39.56 -1991 - ANSI/NISO Standard for Serial Item and Contribution Identifier (SICI).
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - parent organization of X12. asynchronous - a communications technique by which character is sent serially and is surrounded by stop and start bits used to indicate character borders. bar code - An array of rectangular marks in a predetermined pattern used for identification of an item. book and serial industry - term used to collectively describe the various of organizations involved in publishing and distributing materials to libraries. Included are publishers, distributors, subscription agents, jobbers and wholesalers. component data element - in EDIFACT, a single data element that is a subordinate portion of a composite data element and is identified by its position within the composite data elements. composite data elements - a data element comprised of components data elements (currently only used in EDIFACT standards). control structures - used to transfer beginning and end information for a grouping of segments. data element - the basic unit of information in an EDI standard which contain a set of values that represent a singular fact. data element directory - a listing of named and described data element attributes, with specifications as to how the corresponding data element values shall be represented data segment - a pre-defined set of functionally related data elements which are identified by their sequential position within the transaction set. Data Interchange Association (DISA) - group which provides the secretariat for ASC X12. They are also responsible for publishing and distributing the X12 standards. delimiter - character used to indicate the beginning and end of data elements and segments. Draft Standard for Trial Use - represents a transaction set approved for publication by the full X12 committee. This is followed by submission for ANSI approval. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) - the intercompany computer-to-computer transmission of business data in a standard format. functional group - one or more transaction sets of similar type sent in one transmission. header - control structure that indicates the start of an entity to be transmitted header area - contains the preliminary information that pertains to the entire document (transaction set) interchange - a group of transaction sets sent from one sender to one receiver at one time. line item area - contains information such as quantities, descriptions and price loop - repetition of a segment or group of segments mapping - the process of identifying the standard data elements' relationship to application data elements. message - collection of data organized in segments, exchanged to convey meaning between partner. An EDIFACT message is analogous to an X12 transaction set. Message Handling Service (MHS) - a general term for the application layer standards defined to handle electronic messaging between multi-vendor systems(CCITT X.400 series/ISO 8505 (MOTIS)). network - a group of terminals, computers, and other equipment that use communication channels to share data. Open-edi - refers to efforts to develop standards to support edi-based communications in an open environment where open refers to communications based on publicly available standards and procedures. Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) - Structure based on seven-layer model (OSI Reference Model) which will allow computers from different manufacturers to communicate with one another. Organization for International Standardization (ISO) - the body responsible for ratifying and publishing international standards related to Open Systems Interconnection (OSI). Pedi - the application protocol developed as part of the X.400 series of protocols to support an EDI messaging service. It is also referred to as X.435. Rapporteur (UN/EDIFACT) - a person nominated by their government and appointed by UN/ECE WP.4 to initiate and coordinate UN/EDIFACT development work in their geographical area. segment - a group of functionally related data elements arranged serially. Serial Item and Contribution Identifier (SICI) - unique identifier for serial items and the contributions they contain SISAC Bar Code Symbol - a standardized method for representing the Serial Item Identifier portion of the SICI in a universal bar code format. store-and-forward - form of messaging whereby the data is sent immediately but stored until the recipient is ready to receive it. syntax - the rules for the construction of standards tag - unique identifier used with segments and data elements (EDIFACT) Trade Electronic Data Interchange Systems (TEDIS) - programme set up by the CEC to promote awareness of EDI in Europe. transaction set - electronic transmission of a single document such as a purchase order or invoice between one computer and another. The data included in a transaction set or message will convey the same information as a conventional printed document. translation software - transforms data into a format that can be read by an otherwise incompatible system or network at either end of a transmission. United Nations Standard Message (UNSM) - a fully approved EDIFACT standard message. Uniform Product Code (UPC) - a standard bar code system used by the retail industry. Working Party 4 (WP4) - group established to facilitate International Trade Procedures of the Economic Commission for Europe, a commission of the United Nations X12 - ANSI standard for inter-industry electronic interchange of business transactions X.25 - International standard for packet switching, the process of routing to transferring data by means of packets so that a communications channel is only occupied during the transmission of a packet (a sequence of binary digits).
value-added network - third-party service providers which offer enhancements to basic network services.
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