Resuming the OAGIS X Context Calls January 3, 2012

I am pleased to announce that Jim Wilson from our Chemical Industry and Agricultural Industry  communities has stepped up to lead the OAGi Context Working Group.

He will be succeeding Scott Hinkelman, who has led it very well these past months. Unfortunately, Scott has been reassigned to other duties so we thank him for his efforts and wish him well.

This Working Group has been working to develop an OAGIS X implementation of the UN/CEFACT Context Methodology.

We will be resuming our meetings on Tuesdays from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time starting January 3rd. If you have already signed the OAGIS X Project Definition, you do not need to sign another.

Please write us here if you are interested in more information.

OAGi November 16 Plenary Videos now available

I am pleased to announce that the WebEx video and audio recordings from our OAGi Plenary Meeting on November 16 in Redwood City, California are now available.

You can view the agenda and download the presentations and the video recordings on the members section of our website.

You must be logged in to access the webpage. Please let me know if you have trouble logging in.

The link to the webpage is here.

Thank you for your continued support

OAGi Plenary Keynote Presentation now Available

I am pleased to announce that the Keynote Presentation from our November 15 Plenary Meeting in Redwood City, California is now available. 

Special thanks to Jean-Claude Monney of Microsoft for doing the presentation and then including the text of the presentation along with the slides. All of the other presetnation are also available as well.

You can review the agenda and download any of the presentations here.

Also, stay tuned for our upcoming video announcement. We will soon be making several of the session available to our members.

Thank you for your continued support.

Great Plenary Meeting last week

Our Plenary Meeting last week was a tremendous success. We had a great crowd in the room and 20+ more persons attending remotely.

We also had a very exciting Agenda and now the presentations are available on our web site.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED

- Using OAGIS in the Cloud
- Special Presentation from Oracle
- OAGIS Case Studies
- OAGi Updates and briefings on Council activities
- Cloud Computing Panel "B2B and Cloud Computing."

You can view the agenda download the presentations here.

OAGi Webinar next Wednesday, November 9

We are pleased to announce that the OAGi Chemical Industry Council is sponsoring the third in their 2011 series of 3 webinars on OAGi and OAGIS.

You are invited to attend this 35 minute webinar entitled "Introduction to OAGIS". The webinar will take place on Wednesday, November 9 at Noon in the Eastern US Time Zone.

This webinar will feature Mike Rowell, OAGi Chief Architect, and he will be presenting a high level overview of the architecture within the OAGIS Open Standard.

This webinar is open to all, members and non-members alike and there is no cost.

You can register for this webinar for free here.

Thank you and we look forward to your attendance.

OAGi announces Cloud Computing Initiative and support for Java Script Object Notation (JSON)

We are pleased to announce that today OAGi announced it has launched a Cloud Computing Initiative to ensure that the Open Applications Group Integration Specification (OAGIS) enables complete support for Cloud Computing.

The Cloud Computing Initiative is led by the Architecture Council within OAGi and is looking at additions or revisions that OAGi members think is important to continue to evolve the specification. As part of the Cloud Computing initiative, OAGi has taken a decision to support Java Script Object Notation (JSON) as a data exchange format for the data exchange data model defined by OAGIS. OAGi has released a Position Paper on this support for JSON and it is available for free today on the OAGi web site at http://www.oagi.org.

Over a 15 year period of time, OAGi has supported several technical expressions of their data exchange data model. In 1996, when the first release of the Open Application Group Integration Specification (OAGIS) was published, the expression form of the data exchange data model was a proprietary meta data format invented by OAGi.

Since then, many improved forms of data expression have been developed and the OAGIS technology evolved to support XML Document Type Definitions (DTD) in 1987 and then XML Schema (XSD) in 2002. In 2005, OAGi elected to evolve OAGIS to support a stricter Schema expression as defined by the UN/CEFACT Naming and Design Rules (NDR) and Core Component Technical Specification (CCTS). This change again improved the grammar expressions in OAGIS, reduced ambiguity, and improved both intra and inter supply chain interoperability.

“Oracle (ORCL) applauds the recognition of JSON by the Open Applications Group, Inc. (OAGi) as a data exchange format that complements EDI and XML for data integration. The canonical OAGIS data model expressed in XML and carried through in JSON adds the ability to enable end to end integration – integration from the back office applications to integration on the glass,” said Michael Rowell, Oracle Standards Architect. “Using JSON, data from heterogeneous applications, clouds, and partners are presented cohesively so that end users can better perform their job functions.”

“Devices coupled with pervasive networks are driving the need for exposing cloud-based data services to enable ‘any where’, ‘any time’ computing in the ecosystem,” added Abhijeet Ranadive, Enterprise B2B Architect, Cisco Systems (CSCO). “APIs that enable this integration paradigm will need to have a standardized light payload format and JSON fits the requirement. Defining OAGi standard in a JSON format is a way to bring together two best in class solutions to meet the information needs.”

OAGi News for October 2011

Our October 2011 newsletter went out today and a few of the highlights of the newsletter are just below. You can read it in its entirety here.

Chemical Industry Standards Direction Statement

From Tom Fannon, Chair, OAGIS Chemical Industry Council. (In shortened form. You can read the entire message in the newsletter itself.)

When CIDX was disbanded the Chem eStandards ownership migrated into OAGi and there were funds allocated to assist in efforts to migrate the Chem eStandards into OAGIS 10. The other work within CIDX was to be migrated into the ACC ChemITC eBusiness Networking Team.

This work is almost complete.  I want to thank the folks from Dow, Rhodia, Monsanto, and Elemica for providing many hours of time and insight over the past year.  Jim Wilson has provided an enormous amount of patience and guidance to the group that has allowed us to get where we are today.

Elemica also was invaluable as they provided high level message usage statistics that allowed the group to only concentrate on the used messages to accomplish our mapping exercise. As we plodded through our messages, we also relied on the folks from OAGi to enlighten us on where the best fit for our elements were.

The mapping work began in 2009 and extended throughout 2010 and 2011.  CIDX monies paid for the Chemical Industry Council within OAGi where this work was conducted.  We budgeted for three years of effort and as we were coming to the end of 2011, it was clear to me that we needed to find a way to extend the work for just a little while longer to ensure that there was output for our industry that would show where and how the Chem eStandards mapped into OAGIS 10.

We needed a little more money for that.  I knew that we were paying the ACC for managing our meeting as an eBusiness Networking Team.  That amounted to arranging the meeting, reviewing the agenda, publishing the minutes and that was about it. This was not a good use of our funds.  I did not see a lot of value and approached our ACC sponsor Gary Dick about trying to take the remaining funds and use them to secure a time extension for the Chemical Industry Council in OAGi.

My thought was that by the end of 2012 our work will have been complete.  Gary was okay with the idea and I proceeded down that path and am in talks with OAGi to determine what the Chemical Industry Council dues structure will be for 2012.  My personal opinion is that involvement with OAGi on the various sub teams is an excellent way to keep aware of trends.

Discussions during Procure to Pay meeting about what team participants from Merck, GSX, Microsoft, Oracle, Intel and SAP are faced with as they attempt to integrate with customers or internal applications have been eye opening to say the least.  Most definitely a window into the messaging future.  We need a way to foster the communication of this type of information for our industry.

I am very aware of budget constraints and the current state of the economy, yet I still am a believer in maintaining a networking community within our Industry on eBusiness activities.  I think it helps us all in understanding new trends in message standards, what certain industry segments are doing with messages, and ways to improve our supply chain efficiency.  So I created a group within LinkedIn called "Chemical Industry eBusiness Council".  If you want to be a member send me an email response. I will add you to the list.  To me it is a far less expensive way to maintain a network.

Thanks for all of your time and please be on the lookout from time to time for messages from myself or Jim Wilson on OAGi related to our work on migrating the CIDX Chem eStandards. We will be seeking your input as we get closer finalizing our mapping exercise.

REMINDER – Just Four Weeks until our Fall Plenary and Working Groups Meetings

If you have not already registered, we invite you to register for our upcoming Plenary and Working Group sessions to be held Wednesday and Thursday, November 16 and 17, 2011, at Oracle's Conference Center in Redwood City, California.

We have a very exciting Agenda so please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think may be interested.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

·       Using OAGIS in the Cloud

·       Special Presentation from Oracle

·       OAGIS Case Studies

·       OAGi Updates and briefings on Council activities

·       Cloud Computing Panel "B2B and Cloud Computing."

You can learn more, view the agenda and register on our website here.

Update yourself on the OAGIS Implementers Page.

We have launched a webpage that enables users of OAGIS to register and tell the world how they have implemented OAGIS. This will give the people who have worked to save their company money and time an opportunity to get the credit they deserve. This also provides a way for solution providers to let end users know they support OAGIS and how they support it.

We welcome you to go to http://oagisusers.oagi.org or also you can access it at www.oagi.org.

Trade Compliance Working Group nearing completion

The OAGi Trade Compliance Working Group led by Vivian Javier of CDC Software has made tremendous progress and is nearing completion of their Construction Phase within the OAGi Development Methodology process.  This Working Group collaborated with the HR-XML Consortium to share content and is planning to reuse some of that HR-XML content in the final version of their work.

The content from this Working Group will be shipped in OAGIS Release 9.6, which is scheduled for the second quarter of 2012.  Stay tuned for more information on this upcoming OAGIS release.

OAGIS Release 10 work continues with five ongoing initiatives

The OAGIS Release Ten (OAGIS X) Working Groups continue to meet on a regular basis and we encourage your participation.  We can use all the smart people we can get!

All of these meeting are visible on our OAGi Calendar on the members part of the web site here.  You need to be logged in to view the members calendar.

All OAGi members are invited to join any of these groups.  Please contact me here.

Chemical Industry Standards Direction Statement

To the Chemical Industry Standards Community from Tom Fannon, Chair, OAGIS Chemical Industry Council;

When CIDX was disbanded the Chem eStandards ownership migrated into OAGi and there were funds allocated to assist in efforts to migrate the Chem eStandards into OAGIS 10. The other work within CIDX was to be migrated into the ACC ChemITC eBusiness Networking Team.  

The Chem eStandards when used by ACC member companies are used in various forms. Ashland uses 2.0 for orders and 4.0 for invoices which is very common.  We have not seen the need to migrate to 5.0 yet and until there is a business case to do so we probably will not.  However we are concerned about some of the unique features of our supply chain that were well defined by the Order to Cash Teams over the years in CIDX that must make the transition from a industry specific standard to a global standard.

Therefore, while we as an industry may not be implementing OAGIS 10, there was a need to map the high quality Chem eStandards into OAGIS 10 for our industry.  

This work is almost complete.  I want to thank the folks from Dow, Rhodia, Monsanto, and Elemica for providing many hours of time and insight over the past year.  Jim Wilson has provided an enormous amount of patience and guidance to the group that has allowed us to get where we are today.

Elemica also was invaluable as they provided high level message usage statistics that allowed the group to only concentrate on the used messages to accomplish our mapping exercise. As we plodded through our messages, we also relied on the folks from OAGi to enlighten us on where the best fit for our elements were.  

The mapping work began in 2009 and extended throughout 2010 and 2011.  CIDX monies paid for the Chemical Industry Council within OAGi where this work was conducted.  We budgeted for three years of effort and as we were coming to the end of 2011, it was clear to me that we needed to find a way to extend the work for just a little while longer to ensure that there was output for our industry that would show where and how the Chem eStandards mapped into OAGIS 10.

We needed a little more money for that.  I knew that we were paying the ACC for managing our meeting as a eBusiness Networking Team.  That amounted to arranging the meeting, reviewing the agenda, publishing the minutes and that was about it. This was not a good use of our funds.  I did not see a lot of value and approached our ACC sponsor Gary Dick about trying to take the remaining funds and use them to secure a time extension for the Chemical Industry Council in OAGi.

My thought was that by the end of 2012 our work will have been complete.  Gary was okay with the idea and I proceeded down that path and am in talks with OAGi to determine what the Chemical Industry Council dues structure will be for 2012.  My personal opinion is that involvement with OAGi on the various sub teams is an excellent way to keep aware of trends.

Discussions during Procure to Pay meeting about what team participants from Merck, GSX, Microsoft, Oracle, Intel and SAP are faced with as they attempt to integrate with customers or internal applications have been eye opening to say the least.  Most definitely a window into the messaging future.  We need a way to foster the communication of this type of information for our industry.

So while we have done a great job of working on the messaging part of our team's charter, we have struggled to create a community for our industry.  Perhaps it was the time commitment or the opinion that our current message versions are good enough or the lack of support within our companies, it all added up and I failed to create the type of network we had within CIDX.  I have approached some others to solicit some ideas on how to continue a networking team with little or no cost.

I am very aware of budget constraints and the current state of the economy, yet I still am a believer in maintaining a networking community within our Industry on eBusiness activities.  I think it helps us all in understanding new trends in message standards, what certain industry segments are doing with messages, and ways to improve our supply chain efficiency.  So I created a group within LinkedIn called "Chemical Industry eBusiness Council".  If you want to be a member send me an email response. I will add you to the list.  To me it is a far less expensive way to maintain a network.

Thanks for all of your time and please be on the lookout from time to time for messages from myself or Jim Wilson on OAGi related to our work on migrating the CIDX Chem eStandards. We will be seeking your input as we get closer finalizing our mapping exercise.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Chair, OAGi Chemical Industry Council
Manager eBusiness
Global Supply Chain * Ashland Inc.
tfannon@ashland.com

How Standards Boost Business

There is a tremendous new website resource available to all called “Standards Boost Business.”  

This website is hosted by the American National Standards Institute and does an excellent job of describing how standards boost business by streamlining, speeding up, and saving money for organizations.

The website describes a concept called Strategic Standardization.  The website goes on to tell us that according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, standards and conformity assessment impact more than 80% of global commodity trade. From design and manufacturing to distribution and marketing, all aspects of your industry’s products and services are affected at some point by standardization.

One case study helps prove this as the U.S. Department of Defense is projecting $789 million in cost avoidance over just one of their programs. The reason put forth is they focused on parts standardization and process standardization.

The website also has a section that describes the value of standards to industry, consumers, and government.

I invite you to visit this website to learn more about why we do what we do here at the Open Applications Group.  The website url is: http://www.standardsboostbusiness.org

OAGi Context Architecture is taking shape

We had an excellent meeting yesterday to review an emerging architecture document for OAGi’s implementation of the UN/CEFACT Context Methodology (UCM).  UCM is in ODP 6, which is the implementation verification stage of their document methodology.

The project Chair, Scott Hinkelman, reviewed a graphic which shows the scope planned for OAGi’s implementation of UCM.  It is mostly self-explanatory.  The graphic is just below.   

Exciting New Agenda for Novembers Meeting just Published

We have recently published an exciting new version of our Agenda for our upcoming plenary session on November 16, 2011 hosted by Oracle.

OAGi continues with a Cloud theme and will be speaking more about the OAGi Cloud initiative.  In addition, we have confirmed speakers from GXS, Cisco, Microsoft, and Vortx.

We are also planning a panel discussion on the effect of Cloud Computing on B2B to close out the day.  Our panel will be made up of our speakers who are experts in their fields.

We invite you to view the entire agenda and register for the meeting on the OAGi website here.

OAGi Newsletter for September 2011 Published

Our September 2011 newsletter went out today and a few of the highlights of the newsletter are just below. You can read it in its entirety here.

OAGIS Users Website Launched

We have launched a webpage that enables users of OAGIS to register and tell the world how they have implemented OAGIS.  This will give the people who have worked to save their company money and time an opportunity to get the credit they deserve.  This also provides a way for solution providers to let end users know they support OAGIS and how they support it.

We welcome you to go to http://oagisusers.oagi.org or also you can access it at www.oagi.org.

OAGIS Release 9.5.1 is published

We are pleased to announce the availability of OAGIS Release 9.5.1.  Thank you to all who gave us your feedback so we could make OAGIS better.  This release corrects issues found by our members and users.

Confirm BOD Specification now available

We are pleased to announce the availability of a newly revised version of our Confirm BOD Specification.  This normative document describes the best practices for implementing the Confirm BOD and is based on many years of the community’s experience.

The document is free to all OAGi members and can be downloaded here.  You must be logged in as a member to access the members only portion of the website.

Non-members may download the document for just US $19.95.  You can write to us and we will send you the document.

Revised BOD Architecture Document now available

I am pleased to announce that OAGi has posted a revised version of the BOD Architecture White Paper.  This White paper ships with OAGIS Release 9.5, our most current release and is also available for free on our Resources web page here.

Fall Plenary and Working Groups Meeting now open for Registration

Registration is now open for our fall Plenary and Working Group sessions to be held Wednesday and Thursday, November 16 and 17, 2011, at Oracle's Conference Center in Redwood City, California.

You can learn more about the location of the meeting, hotel, get directions, and register for the meeting on our website here.

Updated OAGIS BOD Architecture White Paper now available

I am pleased to announce that OAGi has posted a revised version of the BOD Architecture White Paper.  This White paper ships with OAGIS Release 9.5, our most current release and is also available for free on our Resources web page here.

We want to emphasize that no changes were made to the BOD Architecture.  This White Paper improves the detail, the readability and the graphics to help the reader better understand the BOD Architecture, how to use it, and what benefits it provides to the user of OAGIS.

Many thanks to the OAGi members and Staff for this terrific effort.

Confirm BOD Specification Now Available

We are pleased to announce the availability of a newly revised version of our Confirm BOD Specification.  This normative document describes the best practices for implementing the Confirm BOD and is based on many years of the community’s experience.

The document is free to all OAGi members and can be downloaded here.  You must be logged in as a member to access the members only portion of the website.

Non-members may download the document for just US $19.95.  You can write to us and we will send you the document.

Many thanks to all who contributed to this Specification.

OAGIS Release 9.5.1 is now available

We are pleased to announce the availability of OAGIS Release 9.5.1.  Thank you to all who gave us your feedback so we could make OAGIS better.  This release corrects issues found by our members and users.  The update includes:

1.    Updated navigation for viewing the OAGIS Scenarios. The navigation has been improved to make it easier to use.

2.    The use of local elements in the WarrantyClaim Noun. This release uses global elements for this content.

3.    Additions to the Dimensions component were not correctly implemented, these have been corrected with this release.

4.    The Change Response Code was incorrectly using the ResponseActionCodeContentType. This was changed to use the ResponseCodeContentType.

5.    Added UserArea to component ActualResources.

6.    Added DebitCreditCode to LedgerAmountGroup so that Financial Nouns may indicate whether the associated Amounts are Debits or Credits.

7.    Add attribute type the Packaging component.

8.    Updated the Example Instances so that they validate.

Please Note:

The component Event makes use of StartDateTime and EndDateTime as local elements in order to separate the Date and Time into separate elements. This was not changed to use the existing global elements because of the effect this would have on backward compatibility.

You can download this release for free on our website here.  Please remember you need to be logged in.

Remember, OAGi does Training and Services to help you implement and use OAGIS to your greatest advantage. Contact us here.

Thanks to all for helping make this happen.

Introduction to OAGIS Video Now Available

I am pleased to announce the availability of the video of the second in a series of webinars sponsored by our Chemical Industry Council.  The first one was entitled, "An Introduction to OAGi", and this one is entitled, "An Introduction to OAGIS."

The webinar is done by David Connelly, the CEO of the Open Applications Group.

The video provides an overview of the Open Applications Group Integration Specification (OAGIS), how people are using it, and also who we know is using the standard.

The video is available to all for free on our website here.

OAGi News for August 2011 just published

Our August 2011 newsletter went out today and a few of the highlights of the newsletter are just below. You can download it in its entirety here.


For regular updates of activities and happenings, you can follow us on Facebook here, LinkedIn here, and Twitter here.  Once Google+ announces their offering for companies to set up a profile, we will set up there as well.

Remember, if you are not yet a member of OAGi, we encourage you to look into the many benefits of membership, including our large and growing library of members-only content.  You can review the all of the benefits of OAGi membership here.

Introduction to OAGIS Video Now Available

A video of our August 17 webinar entitled, “An Introduction to OAGIS” is now available.  The webinar is done by David Connelly, our CEO.

The video provides an overview of what is in the standard, what is a Scenario, and what is a Business Object Document (BOD).  It also covers how the OAGIS Standard is being used today.

The video is available to all for free on our website here.

New Survey Launched August 17 – How are you using OAGIS?

We are pleased to announce the availability of our 2011 survey, "How are you using OAGIS?"  We did a version of this survey in 2010 and so we are repeating it this year as well.

We welcome you to participate in this short survey so that we may serve you better.  You can go directly to the survey here.

Thank you to the members and staff who put this together.

ebXML and AS4 with OAGIS BODs video is now available

We are pleased to announce the availability of the video recording of our exciting joint OAGi and OASIS webinar highlighting OAGIS BODs using the AS4 profile from the ebXML Messaging Service Technical Committee.

This webinar includes an overview of the new AS4 profile and then there are several interoperability demos. Overall, the webinar lasts approximately one hour.  Cisco Systems, one of our OAGi Policy Board members, is one of the participants of this webinar.

You can view or download the video here. The download is courtesy of our collaboration with OASIS.

Fall Plenary and Working Groups Meeting now open for registration

Registration is now open for our fall Plenary and Working Group sessions to be held Wednesday and Thursday, November 16 and 17, 2011, at Oracle's Conference Center in Redwood City, California.

You can learn more about the location of the meeting, hotel, get directions, and register for the meeting just below.

Highlights Include

· Using OAGIS in the Cloud

· OAGIS Case Studies

· OAGi Updates and briefings on Council activities

· Cloud Computing Panel “B2B and Cloud Computing.”

You can visit our meeting website here and see the most current agenda here.

Register Now – Everyone is Welcome

You can register for the meeting on our web site here.

All OAGi members attend for free, but you do not have to be an OAGi member to attend. Individual members and non-members pay only a $275.00 fee to cover expenses.

How are you using OAGIS? Please let us know.

We are pleased to announce the availability of our 2011 survey "How is OAGIS used?"

We did a version of this survey in 2010 and I have included the summary results below.

We welcome you to participate in this short survey so that we may serve you better.  You can go directly to the survey here.

Thank you to the members and staff who put this together.

INVITATION TO REGISTER - OAGi MEETING NOVEMBER 16 - 17 in REDWOOD CITY, CA

I am pleased to invite you to attend our upcoming Plenary and Working Group sessions to be held Wednesday and Thursday, November 16 and 17, 2011, at Oracle's Conference Center in Redwood City, California.

You can learn more about the location of the meeting, hotel, get directions, and register for the meeting just below.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

·         Using OAGIS in the Cloud

·         OAGIS Case Studies

·         OAGi Updates and briefings on Council activities

·         Cloud Computing Panel “B2B and Cloud Computing.”

You can visit our meeting website here and see the most current agenda here.

REGISTER NOW - EVERYONE IS WELCOME

You can register for the meeting on our web site here.

All OAGi members attend for free, but you do not have to be an OAGi member to attend. Individual members and non-members pay only a $275.00 fee to cover expenses.

OAGIS Introduction Webinar Announced

I am pleased to announce our next webinar coming up on Wednesday, August 17 at noon Eastern US Time.

In this 30 minute webinar you will see a high level overview of the OAGIS Standard, what it is comprised of and how people use it.  This webinar will only be slightly technical and is intended to be a good management overview.

This webinar is open to all, members and non-members alike and there is no cost.

You can register for this webinar for free here.

Thank you and we look forward to your attendance.

OAGi Joining Collaboration on Remittance Standards

OAGi has a long history of collaborating with other standards and government organizations to help build fewer duplicate standards and clarify the standards landscape for our users.

We have worked with UN/CEFACT, ISO, CIDX, AIAG, STAR, HR-XML, OMG, OASIS, ISA, and many others over the past 15 years.  We are using standards from many of these standards organizations in our OAGIS standard and many of those organizations are using OAGIS technology in their standards.  This is a fundamental principle that we apply when making decisions for OAGi.  All of our fundamental principles are on our website here.

OAGi was part of a team a few years ago that built the core payment kernel that became part of ISO20022.  This core payment kernel became part of the payment standard in OAGi, IFX, SWIFT, and TWIST.

Now we are joining a new effort to collaborate on a core remittance advice standard working with IFX, SWIFT and possibly X9 and NACHA.  OAGi currently has a remittance advice standard and plans to use that as input to this worldwide collaboration.

IFX recently announce a press release on this effort and you can read it in its entirety here.