Ebxml: The New Global Standard for Doing Business on the Internet

This book doesn't purport to cover programming. Instead it is a comprehensive guide that describes ebXML from business and technical perspectives, and does so is such a clear, well written manner that it deserves 5 stars. If you're more interested in writing ebXML applications you may want "ebXML Simplified" by Eric Chiu (ISBN 0471204757), which shows how and provides sample code.What I most like about this book is the way the authors manage to integrate the technical details with the business value of ebXML without going over the heads of business users or talking down to IT professionals. I also like the fact that the book is kept up to date on the companion web site, and the additional information that is provided there to supplement what is covered in the book.The highlights, in my opinion, are:Chapter 2, ebXML in a nutshell. This chapter uses clear prose and illustrations to portray ebXML, how it fits into an enterprise solution, and all of the underpinnings. If you only read these 30 pages you'll come away with a solid understanding of what it is and how it works. The next chapter, ebXML at Work, takes this material a step further with case studies that are realistic.All of Part II, which shows how ebXML fits into the much larger XML picture (including an interesting history of XML and how it evolved from SGML). History aside, this section ties together a number of related technologies, such as Java, XML, HTML and platforms. In fact, the four legs of a table metaphor that the authors use is one of the most elegant depictions of the interrelationships I've seen. They don't stay at high level, however. The book drills down into DTDs, and also does an excellent job of describing the business processes and technical architecture in terms that anyone can grasp. I especially liked the way UML and use cases were introduced.If you want a book that describes ebXML (and in a larger sense, XML) from business and technical perspectives this is the one to read.

This book provides a nice combination of the technical underpinnings of ebXML with an explanation of the new business strategies that it makes possible.Too many managers believe that they can conceive and implement an eBusiness strategy without understanding the underlying technologies. This hubris contributed to the recent rash of web business failures. The Kotok and Webber book does an admirable job in explaining the technical to the business mind and the business to the technical mind. And I believe that even many of the more technically inclined will benefit from the history of how ebXML came about and how it leverages but is fundamentally different from Electronic Data Interchange.The global focus and variety of examples from both business and not-profit organizations is also a welcome widening of the normal discussion of eBusiness.I would read this book before many of the supposedly more business savvy tomes on eBusiness.

Alan & David,I just want to thank you for helping me in the development of my global e-commerce idea (AllCheckout).I have just unleashed the business plan to Austin Ventures and some others. I hope ebXML provides for tasty VC bait. This idea certainly needs all the help it can get.Your book is my current e-commerce Bible. I can hardly wait to start actual development of these new web services - but I really am going to need some funding first. I'll let you know of any more developments.Regards,Eric RainboltAustin, [email protected]