RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF) connectivity software from ten vendors was tested in recent RosettaNet Software Interoperability Trials. The successful completion of the trials is expected to accelerate "mass adoption of RosettaNet Standards through reduced time and costs. The trials are part of the RosettaNet Interoperability Program, which seeks to improve software and implementation interoperability within the RosettaNet trading network through collateral, education and testing activities. During the RosettaNet Software Interoperability Trials, each of the ten participating companies was required to successfully perform a suite of thirty-six (36) test scenarios with every other participant. The scenarios were created based on extensive feedback from current users of RosettaNet, and ranged from sending and receiving generic test RosettaNet Business Messages over HTTP, to adding incremental security layers, and supporting message attachments. In the self-testing phase of the trial, participants ran tests with the RosettaNet Ready self-test kit, an application that provides a reference model and tests required to measure compliance with RNIF and RosettaNet Partner Interface Processes (PIPs)." PIPs are specialized system-to-system XML-based dialogs which define business processes between trading partners; define the document exchange choreography and the XML schemas for the individual business documents involved. RosettaNet is a subsidiary of the Uniform Code Council (UCC).

RosettaNet Partner Interface Processes (PIPs)

RosettaNet Partner Interface Processes (PIPs) are "specialized system-to-system XML-based dialogs [which ] define business processes between trading partners. Each PIP specification includes a business document with the vocabulary, and a business process with the choreography of the message dialog. PIPs are organized into seven Clusters, or groups of core business processes, that represent the backbone of the trading network. Each Cluster is broken down into Segments -- cross-enterprise processes involving more than one type of trading partner. Within each Segment are individual PIPs. The PIP clusters are:

• Cluster 1: Partner Product and Service Review. Allows information collection, maintenance and distribution for the development of trading-partner profiles and product-information subscriptions.
• Cluster 2: Product Information. Enables distribution and periodic update of product and detailed design information, including product change notices and product technical specifications.
• Cluster 3: Order Management. Supports full order management business area from price and delivery quoting through purchase order initiation, status reporting, and management. Order invoicing, payment and discrepancy notification also managed using this Cluster of processes.
• Cluster 4: Inventory Management. Enables inventory management, including collaboration, replenishment, price protection, reporting and allocation of constrained product.
• Cluster 5: Marketing Information Management. Enables communication of marketing information, including campaign plans, lead information and design registration.
• Cluster 6: Service and Support. Provides post-sales technical support, service warranty and asset management capabilities.
• Cluster 7: Manufacturing. Enables the exchange of design, configuration, process, quality and other manufacturing floor information to support the 'Virtual Manufacturing' environment.

[Adapted from the RosettaNet website]

RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF)

"The RNIF provides implementation guidelines for creating interoperable software applications components that facilitate the execution of Partner Interface Processes (PIPs). The exchange of business data between supply chain partners is the fundamental purpose of PIPs. PIP teams define the values and codes that can be assigned to each data element. The specifications -- known as PIP Implementation Guidelines -- are created in human-readable and machine-readable form and define the vocabulary, structure, allowable data elements, values and value types for each message exchanged in a PIP... At a high level, RNIF defines the overall RosettaNet business message format for exchange of the business documents, with elements to support authentication, authorization, encryption and non-repudiation; details of the bindings for the transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP); and the specification for a reliable exchange of messages between partners."

"The PIP specifications define the document exchange choreography and the XML schemas for the individual business documents involved. The format of these schemas varies on per PIP and the specific business document type basis, based on the underlying business purpose that the document serves. Hence it is necessary to define an overall envelope/container format that stays constant and consistent for all exchanges within which all business documents are exchanged as payload. RNIF specifies such an envelope format that is also independent of the specific transfer protocol used to transmit the message between partner nodes."

"It is necessary to capture the context information for the specific step in PIP process that the payload business document executes and the attributes of the payload document(s), in a PIP and business document independent way. RNIF specifies the XML schema for a header document called the Service-Header for this purpose, an instance of which must always precede a business document instance, in a RosettaNet message." [RNIF 2.0]

Software Interoperability Trials Announcement

RosettaNet, the high technology industry's leading e-business standards consortium, today announced the successful completion of the RosettaNet Software Interoperability Trials. The trials are part of the RosettaNet Interoperability Program, which seeks to improve software and implementation interoperability within the RosettaNet trading network through collateral, education and testing activities.

The Software Interoperability Trials tested RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF) connectivity software from 10 different vendors, including Cyclone Commerce, Fujitsu Limited, GridNode, Global eXchange Services, iSoft, Oracle Corp., Sterling Commerce, TIBCO Software, Vitria and webMethods Inc. Drake Certivo Inc., a vendor-neutral third party specializing in compliance and interoperability testing, administered the RosettaNet trials.

In 2001, RosettaNet Supply Chain Partners identified interoperability as an important next step in the B2B evolution, underscoring that a competitive marketplace of interoperable solutions will enable mass adoption by companies of all sizes. In response, the RosettaNet Solution Provider Board launched the consortium's formal Interoperability Program, led by Oracle Corp. RosettaNet Partners spanning all Boards joined in support of the initiative, including member companies such as Agilent, Arrow, Cisco, Intel and Motorola.

"Intel believes that RosettaNet interoperability and compliance programs have been successful in accelerating the adoption of RosettaNet standards," said Charles Goodwin, director of Intel's Private e-Market Office. "Intel supports these initiatives and has hosted multiple Interoperability Fests because of our belief that business-to-business integration fundamentally improves efficiencies and productivity across the supply chain."

"The ultimate goal of the RosettaNet trials was to further advance software-to-software interoperability activities, thereby reducing implementation costs and the time it takes for trading partners to connect," said Jennifer Hamilton, RosettaNet CEO. "I am pleased to announce the results, which confirm that all 10 participants were awarded successful completion. Furthermore, on behalf of the RosettaNet community, I would like to acknowledge the collaborative efforts of the trial participants and exceptional leadership by Oracle Corp. and others."

The RosettaNet Ready program also offers solution providers the opportunity to earn Software Compliance Badges, which signify that products have successfully met rigorous requirements and are compliant with specific RosettaNet standards. To date, several companies have been awarded badges for their software solutions: GridNode, GridTalk v1.3.9; Inovis, Inovis: Process v4.7; and webMethods Inc., webMethods RosettaNet Modules v6.0.1.

Solution providers leading the RosettaNet Ready compliance program in 2003 include Global eXchange Services (GXS), Hitachi, Sterling Commerce and TIBCO Software.

RosettaNet is an independent, non-profit consortium dedicated to the collaborative development and rapid deployment of open Internet-based business standards that align processes within the global high technology and telecommunications trading networks. More than 450 companies, representing more than US$1 trillion in annual information technology, electronic components and semiconductor manufacturing revenues, currently participate in RosettaNet's standards development, strategy and implementation activities.

Related News from Intel Corporation

A December 2002 announcement from Intel stated that the company had "processed more than 10 percent of its revenues and supplier purchases [in 2002] using RosettaNet e-Business technology standards. Intel has transacted more than $3 billion in customer orders and $2 billion in supplier purchases on RosettaNet [in 2002], increasing the amount of business processed by almost seven times in one year.

"Introduced in 1998, RosettaNet is a standard that enables electronics industry companies to conduct e-Business more efficiently and provide greater supply chain visibility. The extensible markup language-based (XML) standard enables suppliers and customers to easily automate supply chain tasks like collaborative demand forecasting, order management, shipping and receiving logistics, invoicing and payments."

"'RosettaNet-enabled e-Business is a practical and robust example of web services at work across the enterprise,' said Intel Chief Information Officer Sandra Morris. 'The underlying XML-based technology is invisible to the company or person using it, but it vastly improves a company's business processes. For example, as a result of deploying RosettaNet with one of our direct materials suppliers, Intel will achieve savings this year by eliminating the auto-faxing of purchase orders and has decreased order transaction time from 24 hours to less than one hour. This translates into significant increases in operational efficiencies when multiplied across our supply chain'."

"Intel conducts more than 30,000 RosettaNet-based transactions per month with more than 90 customers and suppliers who are based in 17 countries. More than half of Intel's RosettaNet-enabled business was conducted with companies in Asia..."

See: "Intel Conducts $5 Billion In RosettaNet e-Business, Web Services. e-Business Technology Provides Productivity Gains and Faster Supply Chain Throughput."