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HOME > ABOUT OPEI > E-COMMERCE FOR THE OPE INDUSTRY >
The Web Services Project
Recognizing the potential of the Internet for real time business transactions, the OPEI e-Commerce Committee developed a strategy to capitalize on this technology (see 2003 Strategy Meeting). With more and more manufacturers and distributors building interactive capability into their web sites, the committee proposed converting existing e-commerce standards into Web Services standards.
Web services are a means of using a web site to achieve computer to computer interactions equivalent to EDI, but more immediate in their results. (See Web Services Announcement). With web services, a dealer or distributor need not even be at the computer during the communication process since it can be completely automated. The dealer's computer can submit information at any time, receive a disposition, and prepare a report for the dealer to read later. This is a significant improvement over the current practice of dealers manually entering data into manufacturer web sites.
After obtaining approval by the OPEI Board of Directors, the committee developed basic Web Services Strategy. It then appointed an Infrastructure Work Group to study the technology (see Web Services Technology) and make recommendations regarding the use of the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) to define communication requirements.
The committee appointed a Warranty Work Group to develop specifications for the first Web Service. These Warranty Web Service standards were completed in March 2004, and successfully tested by Ariens Co. and C-Systems (Business System Vendor). They are now being implemented by manufacturers, distributors, and dealer business system vendors. Testing and implementation planning are being overseen by the committee’s Implementation Work Group.
The committee continued developing standards for additional web services throughout 2004 and into 2005. The Warranty Work Group went on to developed a Product Registration Web Service. The Supply Chain Work Group which had done most of the committee’s early work with XML standards, was reactivated and it developed standards for purchasing and inventory inquiry web services.
As the committee established a base of knowledge and experience with web service implementation, testing, and standards management, many issues became more clear. The committee scheduled another 2005 strategy meeting for April to refine and resolve these issues.
- Click here to review and download OPEI Web Service Standards.
