SITPRO's e-Business team has been working very hard recently to deliver the next generation of trade data standards. Alongside UNECE it has developed a standards-based data repository that brings together the internationally agreed standards for producing aligned Paper, EDI and XML international trade documents. These standards are now available free of charge at www.unedocsuk.co.uk.
SITPRO are continuing to authorise the production of the SITPRO aligned documentation and the approval of a UNeDocsUK XML and EDI transaction/message. Registered and validated users are not only able to use the well recognised SITPRO name and UNeDocsUK branding but also have access to the supporting paperwork and documentation to help them to implement and complete their Paper, EDI or XML and other resources.
The repository has been developed using International standards. The first step was to build a project basis and scope using the United Nations Modelling Methodology, taking into account the years of experience from SITPRO and the project team. Next, a document data-model of export business information was developed, that is independent of any syntax e.g. not EDI or XML and technology neutral. This data-model was then fed with international standards including
- UN Recommendation 1 the UN Layout Key for paper forms based layout
- UN Trade Data Elements Directory International Standards Organization (ISO) 7372
- UN/EDIFACT D03a
- UN Core Component Technical Specification ISO 15000 part 5
- UN Applied Technologies Group XML Naming and Design Rules
The generic repository currently contains 12 international trade documents in the form of UNeDocs. Many of these documents were taken from SITPRO's TOPFORM 2 (UK Aligned Series of Export Documents) and were modified by removing UK specific information.
For the national variation of UNeDocs, the UK has taken this data and expanded it to cover 18 documents from TOPFORM 2. Additionally, the UK team is continuing to increase the number of documents available by enlarging the repository with more data including the relevant national extensions. Some of this work was demonstrated by SITPRO’s licensees at the ASEM conference (see the SITPRO News ASEM Special Edition).
Under auspices the e-Business Standards Policy Group, the Document Working Taskforce (DWT) was set up during the development of UNeDocs and UNeDocsUK to ensure that we delivered exactly the UK business requirements and later to carry out pilot implementations for proof of concept. The DWT currently consists of SITPRO’s licensees and software houses, implementers, Government Department officials and other bodies who offer their time and assistance.
More good news for the project came when UN/CEFACT's Forum Management Group accepted UNeDocs as an official project within a new Trade Business Group, TBG2 Digital Paper. The next steps will be to create a scoping document and send out a global invitation for participation, although the group has already attracted interest from, among others, Australia, Bulgaria and IATA.
If you would like to know more about UNeDocsUK please visit the SITPRO website at www.sitpro.org.uk/documents/unedocsuk.html or the dedicated website at www.unedocsuk.co.uk.
If you would like to speak to someone, please call Sue Bravery from the SITPRO e-business team.
Return to SITPRO News: Issue 52, Spring 2005
