After a number of years of using various technologies for doing eBusiness, the UK telecoms industry is attempting to upgrade its view to use the ebXML architecture. To date this has involved the publishing of Business Process Specifications based on the ebXML BPS specification.

This paper will explain how the growing pains of moving to an XML based solution for eBusiness have been relieved by using the ebXML architecture as a framework for how the think about B2B solutions. By using examples of pre-ebXML solutions it will show why the cornerstone elements of the ebXML architecture are in fact valid and why this architecture is applicable for use with diverse technologies from EDI to Web Services.

Taking a clear business-led approach it will be possible to see why the use of ebXML actually encourages non-technical people to understand an area which is typically the domain of technical gurus. Whilst showing the strengths of ebXML architecture it will also highlight some of the basic weaknesses and pitfalls of B2B applications particularily in the area of document semantics.