Introduction
Bussler(2003) affirms that the communication process in a B2B message is a complex commercial exchange between two trading partners engaged in a business transaction usually between two parties to preserve privacy at any instance of communication. There should be a common and complete understanding of any predefined answer with a defined sequence of events in the communication process, to elicit a predefined response. The data, data state, and the problem to be addressed are elements incorporated in the message sending process to ensure the quality of the business transaction. All events which include translation and transformation should have the correct data associated with them in an appropriate technological format and synchronized with the particular processes they are associated with and a unique identifier assigned to each communication process to have the events and processes merged correctly in the process flow. Either of the business parties must register with the other’s business EIPP, electronic invoice presentment and payment, a system used by companies to make invoice payments to other companies through the internet. Thus B2B integration makes trading partners share business data incorporating the host and business applications processes. Further still, the identifiers associated with particular events and the priority field describing information expected from the customer should characterize the quality communication process. An appropriate response from one trading partner to the other establishes a good business relationship within the prescribed time limit, asserts (Bussler, 2003). This is characteristic of a one–to–many transactions of General Motor’s B2B initiatives. Concurrent events in General Motor’s message system are limited by the number of transactions that the technology supports. This is configured with appropriate rules which define the communication process in one-to-many interactions. Thus the communication process consisting of the sender, the message, the receiver, the channel, the technology, and the response is enhanced.
Main body
The B2B concurrent messaging defines the maximum number of concurrent collaboration instances that can be in progress at any time. Thus the communication process entails a configuration message, configuration state, contact information, which is a method of contacting trading partners, contact types which are details about the contact organization, and a business action wizard, and a trading partner wizard which
describes whether trading partner security characteristics such as no repudiation of origin and receipt of the message, acknowledgment mode, time to acknowledge, retry count, transport security, encryption, and file compression are required. The delivery channel also includes the associated transport (with its transport protocol, mode, server, and endpoint address) and document exchange (with its exchange protocol parameters, exchange protocol override elements, and, if defined, its support for the digital envelope, encryption credentials, digital signature, signing credentials, and validation).
.Additionally, the message should be encrypted with a public key algorithm, with the sender signing the message with a private key and digital signature authentication. This includes delivery channel details, such as the use of no repudiation, encryption, and transport security asserts (Levy, 2004).
According to Levy, the interaction consists of optional events (M), and constraints (C). The communication process between company ABC and XYZ established between the trading partners involves the message illustrated below.
Request and Decline of a partner association
M (ABC): Establish a working relationship
M (XYZ): Acknowledgement of the receipt of the message (ACK)
M (XYZ): Sends feedback
M (XYZ): Does not send a feedback
M (ABC): Sends a reminder
M (ABC): Does not respond to XYZ on time
M (ABC): Requests for information from XYZ
M (XYZ): Responds to the request information from ABC (rejects the offer for a working relationship)
M (XYZ): Rejects the request with a priority-dependent time frame.
This may be due to poor or inappropriate technology, or perhaps noise in the communication channel used by both partners in the B2B interactions.
The communication process illustrated above envisages a message from ABC requesting a working relationship with trader XYZ. Hurdles get in the way. XYZ does not respond immediately which negates the principles upon which a B2B business transaction is based. Besides, in the message communicated to XYZ, ABC has an undesirable business will, reputation, credit and unreliable technology. With the appropriate technology, correct message format and explicitly adhered to interaction rules, a shortened transaction time, enhanced cash flow, improved market opportunities and productivity while direct costs are reduced and customer service accrue as benefits.
A good communication service incorporates logic and relevant data in the real world, for example, a solid agreement should be signed between the two parties. This is an intelligent choice about what is included in the communication, the message, and what to implement as a separate service. To further improve communication between the two parties, communication should be bi-directional, with a reliable byte-code, example, and the TCP protocol. Avoiding noise entails assigning each transaction a unique number and a collective understanding of the business transaction between the parties involved. Further still, there should be a clear acknowledgment from both parties involved. Quality management initiatives should follow suit where employees are thoroughly versed on the use of system resources, suppliers, reliable and non-defective machines in the business incorporated. The exchange of credit notes should be the backbone of the business.
My analysis of B2B Messages
B2B messages must incorporate elements that target the customer and elicit action. Communication between trading partners entails a business process that splits the message into business events by sending out copies processed at different levels. Communication is bilateral. At each stage of communication, a coordinator component takes over invocation when a notification message is received. Incoming messages, transport components, security and packaging components are coordinated by the coordination component. Logic and data determine the quality of the message. The value of your organization can be internalized by your customers with a persistent impact if consideration is accorded quality management. Quality management incorporates a staff that is well trained in the use of technology, able to act upon a message in real-time with reliable machines. The message should be focused on a well-defined market with a value position in the B2B message transaction.
It is also essential to be able to compare and contrast the market so as to create a communication message relevant to your target market. Thus make your brand stick to your customers. Knowing your customers by name and continually communicating with them leads to value addition. Data-based interactions on B2B transactions are prone to error and do not provide exception handling mechanisms, thus not a reliable basis for automating transactions (Bussler, 2003). However, all elements for reliable communication should be incorporated. With a well-defined protocol, TCP/IP provides reliable communication in a complex environment of B2B transactions with well-set and specified rules. In business-to-business communication, action between trading partners relies heavily on their operational capabilities and the message action between them. Other incorporated elements when messaging includes, the business collaboration that is enhanced through messages between trading partners, business document, protocol and the unit of action between the parties. To make a message more reliable in a B2B environment, document exchange details, such as the use of digital envelopes, encryption credentials, digital signatures, and signing credentials are a necessity. Transport details which include transport mode, protocol, server name, and endpoint nodes should be incorporated in the message sending system between trading partners and communication rules fully adhered to by both parties. In a B2B communication environment, the communication channel should be so chosen with the relevant technology to enhance the quality of communicated messages, message style and avoid noise that may be due to technology or poorly trained staff. The noise gets in the way of delivering a quality message and a distorted meaning to the recipient. Interaction between trading partners should be enhanced to lead towards a particular goal with several components factored. In addition, the environment consisting of many partners should accept a submission from one partner or concurrent partners and the response are real-time. Certain allowable messages in a B2B message should be understood by both partners in a transaction. Encoding standards used should also be well understood by all trading partners. The interaction pattern in a B2B message should abstract certain events with an actual understanding of the status of a transaction. This leads to an enhanced workflow process in the B2B EDI data communication between trading partners. In the confines of this business environment, XML technology maintains a large volume of transactions, where XML can either be stateful XML or stateless XML technology.
Reference
Bussler, C. (2003). B2B integration: Concepts and architecture, Springer. Web.
Levy, M, (2004), Building Distributed Applications: Agreement and Organization: Protocol Architecture for B2B. Web.