Business drivers for moving to an XML framework

Today’s bottom-line business impact of adopting XML technologies is especially important. For any organisation that shares information with its counterparts as a critical part of its delivelables, the creation of a single source of information from which we can deliver to all current and future media will deliver real, sustainable benefits.

• Faster time to market for new software- where are the bottlenecks? How much of the development cycle depends on information creation and sharing? How much information can we reuse instead of creating from scratch?
• Cost-avoidance & future-proofing data. We know the cost and complexity involved in moving our data from an Oracle 8 database to a 11g database. Since XML is a non-proprietary and standards-based Markup language, native XML data is operating system and software product independent.
• Inconsistent data and poor data integrity costs money, so most obviously, an effective Schema language, carrying out the rules made by people, should be able to reduce costs.
• Interoperability – Receiving and sharing information in a universal format using universal protocols encourages the reuse of inter-agency information. Many government agencies, for example, already allow data returns to be filed using publicly published schema definitions.
• Make cost effective solutions with quick return of investment. Reduced cost of developing proprietary data storage and transmission strategies. Easily integrate XML based applications and quickly enhance the capability and the reach of current software.

Some of the features of an XML-centric organisation are:

• Development is simper and more standards led. Outside contractors can quickly integrate into the team.
• Staff retention is increased.
• The organisation is better able to take advantage of information sharing between partners
• External parties see the organisation as more forward-thinking and willing to adopt industry standards, rather than clinging on to legacy methods and interoperability techniques.
• All relevant data is virtualised, and abstracted into a Service Oriented Architecture, where applications can pick-up and use published services easily and in a coherent manner.