Automated Business Process Integration with Openxchange

In order to meet the requirement of a broad support of inter-organisational business processes, a smooth integration into existing business applications is necessary. Standardisation initiatives such as ebXML promise to provide a framework for flexible process and data interoperability among businesses. This is used as the basis for the development of the openXchange reference architecture described in this paper. It is designed to accomplish smooth business process integration based on ebXML and standardised e-business transactions and reference processes for significant business areas. OpenXchange will provide an extended framework for demonstration and validation of e-procurement applications within several business domains. The mapping of the ebXML framework on the openXchange Architecture shows the gaps that need to be closed before companies can perform standardised e-business transactions. The components of the openXchange Architecture will be piloted in specific business domains within pilot applications in Germany and The Netherlands.