Communications technologies for the extended enterprise

This paper reviews part of the technological environment in which extended enterprises and standards must be developed. It looks at the current and emerging information system (IS) technologies that are widely accepted for use as enablers of communications between companies, and in particular supply chain relationships. The first technology discussed is electronic data interchange (EDI). EDI is the most widely used and well proven of the technologies for facilitating communications between companies. Next, the current set of technologies that make up the Internet are explored. The Internet in many circumstances plays a paradoxical role in extended enterprises, both as a potential ally and replacement for EDI. The corporate Intranet and Groupware are also examined, and the roles they will play in filling in the gaps that may exist in constructing all of the key services for an extended enterprise information infrastructure. Finally, the four technologies are compared and contrasted.