Background
Over the past thirty years, the use of the UN/EDIFACT global data exchange standard has continued to increase year on year. There are many eCommunities that depend daily on UN/EDIFACT-based message exchanges to support their industry sectors.

Despite the promises of XML, voiced first in 1999 and other subsequently emerging data exchange alternatives, usage of classic EDI based on UN/EDIFACT and ANSI X.12 vastly outnumber any of the new technologies. But, new valuable opportunities are clearly available, which will most likely compliment rather than replace.

To support multiple syntaxes and technologies the UN/CEFACT “Buy, Ship, Pay” domains have developed a harmonised set of core component structures and reference data models which support semantic interoperability across any syntax or technology used for data exchange.

Objective
This Conference will highlight and celebrate examples of these UN/EDIFACT implementations particularly in the global supply chain and transport and logistics areas and will Illustrate that the continued use of UN/EDIFACT remains a crucial choice for stable and reliable electronic data exchange to facilitate international trade.  This importance was highlighted in 2016 with the development of the VERMAS UN/EDIFACT message for satisfying the data exchange requirements of the Verified Gross Mass IMO SOLAS (safety at sea) regulation. The maritime industry as whole has chosen to use the VERMAS message as the only acceptable electronic message format ever since this global SOLAS VGM regulation came into force.

There will be two panel sessions followed by discussion opportunities. The first will highlight transport and logistics use cases and the second will highlight uses of UN/EDIFACT across the supply chain.

The speakers have been asked to highlight the benefits accrued in their specific environments and also to introduce their ideas about how newly emerging technologies may be able to provide additional opportunities to extend the migration to electronic data exchanges to further enhance trade facilitation.

Target Audience:

• UN/CEFACT Experts who have implemented or are planning to implement UN/CEFACT standards into their business processes.
• Potential users of blockchain who might want to understand use of UN/CEFACT standards in international supply chain environments
• All parties that have an interest in facilitating cross border trade

Organizers: UN/CEFACT Supply Chain and Transport & Logistics Domains

Download: Agenda

Presentations: