PIDX and CIDX™ to Partner in Developing XML Standards for the Petroleum and Chemical Industries
The Chemical Industry Data Exchange (CIDX™) and the American Petroleum Institute's Petroleum Industry Data Exchange (PIDX) have announced plans to cooperate in the development and support of standards for XML-based electronic business transactions within and between their global industries. With combined annual sales of more than 2 trillion dollars, the chemical and petroleum industries represent an enormous potential market for business-to-business transactions.
XML (eXtensible Mark-up Language) is a robust electronic commerce language that is being widely used worldwide to define structures for data exchange among companies in all industries. XML is straightforward and easy to learn, use and read.
"As companies begin to transact using XML, the need for standards extensions, enhancements and support grows daily." said Patricia Simmons, executive director of CIDX. "By pooling the resources and expertise of two key trading industries, we can accelerate this development while meeting the unique needs of each industry."
PIDX initially will explore adopting Chem eStandards™, the body of XML-based standards jointly developed by nearly 60 chemical industry participants over the last 12 months. "Chem eStandards™ provides an excellent potential starting point for PIDX development," said Kendra Martin, executive director of API's PIDX. "Building on the work of CIDX would allow us to rapidly meet the emerging needs of the oil and natural gas industry," Martin said.
The two organizations, CIDX and PIDX, will explore cooperation in several additional areas of mutual interest, including development and enhancement of standards to meet the needs of their respective industries, using a common set of guidelines and design rules, and participation in cross-industry standards groups involved in continuing the ebXML efforts (OASIS and UN/CEFACT). CIDX and PIDX also will host joint industry sessions on XML at the annual American Petroleum Institute E-Business Conference to be held October 15-16 in Denver, Colorado.
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CIDX™ –- The Chemical Industry Data Exchange, CIDX™, founded in 1985, is a non-profit trade association whose mission is to improve the ease, speed and cost of conducting business electronically between chemical companies and their trading partners. CIDX™ manages the development and maintenance of electronic standards for the chemical industry and uses the trademarks CIDX™ and Chem eStandards™. More information about CIDX™, including membership, is available on-line at http://www.cidx.org, or via e-mail from hg@cidx.org. A current version of Chem eStandards™ is available at this site.
PIDX -- API's Electronic Commerce Committee, the Petroleum Industry Data Exchange (PIDX), was formed in 1987 to develop and promote the implementation of electronic standards for the oil and natural gas industry. The PIDX mission is to achieve petroleum industry and enterprise-wide integration of business processes through seamless electronic business communications. It proceeds toward this mission by influencing the architecture and facilitating implementation of effective standards and processes for electronic business communications with in the petroleum industry community. More information about PIDX is available on-line at http://www.pidx.org or via e-mail from pidx@api.org.
API - American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, Northwest, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-682-8184; Fax: 202-682-8207.