Extensible Markup Language (XML) is widely used today in many Web and e-business applications, but we are not yet using the markup language to its full potential. During 2001, expect to see XML gain some legs as a powerful language you can use to integrate business-to-business (B2B) functions.

Today, a company or market sector may implement applications using XML, but other businesses may not be able to easily interpret the documents because each party is using a different Document Type Definition (or DTD). Thus, B2B integration using XML is currently a tricky proposition.

Early in 2001, expect the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to release something called XML Schema. The new W3C recommendation will bring rich data description support to XML, enabling businesses to share markup attributes (or simply put--more easily interpret each other's XML documents).

XML Schema does not remove the ability to create company- or industry-specific DTDs. Likewise, it will not instantly make B2B integration using XML an easy proposition. The XML Schema merely provides a common base that will make it easier for multiple entities to understand each other's documents. It will take time for the providers of integration software and services to implement the release.

There are other groups, including Microsoft (with its BizTalk solution), that are defining other common definitions. However, for interoperability sake, it is advisable to implement the W3C standard XML Schema once it becomes available.

If you'd like more information on XML Schema, see the W3C Working Draft. If you plan to use XML as part of your B2B strategy, keep an eye on integration software and services providers as they implement the XML Schema release early next year.

Maggie Biggs has more than 15 years of strategic and tactical, business and IT experience. Write to her at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .