Update on ASC X12 Standards Activity - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Update on ASC X12 Standards Activity

May 12, 2010

NEECOM

Bill Alletzhauser

EDI Consultant

What is ANSI?

• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) was founded October 1918 in response to a need to standardize parts in manufacturing.
• Founded by five technical societies and three U.S. government agencies.
• First standards specified the spacing of threads on machine screws.
• ANSI Standards now cover virtually every aspect of American industry.

What is ASC X12?

• Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12 is the U.S. standards body for cross-industry development, maintenance and publication of electronic data exchange standards.
• ASC X12 is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and brings together volunteer business and technical professionals in an open cross-industry setting.
• ASC X12 was founded in 1979.

• ASC X12 is the most commonly used B2B standard
• Increasing use globally requires continued development
• Innovation by businesses continue to drive development
• Participation continues to be active

Vision of ASC X12

• ASC X12 is the preferred standards body for defining requirements of electronic business document content in the U.S., and also serves as a key player in international forums by contributing to the universal core component work and message design architecture.

Data Interchange Standards Association

What is DISA?

• The Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA) serves as the Secretariat of ASC X12 and other groups.
• DISA also serves as the publisher of ASC X12 Standards, Guidelines, and Type 1 and Type 2 Technical Reports.
• Facilitate, Coordinate and assist with scheduling meetings.
• Marketing and Education.
• General Administration.

ASC X12 ORGANIZATION

ASC X12 STEERING COMM

DISA (SECTY)

EXECUTIVE COMM.

SUBCOMMITTEES:

X12C COMMUNICATIONS & CONTROLS

X12F: FINANCE

X12G: GOVERNMENT

X12I: TRANSPORTATION

X12J: TECH ASSESSMENT

X12M: SUPPLY CHAIN

X12N: INSURANCE

TASK GROUPS:

PRB: PROCEDURES REVIEW BRD

P&P: POLICY & PROCEDURES

COTG: COLLABORATION

MBTG: MARKETING & BUS. DEVELOPMENT.

Trimester Meeting Cycle

• Winter meeting – Late January/Early February
• Summer meeting – Early June
• Fall meeting – Late September/Early October
• For upcoming meeting dates and locations, refer to the X12 website at
• www.x12.org/x12org/meetings/x12trimt/index.cfm

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Membership Benefits of X12

• Gain a proactive role in shaping the most widely used EDI standards.
• Voting members are eligible to vote thereby controlling what changes become part of the standard.
• Other member benefits include:
• Attend ASC X12 trimester meetings at no cost
• Purchase ASC X12 publications at the member rate
• Network with the industries’ top innovators
• Showcase your products & services to 300-400 attendees at each Trimester Meeting
• Receive early access to standards (before they are approved)

ASC X12 UPDATE:

• Virtual Meetings replacing the FACE-to-FACE meetings
• (5/24-6/18)
• The use of Social Networking tools:
• Linked In
• Twitter
• Collaboration tools
• Central Desktop
• “CONNECTIVITY CAUCUS”
• NOT an X12 group or subcommittee
• Broad Support in many vertical markets
• Network Interconnect first order of business

- Started as “VAN” summit Jan.2009 in Seattle, WA.

- Open forum to discuss “issues”.

- Several major VANs (not all) made the meeting.

- Finance, Retail, and Transportation markets responded.

- Consensus to move forward and continue talking.

• VAN Summit becomes a Caucus Group
• January 2010 Summit meeting creates Caucus Group
• Large attendance: Finance, Healthcare, Insurance, Retail, Transportation and the U.S. Government well represented.
• VANs, Clearinghouses, Service Bureaus (many other third-party companies that offer communication).
• Identifies Interconnect as first order of business

• Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary identified
• Mission and charter approved
• ASC X12 project plan accepted by ASC X12C
• Three main areas to be addressed:

1. Message Content

2. Operational Requirements (SLA)

3. Directory Enhancements

• “Virtual” Meetings
• Membership is open to all interested parties

(End users, developers networks)

COMPANY A

COMPANY C

???

NETWORK 2

???

NETWORK 1

???

COMPANY A

NETWORK 1

COMPANY C

NETWORK 2

KEY:

COMMUNICATION

NETWORK 1

Check security, authorization etc.

Check RECIEVER ID code (not recognized or contains errors)

Move to INTERCONNECT POOL

RETURN TO CUSTOMER

INTERCONNECT POOL

• Check for Interconnect agreement (Y/N)
• Is this a private or public network?
• If private goto AS2 or other
• If public get interconnect requirements
• Method of connection (FTP, SFTP etc.)
• Mailbag (Y/N)
• If Yes, get Mailbag specs:
• Size (file size restrictions)
• Quantity of files allowed
• File type allowed
• Frequency allowed
• Confirmation expected
• Create file to transport
• Schedule/run connection
• Wait for confirm signal
• End.

TO:

NETWORK 2

• Check for Interconnect agreement (Y/N)
• Is this a private or public network?
• If private goto AS2 or other
• If public get interconnect requirements
• Method of connection (FTP, SFTP etc.)
• Mailbag (Y/N)
• If Yes, get Mailbag specs:
• Size (file size restrictions)
• Quantity of files allowed
• File type allowed
• Frequency allowed
• Confirmation expected
• Accept file transfer from NETWORK 1
• Send confirmation of receipt
• Communication session ends
• Interrogate file
• End.

TO:

NETWORK 1

BUT WAIT……THERE IS MORE !!!

• Interrogate the file:
• Do we recognize the ID (Y/N)
• Yes, pass on to ID mailbox
• No, place entire file on “HOLD”
• Are there any errors in the file (Y/N)
• Yes, place entire file on “HOLD”
• Notify NETWORK 1 (?)

• NO confirmation of final delivery to end company
• No error notification if error occurs
• Time sensitive data looses the benefit of electronic communication
• System failures or delays cancels automation investment
• Restricts the usage and options available to end users.

COMPANY A

NETWORK 1

COMPANY C

NETWORK 2

KEY:

OUTGOING

CONFIRMATION

Additional Information

• CONNECTIVITY CAUCUS GROUP
• Chairman: Mr. Todd Gould Loren Data Corp. tgould@ld.com
• Vice-Chair: Mr. Robert Fox Softshare Corp. robertf@softshare.com
• Listserves
• Sign up at the ASC X12 website: or contact: Patrice Scheyer at Pscheyer@disa.org

Additional Information

• ASC X12 website: www.x12.org
• Subcommittee Information
• Current Standards Information provided in Committees/Groups
• Members and contact information
• Meeting minutes
• Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA)
• www.DISA.org
• Listserves
• One for each Subcommittee plus additional topics
• Sign up at the ASC X12 website:
• http://www.x12.org/x12org/listserve.cfm

Contact Info:

Bill Alletzhauser

bill@edisupport.com

800-404-9182 ext. 20

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