B2B Data Integration and Transformation Blog

In business integration and data integration there is much talk about the "business network".  And if you have been around EDI and EAI for 20 years or so like Remedi, I'm sure you've noticed some changes.  While there are certainly advancements in IT disciplines and tools, some things stay the same or seem to be re-named to modernize the terms.  For example, business network is the new trading partner base, B2Bi is the new EDI, and data integration is the new EAI and ETL.  

Given some of the things that have been a constant or re-named in the IT discipline of business and data integration, what exactly has changed? 

Normally in this space I try to keep my blog brief when providing my insight on a given subject.  The self-limiting format of “Two Quick Thoughts” serves to help reign in my own verbose nature. 

This month I intended to write a quick article containing advice for EDI professionals considering a career change from permanent work to consulting.  Of course this would also offer insight to our client hiring managers about what makes EDI consultants tick.

In celebration of our 20th Anniversary, I have been looking at EDI and what's changed.  Surprisingly, while some core issues have changed, EDI itself has evolved, but in my opinion, really not changed much.  Of course, technology has come a long way!

In going through my "archive", I ran across an interesting list published in 1998 by Thomson EC Resources.

Ten Major Challenges an EC/EDI Manager must Conquer to be World Class in the 21st Century

Technology is constantly changing and so are the ways we work.  Integration positions come in many varieties.  These days, Integration experts are onsite, remote, consultants, long standing employees for large corporations, and some are completing your IT project while walking on a treadmill!  While technology trends change, so do our employment trends….and some of these new trends in offices can be downright strange!