EDI - B2B or A2A??

[Former Member]

Hello guys.

I have a conceptual question regarding the configuration of a business scenario with an outside partner using EDI.

As general ones would say that because the partner is outside the LAN its a B2B scenario ,but what if the EDI box sits inside my LAN...what then?

does XI adds additional elements to the XML structure(except for security and agreements) when we configure the service with party for a b2b scenario at configuration time??

Appriciate your opinion...

Regards.

Nimrod

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello Nimrod,

generally speaking I don't classify a scenario by the place where the components are located.

E.g. here I have a scenario where company A orders goods at company B via EDI messages. All systems and components are located in the same Intranet (LAN) because both companies are part of the same corporate group.

--> I still call this a B2B scenario

So I think no component will make any change (on the application layer, e.g. XML structure) by virtue of the location.

Regards

Juergen

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Jurge.

Your example a bit clearified the subject for me.

I'll reward points the minutes awarding will be available.

Best regards.

Nimrod

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

And therfor you configured the XI for a B2B scenario using EDI?

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Actually we are using XI just for three scenarios: Two of them for intercompany processes (all concerned systems are located in the local intranet) and one to send invoices to an external provider (SAP R/3 -> XI -> external provider).

All our other scenarios with partners (internal and/or external) are based on other technics like ALE, RFC, transfer of flat files, mail, SAP Business Connector, edimanager (e.g ATOS), etc.

Call it B2B, B2A, B2C, A2A or whatever. One the one hand I call them all <b>Business Processes</b> and on the other hand there stands the technology.

Regards

Juergen

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

So did you or didn't configure on Configuration time of XI the -"send invoices to an external provider (SAP R/3 -> XI -> external provider)" as a B2B scenario service with party...?????????

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello Nimrod,

to be honest: I can't tell you in detail because I just configured the connection of the backend system to XI but I didn't make the configuraiton on XI itself. For details on configuration of XI I'm sure some other guys in the forum will assist you.

Regards

Juergen

P.S.: In the past (as the configuration was on the SAP Business Connector), yes, there I configured it as a B2B scenario...

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I'm gonna let you go with this one....

tnx for the effort.