BSR benefits by area :

XML (eXtensible Markup Language)

XML is potentially a very powerful way to exchange information. But anyone could define their own semantic, which would be very unproductive for establishing large relationships or B to B relationships. The semantic content "exchanged" by XML has to be defined and also the meaning of tags employed. The BSR is a good answer to this and can eliminate the need to redefine a totally new semantic register (without links with other repositories/dictionaries). To build a new semantic register can take many years (see the UN EDIFACT example) and "semantic coherence with the existing EDI world" is a key for rapid development of XML.

The need for XML standardization is now very strong. Numerous initiatives exist, such as ebXML, established by CEFACT and OASIS (Some BSR experts are working for ebXML).

Commerce One "CBL (Common Business Library)" is a set of XML building blocks and a document framework that allows the creation of robust, reusable XML documents for electronic commerce. Those XML building blocks, built upon BSR concepts, will be more powerful.

The BSR can help XML in different ways:

• XML will be used by human beings. In this situation the BSR will bring clear definitions, in different languages, easily accessible.

• XML will be used directly by applications in an automatic way. In this situation the BSR will bring well-defined stable concepts over time, that are identified by code, and are language and "author" independent.