Minutes of workshop on IT Standards Agenda

Protocol Workshop IT Standards Freiburg Minutes of workshop on IT Standards September 29th, Novotel Freiburg Meeting participants: see corresponding PDF document Agenda Minutes of workshop on IT Standards Freiburg ................................................................................. Welcome ....................................................................................................................................... Words of welcome (Martin Himmelsbach) ..................................................................................... 2 Word of greeting from EDI Optique representative Jean‐Christophe Leroy .................................. 2 Lens catalogues ............................................................................................................................. Implementation status (Gerd Bernau, Martin Himmelsbach) ........................................................ 2 Circulation of individual pricelists in SF6 (Uwe Freitag) .................................................................. 3 IRIS project (International Rodenstock Information Server) (Hans Obermayer) ............................ 3 Presentation of circulation structure including Single Sign on Service (Georg Weiß) .................... 3 SF6 CAD Creation (Peter Kraus) ....................................................................................................... 4 Solution for premium printing (Gerd Bernau) ................................................................................. 4 Lens orders .................................................................................................................................... Implementation status of b2b optics lens (Gerd Bernau, Martin Himmelsbach) ........................... 5 Current status and standardization of Web order services (Martin Goebel) ................................. 5 WebServices via REST (Alexander Wohlfahrt) ................................................................................. 6 Replacement of CZC with enhanced b2b optics version (Trevor Geschke, Thomas Barth) ............ 6 Discussion on electronic delivery notes: XML or Edifact? ............................................................... 7 Spektaris presentation (Peter Frankenstein) .................................................................................. 7 Spectacle frames ........................................................................................................................... b2b optics frame – Look4 format replacing Fosa (Georg Weiss) .................................................... 7 Contact lenses ............................................................................................................................. 8 Implementation status of Spektaris format (Georg Weiss) ............................................................ 8 Any other business ...................................................................................................................... 9 Barcodes (Martin Himmelsbach) ..................................................................................................... 9 Follow‐up meeting .......................................................................................................................... 9 1 Protocol Workshop IT Standards Freiburg Welcome Words of welcome (Martin Himmelsbach) Goals: •
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give assurances that the community is on the right track provide impetus for the development of new standards swap ideas on the issue of bringing together the various formats Short introduction of participants Word of greeting by EDI Optique (Jean­Christophe Leroy) Review of EDI Optique’s history, structure and organizational flows •
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Established in 1998 for the purpose of coordinating the development of industrial standards for the optical sector in France 55 members, covering 90 % of the French market Show great interest in international standards Development of a XML standard catalogue for all optical formats, supported by 12 manufac‐
turers and 5 software companies Lens catalogues Implementation status (Gerd Bernau, Martin Himmelsbach) •
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Historical review of SF6 development (Gerd Bernau) 2004 presentation of lens pricelist formats No further progresses „Lived“ format, established as a European Standard Problem: format is coming up against its limits More than 46 lens manufacturers and 16 software companies involved Working group „lens format“ Gerd Bernau, project organization (Comcept) Objection raised by Peter Kraus: ¾ Need to separately discuss contentual and technical aspects, i.e. first define the contentual standard and then the technical standard. Survey on Software houses’ commitment to support SF6 ¾ All except one software houses are already supporting the format. 2 Protocol Workshop IT Standards Freiburg Circulation of individual pricelists in SF6 (Uwe Freitag) Survey among lens manufacturers: ¾ Problems associated with the circulation of customer‐specific pricelists exists for all big suppliers ¾ Practical aspects: manual maintenance of different groups or product groups require a high level of manual input ¾ Requirements in terms of customer‐specific product catalogues: expected to rise in the future Presentation of a circulation „structure“ •
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Enhancement of catalogue update tools as a master database for producing sub‐catalogues Support to be provided to all parties concerned (Software houses, lens manufacturers etc.) The IRIS project (International Rodenstock Information Server) (Hans Oberma­
yer) •
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Database with files in different formats (SF6 files, FOSA etc.) and meta information (date, origin etc.) Distribution of catalogues directly from the database via Webservice: customer sends identification data and receives FTP download links Testing structure with test catalogues (validated only after prior checking) is available Further information available at www.glaeserforum.de: DFÜ‐Glasbestellung allgemein > Rodenstock Presentation of circulation structure including Single Sign on Service (Georg Weiß) The problem as Mr. Weiß sees it is this: •
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there is a fundamental demand for individualized distribution of product catalogues and other files a technical transmission standard does not exist: different transmission technologies (FTP, HTTP, SOAP, REST) available absence of standardized interface formats (uniform WSDL) absence of uniform authentication Proposal: •
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Implementation of uniform authentication (Single sign on Service) Standardization of Webservices (technical aspects, interface, error codes) Uniform interface towards optical software Concern raised by Martin Himmelsbach: • Software companies explicitly wish a uniform interface 3 Protocol Workshop IT Standards Freiburg Working group ­ circulation of catalogues Members: Hans Obermayer, Projekt‐Organisation (Rodenstock), Markus Reinhardt (Optovision), Uwe Freitag (Essilor), Alexander Wohlfahrt (Zeiss), Georg Weiss (Look4), Thoma Zopick (Hoya Lens), Thomas Barth (Ipro) SF6 CAD Creation (Peter Kraus) Underlying approach: •
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Segregation of data and design (manufacturers) for pricelist design software Creation of a low‐priced standard tool Design data should form part of the SFS6 format Software houses require easy‐to‐use and attractively priced calculation tools Technical possibilities for implementation based on a SF6 XML conversion file. 1. XSLT for data transformation: complex development from XSLT + conversion processes (may be implemented on server) 2. PDF form: price calculation via tool directly from SF6, creation of PDF catalogue with editing option for opticians (forms); possibility of PDF printing directly at the optician’s or for‐
warding it to printing house (presentation of process); Adobe Indesign used for bringing together data and design: Indesign is found to be too expensive for opticians 3. Use of electronic pricelists by remote control based on software solutions Further information available at www.glaeserforum.de Solution for premium printing (Gerd Bernau) Tool for creating and designing customized pricelists based on SF6 •
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Export from SF6 with updated pricing data Professional print function: optician creates pricelist; once the price determination is comple‐
ted ‐> return dispatch to manufacturer where a professional print catalogue is produced and then dispatched Separation of design and data is not possible Will be complete in October Objection raised by Thomas Barth: • Issue of versioning after changes to a SF6 file Remark made by Uwe Freitag: • had good experience with XSLT conversion. Need for one or two standard options. 4 Protocol Workshop IT Standards Freiburg Survey conducted among Software houses and lens manufacturers: ¾ SF6 export is partially possible for Software houses. Export is scheduled to be implemented by most Software houses ¾ Readiness to support PDF documents from lens manufacturers Proposal made by Mr. Himmelsbach: • Implementation of two options (PDF form or export directly from optical software) Working group „pricelist printing“ Peter Kraus, project organization (Kraus IT), Uwe Freitag, Lens order Implementation status of b2b­optics lens (Gerd Bernau, Martin Himmelsbach) Survey on commitment to support b2b‐optics: ¾ All except two Software houses support the b2b‐optics format ¾ Following the decision made by the whole working group, it will be used as a standard as from november 11th, 2009 ¾ In charge of circulating the final version: Gerd Bernau / glaeserforum.de Participants are asked to prepare an outline of the scope of support from software houses or manu‐
facturers for b2b‐optics (by using the discussion forum at www.glaeserforum.de) Objection raised by Hans Obermayer: •
Need for parameter expansion (to be implemented by Gerd Bernau) Participants’ approval of name definition for different b2b formats •
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b2b‐optics lens b2b‐optics frame b2b‐optics consult – for lens consultation programmes Current status and standardization of web order servcies (Martin Goebel) Uncontrolled growth of XML orders ‐ two methods being commonly used, i.e. 1. ordering without online check via eMail (subject to high error rates) 2. ordering with online check, synchronously or asynchronously (check takes up to 2 minutes) Need for a check. Both synchronous and asynchronous mode execution should be supported. 5 Protocol Workshop IT Standards Freiburg Proposal • Standardization of interfaces for different interface technologies (SOAP, HTTP, REST) within a working group • Standardization of feedback message (status information) Working group „Webservices“ Members: Goebel, Project Organization (Prisma), Peter Kraus (Kraus IT), Hans Obermayer (Rodenstock), Markus Reinhardt (Optovision), Alexander Wohlfahrt (Zeiss), Rahring, Uwe Freitag (Essilor), Thomas Zopick (Hoya Lens), Georg Weiß (Look4) Proposal/request addressed by Hans Obermayer to Software houses / opticians: • Send order immediately after the data entry process is complete, in order to get a feedback message as long as the customer is still in the optical shop. WebServices via REST (Alexander Wohlfahrt) For Zeiss, SOAP is not a solutuion because of the high overhead costs involved – quicker response times being possible thanks to REST. REST • Architecture for Web services: „Webservices return to Web“ • Resource‐oriented remote procedure structure • lower level of overhead costs compared to SOAP SOAP •
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Remote procedure structure in Envelope May also be implemented in a REST‐compatible way Discussion: •
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Both SOAP and REST should be supported Proposal: product validation, product orders and product availability should be dealt with as single queries Need for drafting a well‐endorsed proposal by Opti 2010 Replacement of CZC with enhanced b2b­optics version (Trevor Geschke, Thomas Barth) b2b‐optics consult as a standard format for transmitting data other than order‐related information, such as video centration system data, marketing material (more details available at www.glaeserforum.de) •
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Already successfully tested in a prototype version between Zeiss and IPRO Drawback: redundancies created by additional format 6 Protocol Workshop IT Standards Freiburg AG b2b­optics consult Members: Thomas Barth, project organization (IPRO), Rodenstock, Seiko, Zeiss Discussion on electronic delivery information: XML or Edifact? •
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Edifact is being used in France and Great‐Britain Getting around Idoc is difficult Are opticians seriously interested? Process of authentication seems too complicated, optical chains are definitely showing strong interest. On the other hand, it is expected to bring about benefits for independent ECP’s as well •
Development of an Advanced Shipping Note as a temporary solution is underway at Fielmann and Look4 (not intended to replace the delivery note) Discussion group „electronic delivery note“ Members: Berthold Oestermann, Project Organization (Seiko), Rodenstock, IPRO, Hoya Lens, Weiss (Look4), Zeiss, Tremel (Rupp und Hubrach), Uwe Freitag (Essilor) Integration of Jean‐Christophe Leroy (EDI Optique, France) Spektaris presentation (Peter Frankenstein) •
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Need to support the standardization effort The international dimension should not be overlooked CL portal as an example for successful standard developments as an outcome of manufactu‐
rers’ working group spearheaded by Georg Weiss (Look4) Need to identify creative solutions for the purpose of funding standard developments. Spectacle frames b2b­optics frame – Look4 format replacing Fosa (Georg Weiss) •
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Development of a frame format based on Spektaris standard format used for contact lenses look4optics.de as a Central Portal for creating catalogues and presentations as well as for distributing catalogues for frames, contact lenses and other products Webservices for entire supply chain: distribution of catalogues, order validation, order configuration, order transmission and order status monitoring. Format features: •
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Implementation process using “talking” descriptions in XML (in English language) Management of catalogue validity periods Version management Incorporation of individual product parameters Possibility of mapping Private Labels Relations to other articles / items 7 Protocol Workshop IT Standards Freiburg •
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Belations to other documents such as images, marketing material or shape data Compatibility with b2b‐optics lenses and contact lens format Call for support through software houses, manufacturers and optical chains. Detailed format description available at www.info.fassungskataloge.de Discussion •
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AVM points out that there is no cost pressure in the marketplace in terms of format applica‐
tion. The format will become accepted less quickly than that of lens orders; benefits for op‐
ticians should be promoted more effectively Contradiction: electronic frame catalogues will be of great benefit to industrial players Lens manufacturers’ approval of frame format Evaluation and opinion‐forming on format support ¾ 15 approvals, i.e. the format is supported by all members. Working group „frame format“ Members: Georg Weiss, project organization (Look4), Hans Obermayer (Rodenstock), Thomas Barth (IPRO), Bertold Oestermann (Seiko), Mr. Kettenhofen (Rathenower Optik), Martin Jahndel (Kobert and Tente), Mr. Heinrich (Fielmann) Contact lenses Implementation status of Spektaris format (Georg Weiss) • catalogue and ordering standard • WebService for catalogue distribution, order validation, order configuration, order transmission and order status is available • catalogues from all key suppliers are available • Software house support for reading in Spektaris catalogues: all except two software houses fully support this • orders based on Spektaris catalogues: implemented by less than half of the Software houses Format description available at www.cl‐portal.de Concern raised by Mr. Himmelsbach •
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Mr. Himmelsbach calls on contact lens manufacturers to keep interfaces consistent across all countries and to support the CL portal the standard should also include topometric data in order to avoid the emergence of new isolated solutions. 8 Protocol Workshop IT Standards Freiburg Software houses’ vote on Spektaris format support / invitation to CL manufacturers to do likewise ¾ Common consent, i.e. the format is supported by all Any other business Barcodes (Martin Himmelsbach) •
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raising awareness of the problem of free barcode allocation through Opticland and others discussion takes place at www.glaeserforum.de statt Followup meeting •
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Need for a more easily accessible venue (such as, for example, Cologne or Francfort) Next meeting to be held on the occasion of Opti 2010 (Kraus IT) Euronet and Comcept to organize follow‐up meeting in one year Comcept and eventually Buchmann to organize follow‐up meeting in a year or so (C ologne or Düsseldorf) 9