XML Scenarios

Updated: August 11, 1998

This section of the XML site includes the following collection of articles that describe how industry leaders are using XML-based applications today to increase sales and productivity, improve customer satisfaction, and lower costs. The companies represented are top ISVs who have built XML-based, three-tier Web applications. The articles were authored by Linda Burman, President of L. A. Burman Associates.

Personal Investment Management Using XML
Building an Integrated Maintenance and Ordering System Using XML
Building an Interactive Frequent-Flyer Web Site Using XML
Automating Customer Service with XML
Providing Consumer Product Ratings Online with XML
Automated Purchasing and Supplier Data Integration with XML
Creating a Multi-Supplier System with XML
A Time and Attendance System: Integrating Data Sources with XML
Improving the Online Shopping Experience with XML

Each brief scenario demonstrates the solution to a real business problem. It includes:

The specific business problem that was impacting mission-critical processes
The role XML played in the solution
A discussion of how the problem was solved through the use of specific XML-based tools, with a behind-the-scenes look at exactly how the software components handled a typical user scenario

Those of you who have just started working with XML can review the scenarios to find examples of how other Web-based application developers are using XML tools. Those of you who are still in the planning stage will find the information useful in your assessment of XML: Is it truly a panacea for all that's wrong with the Web -- the technology that will make Web communication and commerce "a piece of cake"? Or is it just hype? The business scenarios demonstrate that neither extreme is true. No technology can solve all the world's ills, but XML is much more than just hype. In fact, it's pretty revolutionary -- functioning as both a standard data exchange model and as a technology that delivers very precise search and retrieval. You'll find the details in the scenarios provided in this section.