RosettaNet FAQ's

Below are the answers to some of the frequently asked questions in regards to RosettaNet.

Question 1. What is RosettaNet?
RosettaNet is a non-profit consortium of more than 500 organisations working to create, implement and promote open eBusiness standards and services.

It comprises world-leading Electronic Components (EC), Information Technology (IT), Logistics (LG), Semiconductor Manufacturing (SM), Solution Provider (SP) and Telecommunications (TC) companies.

Question 2. What is the mission of RosettaNet?
RosettaNet drives collaborative development and rapid deployment of eBusiness standards and services, creating a common language and open processes that provide measurable benefits that are vital to the evolution of the global trading network.

Question 3. What are RosettaNet standards and services?
Non-proprietary and freely available to the public on the RosettaNet website, RosettaNet standards encompass data dictionaries, implementation framework, and XML-based business message schemas and process specifications. RosettaNet services, including Standards Delivery, Partner Discovery and more, are available to the public and incrementally to members to help accelerate the velocity and limit the cost of standards implementation.

Question 4. How does RosettaNet differ from other standards efforts?
RosettaNet operates with the collaboration of hundreds of organisations, with technological and corporate support at the highest levels of the technology industry's largest companies. Members of the RosettaNet consortium contribute significantly throughout the standards development process - from concept to implementation - providing technical input, including expertise in process methodology, technology and best practices; project management; and implementation services, support and solutions. This unique organisational structure ensures that the best minds from the most notable companies in high technology contribute to standards that meet the needs of the entire industry. The motivation, expertise and leadership enable RosettaNet to develop and deploy standards with accelerated speed.

And unlike other standards efforts, which focus on specific business units, elements and/or proprietary solutions, RosettaNet develops robust open eBusiness standards, encompassing data dictionaries, implementation framework, and XML-based business message schemas and process specifications, proven by production implementations.

Question 5. Is RosettaNet global in scope?
Spanning the Americas, Asia and Europe, the RosettaNet consortium includes multinational members and is driven by global councils.

Additionally, RosettaNet has regional organisations - in the Americas, Australia, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan - giving a voice to various business economies seeking to adopt and influence RosettaNet standards.

Question 6. Why should I implement RosettaNet standards and services?
RosettaNet standards and services offer multiple benefits, including highly effective trading networks, operational efficiencies and investment protection.

Implementation enables companies to:

introduce highly effective eBusiness processes into operations
create quick trading-partner connections leveraging the global reach of the Internet
build a foundational set of practices to extend common processes to multiple trading partners
strengthen trading-partner relationships
reduce inventory, improve time-to-market and enhance productivity
join leaders investing in standards that are created by and implemented across the industry

Question 7. Why should I join RosettaNet?
Although RosettaNet standards are freely available to the public, and implementation provides incomparable benefits, becoming a member of RosettaNet offers a host of added advantages.

Members have the opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders, driving the creation and adoption of global eBusiness standards. They have direct involvement in the development and approval of standards as well as access to knowledge and expertise, including implementation services and support that speed adoption and best practices that provide risk mitigation.

Question 8. Who is RosettaNet Australia?
RosettaNet Australia is a not-for-profit organisation, formally created on 31st March 2004 after signing an agreement with RosettaNet at the RosettaNet World Conference in Singapore, to be the Australian Affiliate for RosettaNet.

RosettaNet Australia is administered by GS1 Australia, a not-for-profit organisation responsible for administering the GS1 System in Australia. GS1 Australia is a member of GS1 Global.

Question 9. What are the future goals of RosettaNet?
RosettaNet continues to focus on the creation and adoption of standards and services driven by its members as well as expand into adjacent industries, such as logistics, consumer electronics and aerospace.

Additionally, RosettaNet is working closely with other organisations to ensure best-of-breed standards supporting multiple industries, and lower-cost standards implementation solutions for small-to-midsize enterprises.

Question 10. What are the RosettaNet Business Dictionary and RosettaNet Technical Dictionary?
RosettaNet dictionaries provide a common vocabulary for conducting eBusiness, and reduce confusion in the procurement process due to each company's uniquely defined terminology.

The RosettaNet Business Dictionary designates the properties for defining business transactions between trading partners. The RosettaNet Technical Dictionary provides properties for defining products and services.

Question 11. What is the RosettaNet Implementation Framework?
The RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF) Core Specification provides exchange protocols for quick and efficient implementation of RosettaNet standards. The RNIF specifies information exchange between trading partner servers using XML, covering the transport, routing and packaging; security; signals; and trading partner agreement.

Question 12. What is a Partner Interface Process® (PIP®)?
RosettaNet Partner Interface Processes (PIPs) are specialised system-to-system XML-based dialogs that define business processes between trading partners. Each PIP specification includes a business document with the vocabulary, and a business process with the choreography of the message dialog.

PIPs apply to the following core processes: Administration; Partner, Product and Service Review; Product Introduction; Order Management; Inventory Management; Marketing Information Management; Service and Support; and Manufacturing.

Question 13. What are RosettaNet Foundational Programs?
RosettaNet Foundational Programs encompass the development and evolution of all RosettaNet standards, including enhanced production of standard specifications and content, improved technical architecture, convergence activities and programs designed to improve implementation and global adoption.

Examples include the RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF), RosettaNet Business Dictionary (RNBD), RosettaNet Technical Dictionary (RNTD) and Interoperability.

Question 14. What is the RosettaNet Validation Program?
The Validation Program is RosettaNet's formal process for driving implementation of newly published standards to ensure a high level of quality. Under the Validation Program, a group of member companies commit to implementing a standard upon publication. They run the standard in production for a period of time, providing and reviewing feedback to enhance the standard, and ultimately attest that the standard meets predefined requirements and has been successfully implemented in production.

The Validation Program encourages rapid evolution of new standards to improve robustness and lower the frequency of change in the future.

Question 15. What are RosettaNet Milestone Programs?
RosettaNet Milestone Programs focus on reaching implementation goals within an eBusiness process scenario. They serve as unifying forces within the industry - driving collaboration to solve critical supply chain challenges, aligning priorities within the high technology trading partner and solution provider communities, and speeding development and production implementation of RosettaNet PIPs.

Question 16. Does RosettaNet have a policy regarding support for newer releases of its standards?
RosettaNet's general policy is to support the most current version of published standards. While earlier versions of PIPs are published for historical value, the latest version of the PIP will include the most recent version of common objects defined at the time of publication. In addition, later releases of PIPs may include additional requirements and greater definition of the business process than previously available. Therefore, active support will be restricted to new PIPs only. Technical support and general feedback issues related to older versions will be answered as best as possible, but only change requests related to the most current version of the published standard will be evaluated for maintenance release.

Question 17. What are benefits of being a RosettaNet Australia 'User Member'?
As a 'User Member' of RosettaNet Australia the member can:

Have the joining fee to GS1 Australia membership waived (not retrospective for companies who are already GS1 members), as an incentive to become a member of GS1 Australia. GS1 Australia membership gives access to all services of GS1 Australia, with membership privileges to attend education and training sessions, seminars, access to member pricing for professional services and access to the GS1 Supply Chain Knowledge Centre.
Drive a common standard within the industry to reduce the cost of implementing and supporting a variety of systems configured for each trading partner.
Have 'first mover advantage' with opportunities to understand RosettaNet standards (Dictionaries/RNIF/Blueprints)
Participate in global standards
Be involved in PIPs review
Be involved in projects and training developed by RosettaNet Australia
Escalate implementation issues
Share knowledge and experiences with others
Access the RosettaNet Australia education and training services
Access the regional help desk
Use the RosettaNet partner logo
Gain priority and 'no charge/discounts' to attend selected events and seminars organised by RosettaNet Australia

RosettaNet Australia user members do not have voting status.

Question 18. What are benefits of being a RosettaNet Australia 'Solution Provider Partner'?
As a 'Solution Provider Partner' of RosettaNet Australia the member can:

Have the joining fee to GS1 Australia membership waived (not retrospective for companies who are already GS1 members), as an incentive to become a member of GS1 Australia. GS1 Australia membership gives access to all services of GS1 Australia, with membership privileges to attend education and training sessions, seminars, access to member pricing for professional services and access to the GS1 Supply Chain Knowledge Centre.
Drive a common standard within the industry to reduce the cost of implementing and supporting a variety of systems configured for each trading partner.
Have 'first mover advantage' with opportunities to understand RosettaNet standards (Dictionaries/RNIF/Blueprints)
Participate in global standards
Be involved in PIPs review
Be involved in projects and training developed by RosettaNet Australia
Escalate implementation issues
Share knowledge and experiences with others
Access the RosettaNet Australia education and training services
Access the regional help desk
Use the RosettaNet partner logo
Gain priority and 'no charge/discounts' to attend selected events and seminars organised by RosettaNet Australia

RosettaNet Australia solution provider partners do not have voting status.

Question 19. What are benefits of being a RosettaNet Australia 'Board of User' member?
In addition to the benefits of user member or solution provider partner, a 'Board of User' member can be involved in influencing global processes and assist in setting the direction of RosettaNet development within Australia. Participation at board of user level will be subject to nominations from members and approval by RosettaNet Australia and existing board of user members, should the maximum number of twelve board members be close to being exceeded. A board member's term will be for one year.

Question 20. What is the charge for being an 'Associate member'?
There will not be a charge for associations or academic institutions who qualify to be RosettaNet Australia Associate members. Associate members will have access to services such as participation in RosettaNet Australia conferences (at member rates), regular communications and special access to the consortium's web site. Associate members will not be able to vote on RosettaNet Standards.

An Associate Member must be a non-profit standards body, trade association, academic institution or government agency that is involved in delivering electronic commerce, supply chain subjects and/or part of the Electronic Components, Information Technology or Semiconductor Manufacturing Supply Chains.

Question 21. How can I get more information?
Contact the RosettaNet Australia team by phoning 1300 366 033 and ask for the RosettaNet Department.