ARTS Welcomes New Members

May/June 2006

• Two New Schemas Planned for August Release

  Item v2.0, first released in January 2005, enables the download of item information to stores and distribution center applications.  The most significant enhancement, synchronization with the ARTS data model, was identified by initial implementers and companies undergoing conformance testing.  The work team is chaired by Tim Hood of SAP and Item v2.0 will be available after final review by the IXRetail Technical Committee and the European Technology Council.

   

  Product Content Management (PCM) v1.0, an expansion of the Digital Asset Management schema released in 2003,  will be released for public comment in August.  PCM will offer standards-based integration for retailers and their suppliers to author, manage and share product content including such non-graphic attributes such as selling features, cross-selling extended product information such as warranties and manuals.  The public comment period is an important opportunity for retailers and vendors alike to have a say in the final product. For more information contact Dean Sleeper, CEO of AccessVia through ARTS.

   

• PCMS Group and NSB are the Latest Vendors to pass ARTS POSlog Conformance

  ARTS is pleased to announce that PCMS Datafit Vision Beanstore Version 3  and NSB's Connected Retail Store version 6  have both passed conformance testing for POSlog version 2.1.1.   Both PCMS and NSB are longtime ARTS supporters.  Click here for more details from the ARTS website. 

   

• New Direction for UnifiedPOS

  At the most recent UnfiedPOS committee meeting, hosted by Ultimate Technology in Rochester NY, the Technical Committee proposed a new project that could be of great value to users of software based on standards developed by the Distributed Management Taskforce (DMTF).  The proposal is to create Common Information Modules (CIMs) used in DMTF standards for connecting POS devices to the systems management software of many vendors.  This is a huge undertaking, but could have significant positive impact on the management of POS devices.  Please email ARTS with your input.

   

• European Technology Council to Consider Including Vendors

  The European Technology Council (ETC) will meet Wednesday June 7 during Retail Solutions in Birmingham UK to consider the possibility of adding vendors to the Council.  It is felt that allowing vendor participation will enable the ETC to play a more active role in developing ARTS standards.

   

  The European Technology Council (ETC) was founded in 2004 by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) to offer a networking opportunity to European IT leaders and to guide ARTS activities in Europe.  The ETC currently counts top retailers such as Harrods, World Duty Free, Reebok, Blockbuster, House of Fraser, Waitrose, El Corte Inglés among its members.

   

  Email Karen Shunk if you are interested in attending.

• ARTS Developing SOA Education Program

  Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA), the third component for implementing a web services and XML applications environment, is also a critical ingredient for getting the full benefit of ARTS standards. To help our members make the "right" choices in building an application architecture, ARTS is working in cooperation with several major vendors to develop a program covering the topics of Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructures, XML Integration, ARTS schemas and developing ROI to justify the investment.  Sessions are expected to begin in fall 2006.  Contact ARTS Executive Director Richard Mader for more information.

         Committee News

• Data Model Committee Announces Update for July Release

  Version 5.1.1 of the ARTS Standard Data Model, synchronizing POSlog 2.1 to the Model, is scheduled for release in July.  The success of POSlog has led to member requests to enable POSlog messages within the model.  An additional release, scheduled for late 2006, will do the same for the Item schema. 

   

• Standard RFP Committee to Release New RFP (ITT) for Master Data Management (MDM) for Fall 2006

  The number one development priority, as identified by the ARTS Member Survey in March, Master Data Management is defined as a set of processes to create and maintain a single view of products, customers, accounts or locations across the enterprise.   MDM is a natural fit for ARTS, as the first ARTS Data Model was created 15 years ago to create a single accurate and consistent version of critical data.  The Standard RFP Committee has announced an aggressive schedule to create a first draft of the new RFP by July.

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