Data Model Committee has New Chair, New Agenda for 2007
Kirstin Wright of Retail Anywhere, a Data Model-conformant company, has been elected chair of the DMC to succeed Monty Moncrief of Blockbuster.  The Data Model Committee (DMC) has outlined a very aggressive agenda for 2007 that includes:

• Development of the standard Data Warehouse Model.  The Charter for this work group is now available for member review and comment on the Data Model webboard.

• Development of the ARTS Data Dictionary as the single source of data definitions.

• Synchronizing schemas to Data Model and dictionary.  ARTS is seeking volunteers to analyze and identify issues and to suggest resolutions by subject area of the Model.  To volunteer please contact arts@nrf.com.

• Identification of enumerations within the Model that should defined and then developing those definitions

• Selecting enhancements for inclusion into release 6.0 of the Model, scheduled to be available by January 2008

The next meeting of the Data Model Committee is May 2-3 in Austin TX.  Please go to www.nrf-arts.org to register for this meeting.

Next XML and Data Model Meetings April 30 - May 3 2007, Austin TX
The agenda for this meeting is now available on the ARTS website at http://www.nrf-arts.org/agendas/AgendaXML_DM_Austin_0507.htm.  Key work team meetings include: SOA Blueprint, Tax Rules, Retail Transaction Interface (RTI), Data Warehouse, Foodservices and DMC discussions on the topics above. 

SOA Blueprint Work Team Call for Input and Volunteers

The SOA Blueprint work team is now identifying candidate services to be included in this description of the optimum retail SOA implementation.  Please post your suggestions and comments to SOA Blueprint for Retail on the ARTSXML webboard.  Send an email to arts@nrf.com if you would like to participate in this team.

New RFP (ITT) Topic and Updates Announced

Voice Over IP (VOIP) has been selected as the next RFP.  If you have selection criteria on VOIP we encourage you to contribute it to ARTS for use in developing this new RFP (ITT).  All material will be used in anonymity.  Also, an update to the Workforce Management RFP is in progress. If you have used the existing RFP we encourage you to make your suggestions for enhancement.  Please contact ARTS at arts@nrf.com if you have input or comments.

GS1 Update on Reduced Space Symbology
GS1 US (formerly UCC) gave an update on global standards at the XML committee meeting in Phoenix in May.  Full rollout of RFID is taking longer than anticipated but great progress is being made in new versions of the chips.  As an interim method to obtain many of the benefits of unique product identification, GS1 is promoting adoption of Reduced Space Symbology (RSS) as an upgrade for traditional UPC bar codes.  RSS is being renamed DataBar 2010 with a standard data format for use in product identification and coupons.  The presentation is available on http://www.nrf-arts.org/presentations.htm   For more information on DataBar 2010 and other global supply chain standards, we encourage you to attend the U-Connect Conference June 4 – 7 in Orlando FL.  Visit the U Connect Conference Homepage to register at http://www.uconnectevent.org/.

Pro-Con Converter Now Available for Public Review
Pro-Con, the protocol converter standard that will allow the NAFEM equipment protocol to participate in ARTS XML messaging, is now available for public review.  This two year effort, along with POSLog for Foodservices, represents a major step in allowing ARTS standards to better serve the Foodservice industry.  New initiatives in this arena will be discussed and prioritized in the Austin meeting.

XMLPOS Now Available for Public Review

UnifiedPOS continues to make progress in developing Remote Access POS (RA-POS), with a first draft of XMLPOS now available for member review on the ARTS UPOS webboard.  XMLPOS will be the basis for Web Services POS (WS-POS), which is still in development.

ARTS to Present at IBM Retail User Group Conference

ARTS will present a session on how SOA can fit into business support plans, and how ARTS standards can help implementors deliver powerful capabilities quickly and to maximum benefit at the IBM Retail User Group meeting May 21 2007 in Las Vegas. Session presenters include Home Depot and SAP.

ARTS Networking Dinners - Seattle and Boston

ARTS is hosting Networking dinners to give IT and Store Operations executives a networking opportunity in a relaxed environment.  The first will be in Seattle May 9 and then Boston on May 30.  These dinners are by invitation only, if you would like to attend email arts@nrf.com. 

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