Each generation has its challenges and responsibilities. Some born during the period from 1915 to 1950 were challenged to invent electronic commerce and tasked to implement a major component of it. The component is called "electronic data interchange," or EDI.

In the evolution of this new technology, something wonderful has happened. For the quarter century following 1975, a worldwide cooperative effort has resulted in a global reach for communications and commerce never before thought possible.

People worked at this in a spirit of service to company, industry, country, world, and each other. Their work significantly contributed to the outstanding improvement in economies that was experienced during the 1990s, and will continue to be effective for many years to come, even considering a cyclic economic setback like that beginning in year 2001.

By the year 2000, this phenomenon was called "electronic commerce" or "eCommerce," terms not known or used with any frequency until the 1990s.

Ground Rules

Steadfast in their belief and firm in their commitment were several people in leadership roles who inspired their associates to "dig deep" within themselves for an understanding of exactly what was the goal. Then with that, and armed with the skills and experiences each brought to the endeavor, they were to forge "something" that would lift world communities to new plateaus, offering broad advances based on a compassionate understanding of the results of their work and the usefulness and quality for any tools or procedures created or discovered. Make no mistake about it. The goal was not to invent Electronic Data Interchange—EDI, as it is known today. There never was such a term as "EDI" at the beginning of the project.

There were goals, however, but they were stated in terms of effects to be achieved: elimination of inter-company paperwork, absolute accuracy, timeliness for key processes, complete control over repetitive processes, protection of the databanks of individual participating entities from each other and invasions from outside, cost reduction, and catalyst to stimulate ever increasing customer satisfaction.

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