Web Services Patterns Task Force

Building a rich-media way to exchange product information

The Web Services Patterns Task Force is developing simple and timely ways to send and receive new-product information over the Internet direct from product suppliers.

Gary Miller of Provident-Integrity Distribution is leading the task force to develop standard processes so the industry can effectively use the technology to provide very rich new-product information. Along with basic bibliographic information, it delivers pictures, descriptions, the heart of the artist or author, information on why a project was done, audio and video samples, excerpts, touring information and dates, and more – all delivered via the retailer’s POS system.

This information significantly could improve how retailers engage customers and be a very powerful tool to differentiate Christian stores.

The underlying technology can be easily adapted into any Web platform. However, for the solution to be widely used, the industry would need some rules to live by. The Web Services Patterns Task Force is defining how basic functions would work so any supplier could make the richest information available at the lowest overall cost. This also would enable the supplier’s originating-source information to be the ultimate source. This is crucial to ensure data consistency and accuracy throughout the supply chain.