6.  However, this is not always the case. Many administrations and companies are using the eXtensible Marked-up Language (XML) protocol, which can be very flexible and can be human readable. The base principle of XML is that there are tags which identify types of information with an opening tag and a closing tag containing the same text as the opening tag but preceded by a slash. For example: “<importer>XXX</importer>.” In this example, it is clear that the information which is being transmitted concerns the importer; the name of the importer here is “XXX.”

7.  A single standard of XML syntax has not yet prevailed, though standards such as those of UN/CEFACT do exist. Every computer programmer can establish their own version of XML. It is often easier for a programmer to create their own logic of XML instead of trying to adhere to a standardized message. The result is a plethora of XML messages and no consistent use of tag naming especially when tags are named in different country languages.

8.  Other syntaxes also exist. UN/EDIFACT is still widely used in many sectors of activity; EDIFACT-assimilated messages are also being used and which are not completely compliant with the United Nations standard. JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is another syntax which is gaining in popularity as it is also rather flexible and it often takes less computer memory.

9.  To establish the links between the sender’s syntax and the receiver’s syntax, correlation tables and bridges must be used; these map each piece of information from one data exchange syntax to the other. If there are multiple partners each has their own data exchange syntax, then each one requires a separate mapping. If there is information that is not clearly defined in a data exchange, approximations must be made; these can later cause problems if the type of information they contain is not harmonized. Any change in a message requires an update of the mappings. The syntax must therefore be constantly looked after.

10.  Information is not just flat, it is typically hierarchal in nature. For example, a seal identification number will be linked to the container on which it is affixed, or a city name will be linked to the address to which it refers. Such hierarchies may be differently defined by each sender and this will result in extra problems for receivers increasing exponentially with the number of trading partners that they have.

11.  This certainly creates work for computer programmers and data mappers, but this creates costs without providing any real value. When faced with new messages which do not align exactly to their version of syntax, the Information Technology (IT) staff within an organization will simply proceed to develop the required mappings. Since many decision makers do not realize what this work entails, they simply trust their computer divisions to do the necessary work. The more data-exchange partners an organization has, the more staff is required to develop and maintain these mappings. This pulls resources away from the core activities of a business in order to deal with an aspect of their business which is purely administrative and costly to the bottom line.

12.  There are suggestions that artificial intelligence and computer learning or big data techniques can provide these mappings without needing to clearly define the base data elements. This is basing the correlations on ontologies, or relationships between data. In theory, this can be achieved. However, enormous amounts of data are necessary to ensure that the links between different message structures are correct. For common information available on most commercial exchanges, such as traders’ names and addresses, this may be easy to establish. Less frequent information is less likely to be correctly understood. And again, each time there is a change in the message structure on the sending or receiving side, the computer learning will need to re-establish the connections after reaching a critical mass of data.

13.  The use of international standards for semantics may take a bit longer to initially put into place, but they offer the potential to ensure that any exchanged data can be understood by everyone in the same way – without resorting to correlation tables and bridges. As these are also usually backwards compatible, there are less problems in potential changes in messages.

14.  This standardization of the base information requires the development of harmonized names, definitions and data hierarchies (data exchange class diagrams). UN/CEFACT provides the tools to achieve this. Its Core Component Library is a semantic encyclopedia of all data that can potentially be exchanged in a transaction. This model provides the base semantic definitions, the hierarchy of the data in its business context and all relevant code lists. In addition, UN/CEFACT has developed Reference Data Models to manage the information more coherently, providing all the information in the context of a specific sector of activity such as transport logistics or supply chain.

25.  Several targets of the SDGs foresee that technologies should be made available free of charge. For example, Target 1 on ending poverty seeks to also ensure that all men and women, particularly the poor and the vulnerable, have access to basic services and appropriate technologies. Target 5 foresees the use of enabling technology to promote the empowerment of women. Target 10 seeks to reduce inequalities. By publishing UN/CEFACT semantic standards free of charge and accessible to all, we indirectly support the empowerment and economic inclusion of all.

26.  Through the development of clear semantic standards for electronic business, UN/CEFACT works towards supporting technological improvements and innovation to generate more efficient, simple and harmonized processes that can foster growth in international trade and increased productivity throughout supply chains. This directly supports SDG target 8.2 on sustainable economic growth.

27.  Sustainable management and reduction of waste is a key aspect of SDG target 12.5. By developing clear, semantic electronic communication standards, UN/CEFACT contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of cross-border trade by reducing the amount of paper necessary for the movement of goods. For example, the BAPLIE UN/EDIFACT message announces the location of each container onboard a container vessel and all the merchandise each contains – this message alone replaces about 1500 sheets of paper per vessel. UN/CEFACT further develops standards on traceability to confirm that production, transportation and distribution of traded goods are in line with high-level policy objectives of civil society values.

28.  UN/CEFACT also provides standards to define many of the information exchanges laid down by the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal. Competent authorities, exporters of waste, importers of waste and recovery or disposal facilities are involved in these information exchanges, all in support of SDG target 12.4.

29.  The SDG Target 2 aims to end hunger and improve food security. UN/CEFACT develops electronic message standards to support trade in agricultural goods. Core to this are agricultural certifications such as the sanitary-phytosanitary certificate (or e-Cert), eQuality certificates (currently being finalized), animal passports, laboratory results, and crop declarations.

30.  The UN/CEFACT messages in this field also support SDG Target 3 on healthy lives, particularly to declare the quality of soil (eCrops) that contribute to declaring the presence of chemicals and contaminants in soil samples. UN/CEFACT has also developed clear semantic standards to recall contaminated goods (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, or RASFF), which have been widely used in the European Union in recent years to recall meats, eggs and other products — thus reducing health risks.

31.  Electronic messages are also key to SDG Target 14 on sustainable marine resources. The UN/CEFACT Fisheries Language for Universal Exchange (FLUX) standard helps to reduce the challenges of overfishing and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities, supporting efforts to safeguard fish stocks and to reduce the threat to biodiversity. FLUX provides a harmonized message standard that allows fisheries management organizations to automatically access the electronic data from fishing vessels needed for stock management (vessel and trip identification, fishing operations or fishing data such as catch area, species and quantity, date and time). Twenty-three European Union countries are implementing the FLUX standard, representing 85,000 fishing vessels with an annual volume of 5 million tons of fish. These messages can also help to provide statistical information on fish catches.

32.  The use of clear semantic standards can also help support SDG Target 8 on sustainable tourism. Current UN/CEFACT standards in tourism assist smaller establishments and rural areas to access international markets through electronic data exchange. One such project involves small lodging houses of 100 guest rooms or less, helping them to send electronic business transactions. Another project is looking at experience programs and will soon be working on the base semantic processes and messages to be exchanged to facilitate sharing these offers, thus promoting local culture and products.

33.  UN/CEFACT develops electronic business standards that facilitate border crossing, national development and equitable access. These standards include maritime declarations, customs declarations, code lists, and commercial standards (invoicing, packing list, shipping instructions, procurement, etc.) which enable international trade development. This supports the SDG Target 9.1 to develop infrastructure to support economic development with a focus on affordable and equitable access to all.

34.  Finally, many of the SDGs targets state that information and knowledge transfer should be a priority. Serving as the focal point for developing, publishing and maintaining global electronic business standards and trade facilitation recommendations, UN/CEFACT has to date developed over 480 standards and recommendations to achieve improved worldwide coordination and cooperation. It aims to support and facilitate national and international transactions through clear semantic standards and procedures. This directly supports SDG Target 17.8 to provide a technology bank for least developed countries and to enhance the use of enabling technologies.

35.  UN/CEFACT is a public-private partnership with members from governments and from the private sector. Most of the meetings are held via conference call, enabling many participants from developing countries to engage and effectively facilitating a North-South sharing of information and semantic standards. This supports SDG Target 17.6 on enhanced knowledge sharing in a neutral United Nations environment.