As the first of such initiatives, Persistent unveiled e2econnect, a fully customised solution that is expected to facilitate information exchange among business entities, and to increase the integration of their extended enterprise.

The e2econnect system offers a fully integrated solution for supply chain management including order management, logistics and cash management. Based on Hewlett Packard's E-Speak architecture, it uses standard, open XML business documents for interface between business entities.

e2econnect offers XML-based solutions that replicate real-life business documents such as purchase order, invoice, delivery challans, and allow computers of different businesses to communicate with each other using a common interface.

Dr Anand Deshpande, managing director, Persistent Systems Pvt Ltd, explaining the rationale for diversifying into e-business, said: "We believe that Indian companies can realise great value by integrating their inbound and outbound supply chains. Persistent can provide technologically leading-edge solutions that allows for customisation of business processes based on Indian regulations and practices, to deliver unmatched value to its customers."

PeBS is currently working with a set of leading corporates, banks, transportation and logistics companies, and academic institutions such as IIT-Mumbai, to develop open XML standards to help Indian businesses communicate with suppliers, customers, transporters and financial partners.

For the transportation and logistics industry, PeBS is actively working with Transportation Corporation of India and Dynamic Logistics to derive XML-based standards.

PeBS is developing an XML-based transportation and delivery solution with TCI, so as to enable TCI to offer application-to-application integration solution to its customers. Using PeBS technology, TCI and its customers would be able to exchange information using standard XML documents in a secure business environment.