Business Messaging on Hold

Abstract

Summary: With the exception of firms that have a basic computing culture, such as IBM and Hewlett-Packard, the development of business message systems is not as irresistible as it might seem. Constraints like formatting and entering data make user-friendly models difficult to establish compared with other media like the telephone and fax. On the other hand, electronic data interchange (EDI) is more suitable if a strictly functional model is required. What niche remains for messaging and in what conditions can it grow? This diagnosis is based on a study of existing applications in two sectors in France: transport and health.