Well first of all what is Extensible Mark-up Language (XML)?

Not so long ago a new buzz phrase came on the scene called Hyper Text Mark-up language (HTML). At the time, people didn’t know what it meant or what it was used for, but nowadays everyone knows that it is the choice language used by web designers and software developers all over the world to build web pages. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) developed HTML over a decade ago. This same body is also responsible for bringing out new data formats for the development of the Internet. Five years ago they launched XML. So what is XML? Simply put, it is a method for putting structured data in a text file. It allows for a common data format through which disparate systems can speak together in a common language at a granular level.

XML has gained massive momentum since its launch and there are plethoras of initiatives underway to create specific industry XML standards. For example: finance, insurance, medical, logistics and HR are all forming consortiums to find their way with this new language. On the HR initiative that’s where the HR-XML Consortium comes in.

HR-XML Consortium

The HR-XML Consortium is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to the development and promotion of a standard suite of XML specifications to enable e-business and the automation of HR resources-related data exchanges. HR related e-business-or inter-company exchange of HR data requires consensus among participants on how the transaction of the data exchange will occur. The mission of the HR-XML Consortium is to spare employers and vendors the risk and expense of having to develop and publish open data exchange standards based on XML, the consortium provides the means for any company to transact with other companies without having to establish, engineer, and implement many separate interchange mechanisms. At present, the Consortium consists of such companies as: Adecco, BEA Systems, Cisco, Fidelity Investments, HotJobs.com, IBM, J.D. Edwards, Manpower, Microsoft, Monster, Oracle, Peoplesoft, SAP and Shell Oil.

So far the Consortium has completed sixteen specifications. For example: Job and Position Header, Version 1.0, Staffing Exchange Protocol, Version 1.1 and Contact Method Version 1.0. All of which are free to download at the Consortiums web site.

Why Use XML for HR data transfer?

So why worry about open standards for the transfer of HR data? Why should we be even bothered with it? Well put very simply it makes a lot of business sense. Particularly, if you are a large multi-national with high volumes of recruitment. One of the primary objectives of the HR-XML Consortium is to strive to develop schemas, which allow enough flexibility and uniformity in the transfer of HR data both inside and outside the organisation. This uniformity is essence gives us all a “common language” template through which, we can transfer data at a more granular level. For example, Company X has a large ERP system part of which has a compensation & benefits module which is using the new XML Payroll Benefit Contributions Specification. Say that company X provides VHI and Bank of Ireland Pension coverage for its employees. If VHI and Bank of Ireland also adopt the Payroll and Benefits Contribution Specification then they can all send each other information in this new format that can be immediately uploaded into their in-house databases. This increases speed and reduces time and labour costs. Similarly, let’s look at job boards and agencies as an example. Company X is using Monster and Manpower, as it’s preferred suppliers. Nowadays, to post an open specification to all vendors Company X would need to send the spec to both individually. However, if all vendors adopt the Staffing Exchange Protocol Specification, on a simple click of a button, Company X can send the spec to all of the vendors simultaneously for immediate upload in their databases. Once again, saving time and money.

Human Resource Managers are in demand in today's workplace and their pay reflects this demand. To be taken seriously, you will probably need to become a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development through a number of years with relevant responsibilities or appropriate qualifications: usually to at least Diploma level.

XML has come along way and is here to stay. We are all going to start hearing a lot more about it; especially when we begin to see our residential broadband capabilities mature. While it will be some time before we see the practical advantages of switching our systems into XML format it’s well worth keeping an eye out for the road ahead.

Reference sites:

www.hr-xml.org

http://xml-computing.com/xml/xml.htm

http://www.w3.org/XML/