B2B Integration : A Practical Guide to Collaborative E-commerce

Q Once the process is
requested, the process agent
initiates negotiations with the
pool of proxy agents having the
capability to perform the rst
activity of the process.
© Selected'bestfit'proxy
agent is assigned by the
process agent to perform the
activity.
^7 Process agent communicates
the specifications of the activity to
the proxy agent.
Q Proxy agent then begins work.
Here is how agents function
using an example process
of building a home
* '
While monitoring the progress of the
process, the process agent repeats the
negotiation and selection steps for
subsequent activities until the entire
project has been completed per the
customer's specifications.
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Software Agents 397
Continued from page 396
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Figure 13.6. — Exterprise agent-based process engine
APEx supports a number of pre-built collaborative processes in
the system, such as contract management, complex matching and
negotiations for sourcing, distributed order management and catalog
product pricing management.
Source: Exterprise.com
13.9.5. Efficient e-marketplaces
Almost all existing commercial B2B e-marketplaces provide limited
services, such as communication supports between buyers and sellers,