An agent-based system for trading partner management in B2B e-commerce

Abstract

Organizations invest in B2B and workflow management systems to enable seamless integration of multiple transaction systems that support their business processes. However, knowledge of the organization's performance becomes buried within internal processing of the B2B workflow platform. This research introduces a framework that analyses workflow audit logs, utilizing DSS principles together with agent technologies, to feedback the organization's performance measures. We apply this framework to a private trading exchange case study where suppliers participate in an interorganizational order fulfillment workflow. Agents refine the organization's knowledge of supplier productivity and commitment as they learn from interactions over time with trading partners.