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If you have never implemented a new B2B eCommerce interface between two businesses, below is a short checklist on how to setup a B2B eCommerce solution:

Establish Need. First two businesses need to identify a need to exchange electronic documents. An example of this is where a supplier would need an electronic purchase order from a customer and the customer would need an electronic invoice.

Agree Upon A Solution. Next the businesses would need to evaluate the B2B eCommerce opportunity and identify a solution that is agreeable to both parties. In many cases, one or both of the businesses have set up a similar B2B eCommerce relationship previously either with another supplier or customer. The eCommerce solution defines the type of data (invoice, purchase order, etc.) that will be sent, the data standard that would be used (XML, EDI, non-standard), the communications protocol (FTP, SFTP, etc.), processing frequencies (once a day, event-driven, etc), and any quality checks (functional acknowledgment transactions, batch numbers, etc). In many cases, the businesses will sign a formal trading partner agreement.

Jointly Implement Plan. Once the technical solution is agreed upon, both partners would setup their system to exchange the data.

Test Interface. Next, they would send test data and both would agree that they are ready to send and receive electronic business documents.

Implement. After a successful test, both businesses would start accepting and receiving electronic business documents. As needed, either trading partner may request changes that would require them to go through the implementation process again to effect the change.