For 2005, watch for Web services to bring more pieces into place to enable more seamless integration of global supply chains. VANs are rapidly evolving from their origins in network technology, to more cost-effective forms using Web services. These next-generation VAN-driven networks also promise to smooth today's EDI software disparities resulting from trading partners’ EDI formats.

The vision is that supply chain participants could continue to use the enterprise applications they prefer, and expose them to their partners’ systems, as needed.

Long-term, Web services may have some interesting and compelling ramifications for IT staff that support the supply chain.