Carolyn A. April and Heather Harreld

XML's coming-of-age as a data equalizer is fueling a furious information management push as vendors ranging from BEA Systems Inc. and IBM Corp. to a cadre of small players aim to simplify the way companies access data scattered across the enterprise.

According to several recent analyst reports, users who invested big bucks in the past few years on lengthy CRM deployments are frustrated with poor results, in large part because the systems exist in silos.

Attempting to capitalize on users' desire to trim EDI network charges and exploit emerging open standards, EAI vendors are touting their tools as a way to extend or replace existing EDI infrastructures.

XML's coming-of-age as a data equalizer is fueling a furious information management push as vendors ranging from BEA Systems Inc. and IBM Corp. to a cadre of small players aim to simplify the way companies access data scattered across the enterprise.