The key to effective XML content management is a flexible system architecture based on interoperability standards for data, services, and system integration. These standards serve as an intermediate middle layer allowing powerful tools to manage, process, access, and transform XML structured content in a cost effective manner.

This paper describes the challenges faced in managing information in robust systems that enable reuse of XML-encoded data objects and support their efficient processing. This is accomplished through the use of XML databases and open standards based on the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) produced by the World Wide Web Consortium.

This paper is divided into three major sections, exploring:

• The Power of Standards-Based Computing,
• Status of Standards used by XML Databases,
• Two Customer Case Examples