The Japanese government reportedly has an initiative to use service-oriented architecture to boost the number of small- and medium-sized enterprises that conduct direct B2B e-commerce. This initiative may prove an example of good foresight, and could help give Japanese small businesses an edge over foreign rivals.
Some 99 percent of all businesses in Japan fall into the small or medium category, and currently only 8 percent of these have the capability to conduct B2B electronic commerce. The government's target is to raise this above 50 percent, with the help of SOA.
Source: CBR Online, http://cbronline.com