WHSmith evaluates latest US ecommerce standards

NEWS WHSmith is to become the first British retailer to evaluate ecommerce standards that were only officially adopted in the US yesterday. The US National Retail Federation committed its members to introduce XML-based digital certificates as proof of purchase for each online sale they make. UK retailer WHSmith has already confirmed it will review the standard as a possible replacement for simple email receipts and paper invoices. Speaking exclusively to Silicon.com, Debbie Robinson, WHSmith's online communications director, said: "We have a very strong US customer base, in addition to our UK market, so we'd be keen to adapt to whatever US customers want and expect." She has already approached the technical staff of whsmith.co.uk to evaluate the feasibility of the project. Alan Stevens, editor of Which? Online, said the move bodes well for consumers shopping online. He told Silicon.com: "If this new standard for digital receipts proves to be both safe and convenient, it should provide a boost to online shopping. However, consumers will need to be reassured that information about their purchases is not aggregated without their express consent." Backers of XML-based digital receipt technology claim it offers a key advantage over conventional methods in that the documents can be downloaded into tax and accountancy software with no need to reformat or input the numbers manually. That, they claim, facilitates corporate bulk purchasing, and means financial details are stored directly in budget and inventory software.