The project’s purpose is to address the now globally recognised importance of the role of canonical process and data models in facilitating trade. 
Given UN/CEFACT’s current global recognition as a proven and effective standards developer, the development of such a canonical mode is considered to be UN/CEFACT’s number one opportunity.
The project will draw on UN/CEFACT’s sound foundations and current progress to date in the development of such a canonical model and proceed to develop guidelines to assist all working groups engaged in the development of UN/CEFACT standards and recommendations to contribute effectively to the delivery of the required canonical model. 

What does “canonical” mean?
(adj.) Authoritative or standard: conforming to an accepted rule or procedure. When referring to programming, canonical means conforming to well-established patterns or rules. The term is typically used to describe whether or not a programming interface follows the already established standard.	

The opportunity & the driving forces
UN/CEFACT is poised to significantly contribute to:
     •	Blockchain enabled “Trust” applied to the supply chain
     •	Internet enabled “Collaboration” applied to the supply chain “Data Pipeline”
     •	The uptake of process driven as distinct to document driven supply chains as required to gain benefit from blockchain and IoT technologies, and in support of “Event Driven Architectures” based services
     •	Deployment of UN/CEFACT’s Reference Data Model approach
To deliver UN/CEFACT must now focus on processes and choreography moving beyond primarily focussing only on message definition.

The project will examine all current UN/CEFACT deliverables covering BRS; RSM; ISCRM; CCL: SCRDM & MMT-RDM; MA & schema. 
Based on the existing UMM (2003) and CCTS (2003) both designed to ensure that UN/CEFACT works to the delivery of the required canonical model, and in considering newer technologies, an analysis will be conducted to determine the extent to which modernization may be required of the base UN/CEFACT instruments and methods.
Preliminary assessment and experience dating back to 2002 indicates that to original developers of the UN/CEFACT instruments UMM & CCTS held great insight into the directions of future technologies including blockchain and sensor technology.
The project will assess any identifiable gap in existing instruments, tools and methods, make recommendations as to how to address, and then to develop guidelines to ensure that the opportunity to use to greater purpose in particular UMM and related artifacts is addressing the global move to Event Driven Architectures applied to software based business solutions. This project may result in subsequent projects where technical specifications may need to be updated to the latest technologies.