Interoperability

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) defines interoperability as the ability of two or more systems or components to exchange information and use the information exchanged.

Beyond the technological perspective, interoperability is currently understood as a broader concept with a group of differentiated dimensions. In this sense, the Ibero-American Interoperability Framework includes one of the most comprehensive definitions currently in existence for the field of electronic administration, in line with the definition given by the European Commission, defining interoperability as "the capacity of disparate and diverse organizations and systems to interact with agreed and common objectives and in order to obtain mutual benefits”. The interaction implies that the organizations involved share information and knowledge through their business processes, through the exchange of data between their respective information and communication technology systems.

In the Administration

The field of electronic administration has endowed interoperability with great relevance and has promoted scientific studies that currently highlight other dimensions above the technical dimension of interoperability. It is precisely in this context that interoperability is currently imposed as one of the key elements for electronic administration, reflected in Spain through the National Interoperability Scheme (ENI).

In addition to talking about the governance of interoperability, interoperability is currently recognized as having at least three well-differentiated dimensions:

• Technical dimension
• Semantic dimension
• Organizational dimension

In the transport sector

In the world of transportation there are initiatives that promote the interoperability of rail systems. A notable case is the European Directive 96/48/EC on the interoperability of the Trans-European High-Speed Rail System. This directive defines interoperability as the "capacity to allow the safe and uninterrupted circulation of high-speed trains while complying with specific performances". Its objective is to eliminate the regulatory, technical and operational differences that currently greatly hinder the free movement of trains across the trans-European borders.

In Latin America

In Latin America, there is the most recent case in Peru, and its Electronic Government Project, which was later called, from 2009, the Peruvian State Interoperability Platform - PIDE, based on SOA Architecture, having as a pilot project a service called Constitution of Online Companies, in which five public entities intervene, currently in operation. The project was executed between 2007 and 2011, it is a successful interoperability model project to be studied by the actors involved (public institutions, international organizations, national and international IT companies, beneficiary citizens), strategies used, political and technical leadership., multidisciplinary teams, among others. Check more at www.iadb.org, www.ongei.gob.pe.

Similar cases are found in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay and Venezuela.