XML?

[D. Eric Chadbourne]

> Universal Business Language (UBL) Ratified As OASIS Standard
> 
> Royalty-Free, International Standard for XML-Based Electronic Business
> Documents Approved
> 
> http://www.oasis-open.org/news/oasis_news_11_08_04.php

I just finished reading the docs.  Seems to fit our problem perfectly. 
I'll do more research this weekend before speaking with my employer. 
Thanks a bunch guys!