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This paper sets out to describe a version of infrastructure or foundation for VRM (Vendor Relationship Management) based on an alternative view on sharing information online between individuals and of online identity. It sets out to explain the strategy and tactics for design, development and adoption of tools - the Mine! and FeedMe (see glossary) - and creation of an infrastructure for other solutions - VRM (relationships with individuals and vendors, transactions), self-defined identity, authentication, data portability and hopefully many more. The aim is to equip individuals with tools to take charge of their data (content, relationships, transactions, knowledge), arrange (analyse, manipulate, combine, mash-up) them according to their needs and preferences and share them on their own terms whilst connected and networked on the web.

What are the elements of a VRM data portability policy? The basic elements of a VRM data portability policy should include: Data retention agreement - How long will my data be retained for? For example - for the life of the relationship plus 30 days. Data reuse agreement - Will my data be used for purposes beyond the original transaction Data ownership agreement - What elements of the data belong to the vendor such as a Frequent Flyer number Data portability agreement - The data that is the subject of the agreement may be stored by the vendor, or it may be held by a data custodian in a Personal Data Store. Data access agreement - The data that is the subject, or a sub-set, of the agreement should be accessible to third parties that have been granted access by the user. For example, granting access to my shipping address information at Amazon by a third party vendor I have performed a transaction with.

As an example, the Dataportability movement has framed the problem in terms of Data and Portability. This brings to mind exporting and importing “my” data from vendor to vendor. That’s a start toward liberating users from vendor silos. However, I think the real win is in user-centric services, where the location of the “data” is essentially irrelevant–even as it is hosted under the control of the user–and all user-authorized vendors can access the data through approved services.

The core idea of vendor relationship management (VRM) is simple: the more empowered individuals are when it comes to managing and using personal data – including the ability to manage their relationships with vendors – the greater the benefits to both sides.

Meanwhile, new technologies such as infocards (which create a secure “pipeline” for two parties that want to share information online) make it possible for customers to “co-manage” customer databases. Addresses and contact details can be updated in advance, so that organisations do not discover that the change has taken place too late.

Brett McDowell, executive director of Liberty Alliance, expects a high percentage of member companies to seek certification for the VPI standard. “If these programmes are put in place, there is no way this won’t change the way markets work,” he says.

Liberty ID-WSF People Service Specification

Defines a secure, privacy-respecting access service by one user to another's identity information.