xbrl

Learn about XBRL

XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) is THE computer language for the electronic communication of business reporting and financial data.



XBRL-at-a-glance


Essentially, XBRL is a bar code for financial data which will provide the business community a standards-based method to prepare, publish in a variety of formats, reliably extract, and automatically exchange financial report information. With XBRL, data items are "tagged" with identifying information (such as date, currency, accounting rules), providing a common way for disparate systems to exchange specific information and providing a means to separate data from formatting. XBRL solves two significant problems: efficient preparation of financial statements in many forms- printed, website, EDGAR filing, and reliable extraction of specific detailed information from the different forms of financial statements. While XBRL was first introduced in 1999, the SEC mandate has accelerated XBRL adoption and recognition as a true global change agent has been accelerated. XBRL adoption is also happening across the globe, and is being used today to achieve increased efficiencies in countries such as the US, UK, Japan, Denmark and Australia.

Experience and Expertise


Bowne has played and continues to play a leading role in the SEC filing program. Bowne created and filed the first XBRL document to the SEC in April 2005 and has continued to submit its XBRL financial statement information on a regular basis. The experience and expertise we've gained in this process enables us to help companies understand and work with this new technology. Our XBRL specialists are available to discuss the current XBRL regulatory initiatives with you including your options on participating and submitting XBRL data to the SEC.

Bowne's XBRL team is headed up by Rob Blake, Senior Director of Interactive Services. Rob has more than 16 years of experience in business reporting and technology and is a founding member of XBRL. Prior to joining Bowne, Rob was the Project Director for the SEC's US GAAP Financial Statement Taxonomy Project, where he oversaw the creation of the new XBRL taxonomies that are used by all US public companies submitting XBRL information into the SEC.

Additional Resources


Bowne's knowledgeable and qualified XBRL team is available to discuss the current SEC XBRL initiatives, XBRL's impact on today and tomorrow's regulatory reporting environment and its potential impact on your business.

  • XBRL is here; are you ready? The XBRL mandate is well underway with 1,275+ issuers furnishing XBRL to the SEC. Bowne has played an integral role in helping a significant number of these companies successfully create, review and file their XBRL. Are you doing everything necessary to get prepared? Listen and learn from our panel of experts:
  • A Guide to Getting Started in XBRL - This comprehensive publication will help operating companies understand the complexities of XBRL and will provide assistance developing a roadmap for compliance.

  • XBRL Final Mandate for Operating Companies - Plain English Summary - Our “Plain English” summary of the SEC's XBRL Final Mandate for Operating Companies highlights key points that will help you quickly understand the impact of the mandate on your company's XBRL requirements.

  • Interactive Data for Mutual Fund Risk/Return Summary - A "Plain English" summary of the SEC's rule for Mutual Funds that distills key items to help companies quickly understand the impact of the mandate.

  • XBRL Solutions: Ready to Help You Prepare for the SEC Mandate Hear a webinar featuring Jeffrey Naumann, Assistant Director, Office of Interactive Disclosure, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recap the SEC XBRL final mandate, as well as an Issuer's experience with preparing for the XBRL mandate - Nadine Bonney, Senior Manager, SEC Reporting, Intuit Inc. As well as our own Robert Blake, Senior Director of Interactive Services and founding member of XBRL, Bowne & Company, recap what companies need to do now to prepare for the mandate.

  • On December 17, 2008 the Securities and Exchange Commission finalized the amendment requiring companies and mutual funds to file financial disclosures in XBRL.

  • Download this concise and insightful podcast and hear Rob Blake, Bowne's Senior Director of XBRL Services and a founding member of XBRL International, summarize the critical points and details around the mandate.

  • XBRL 101 Webcast: Getting ready for the SEC Mandate on XBRL for Mutual Funds - Hear Tara Buckley from the US Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management; Chuck Gariboldi, Fund Treasurer, First American Funds; and Rob Blake, Senior Director of Interactive Services at Bowne & Co, discuss a summary of the detailed proposed ruling

  • Don't Panic! A Webcast on XBRL & Preparing for the SEC Mandate - Learn more about the proposed rules regarding an XBRL mandate from Ted F. Uehlinger, Office of Interactive Disclosure, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Wayne Boston, Director of External Reporting, Southern Company, and Rob Blake, Senior Director of Interactive Services, Bowne & Co.

  • XBRL: The Dawn of a New EDGAR, an informative white paper which provides an overview and analysis of XBRL, the business reporting technology that signals the transformation of a significant portion of the corporate disclosure process in the ever-changing world of U.S. Securities and Exchange (SEC) compliance filing.

  • Online FAQ - Get answers to your XBRL questions covering the background and basics of XBRL, to the creation & review of XBRL documents, as well as the SEC Adoption and Mandate ruling with our online FAQ.

  • Out of the Clouds and Into Reality: XBRL for the Business User - stay on top of the latest XBRL updates and mandate news and with Bowne's XBRL blog.