1. A method for managing, with a base data processing system of a primary business entity, a remote data processing system of a secondary business entity via a communications network, the method comprising: the base data processing system communicating with the remote data processing system on at least one technical parameter of the remote data processing system, the technical parameter relating to an operational or configurational status of the remote data processing system; the base data processing system receiving a report message on the at least one technical parameter from the remote data processing system via the communications network; and the base data processing system interpreting the report message to determine a state of interoperability between the base data processing system and the remote data processing system.