A method, system, and computer program product for efficient processing of Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents in Content Based Routing ("CBR") networks. Specifically, the method involves converting existing XML documents to a machine-oriented notation ("mXML") which is significantly more compact than XML, while still conveying the content and semantics of the data and the structure of the document. Documents are converted from XML to mXML upon entering a CBR subnetwork and/or upon receipt by an mXML-capable device. The documents are then processed in mXML format. Devices within the inventive system are provided with an awareness of whether target devices or processes are mXML-capable. Documents being routed to a target which is mXML-capable are passed in mXML format while documents being routed to a target which is not mXML-capable are converted to XML before they are passed.