Software components that work over the Internet, leads to improved integration

This year enterprises are expected to be more interested in reutilising their ICT infrastructure rather than investing in new technology. Despite this claim, enterprises will be interested in integrating what they already have and web services are seen as one area that may hasten and enable integration.

Why are web services important?

Web services are self-describing software components that are wrapped inside a specific set of Internet communication protocols and dynamically interact with each other in real time. They allow enterprises to achieve quantifiable ROI by linking business processes, applications, databases and workflow within an enterprise and outside an enterprise. Reducing costs is the primary objective of web services, streamlining business processes by automating them, or improving relationships with customers and suppliers, improving the efficiency of the supply chain. Web services provide a flexible platform from which much efficiency can be created.

Although web services are as yet not open standard based, they are seen as the next stage in standards-based communications over the Internet. Communications can take place within an enterprise and between it and its trading partners, suppliers, consumers etc. Web services provide a platform on which real-time monitoring, process integration can take place and portals can be developed. The cost of transactions, time-to-market, increased flexibility and efficiency can all be achieved given the introduction of web services. It is a major claim made by the vendors.

What is at the heart of web services?

The introduction of web services based solutions is very much based on software and is therefore better able to reduce costs and moderate integration risk. Web services enable the integration of systems and large amounts of information integration in order to gain or maintain a competitive advantage. This encompasses a large number of industries, including: financial services, telecommunications, electronic commerce, transportation, logistics, manufacturing and energy.

Integration is a chicken and egg scenario; integration is at the heart of the drive behind web services adoption, by making the conversion of existing services and information into web services both straightforward and possible. Infrastructure integration needs to be deployed to enable the flow of information between incompatible systems, enabling businesses to optimise existing information and services and integrate web services into existing business processes. So integration enables web services and in turn web services allow further integration.

Why are web services so flexible?

A key component to the success of web services is that they use a common set of Internet standards, users do not need to choose between different programming languages, such as Microsoft's .Net or Java. In fact, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems have announced the formation of an organisation to formalise standards for the web services environment. This is crucial in enabling communications between applications to take place, no matter what technology the application is based on.

Web services are extremely flexible and allow companies to:

• Automate tasks - automate bids, quotes and checking procedures
• Personalise information - creation of portals for use within and outside an enterprise
• Manage tasks - complex business management can be enhanced and simplified by personalising information for users such as order/inventory information.

Web services is still an innovating platform and understood as a concept by many enterprises but as yet many have not bought into the concept, many enterprises still need to see standardisation and working examples to be persuaded to invest.

Who is implementing web services and why?

Despite the fact that it appears to be early adopters implementing web services, the market is moving in a positively upward direction, indeed it is innovative industries that are latching onto the web services concept. Astra Zeneca announced a contract with BEA Systems for the supply of web servers to allow the deployment of web services in December 2001. The pharmaceutical industry produces huge volumes of data, and it’s increasing - that need to be accessible within enterprises, despite the fact that many sites may be involved. Web services enable data to be accessed by anyone who needs it, to be analysed and manipulated. In the drug development business this is crucial in speeding up time-to-market and driving down costs, many drugs simply cost too much to develop so any help in alleviating this is important. Of course this is not only important to pharmaceuticals but many other industries as well.

How will web services gain widespread appeal?

As mentioned, in order for web services to gain widespread market acceptance standards are required and the creation of the Web Services Interoperability Organisation has been formed to address this goal. There needs to be interoperability between .Net and Java. This will enable faster adoption and will be irrespective of the software applications used. Therefore no new investment will be required in new software or the software a partner uses. This is particularly important since web services are seen as an important IT spending driver over the coming years.

In additions to standards, two other key issues will be critical to the success of web services. One is providing support to enterprises during deployment and the other is the management software required to manage web services.

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Ref: TP0062A02V01