Process integration provides a set of processes that function above both business rules and information integration. Process integration is a process model that resides on top of middleware and provides both logical and physical information flows over existing business systems. Calif. Process integration is important to e-business because it provides an abstract business layer that exists over the physical plumbing, a layer that allows process integration tool users to map out the logical flow of information between systems within the same enterprise. Applications include customer relationship management, online customer service, and virtual product development. Collaboration's great strength is its ability to support virtual communities.
Collaboration uses a centralized set of middleware to manage the movement of information.
Collaboration and process automation approaches share many of the same design patterns. They provide batch and EDI-oriented information interchange technology. These vendors leverage EDI mapping servers and value-added networks to send and receive EDI documents to support supply chain integration. Currently, these vendors are moving into the emerging B2B space through technology that is more XML-aware, as well as the ability to integrate with emerging trading communities that include RosettaNet, Biztalk, and new digital exchanges. Although these vendors have longer B2B track records, to their distress, they find that customers new to this space prefer the newer players, including the pure B2B and EAI vendors.