Distributing business processes across heterogeneous applications is fundamentally more difficult because of the differences in business models among applications. Baan's notion of purchase-order processing is different from PeopleSoft's, which is different from SAP's. To date, only a few vendors, including CrossRoutes, CrossWorlds Software and SynQuest, are promising predefined interapplication business process templates. The problem with this approach will be maintaining these templates as the business processes of the participating applications mature and evolve. Such capability will require the integration of traditional forms of work flow and transaction-processing monitors into a new paradigm of transaction flow.
Message brokers are the right approach to application integration.
Let's hope our service providers will take advantage of them to provide better customer service. By the time you read this column, many of the questions racing through my mind probably will have been answered, but I'm guessing the answers will not be satisfactory. I am writing this on Tuesday, September 11, the day we, as American citizens, lost our innocence. Due to the tragic events within our country, The Network Computing Shoot Out and Best of Show Awards ceremony have been postponed until a later date. Please check back for information on revised event dates.