Integration Patterns Overview

February 2003

Agenda

Introduction

The Challenge: Understanding the Platform’s Capabilities

The Solution: Identifying Common Patterns of Integration

Application Integration Extended Enterprise Integration Collaboration Composite Application Customer Examples

Closing

The webMethods Integration Platform

The industry’s most comprehensive integration solution

But, how do you… Map its functionality to your

integration needs? Communicate its capabilities

to non-technical people? Get business users to identify

opportunities for using the platform?

Maximize webMethods’ use across your organization?

The webMethods Integration Taxonomy

Application Integration Integration between

applications and other systems in the enterprise

Extended Enterprise Integration Integration between

different organizations

Workflow Integration Business process

coordination acrossend-users

Composite Application Integrated access across

applications, data sources, and business processes

People

ExtendedEnterpriseIntegration

ApplicationIntegration

WorkflowIntegration

Systems

IntegrationRequirements

Businesses

Application Integration – Data Consistency

The Problem Data scattered across different

systems – customer, inventory, financial, etc.

The Result Inconsistent views of

information Difficult to get a complete

picture Questionable data quality Manual data entry (and re-

entry)

Data Integration Patterns Automatically synchronize

data across multiple applications and databases

Rapidly propagate information across the organization from a system of record

Quickly aggregate data from different source systems into a consolidated data store

Addressing Data Integration Needs

Solution Requirements Non-invasive detection of data

changes Canonical data representation Data transformation and

mapping Key and code cross referencing Joining data Duplicate suppression Efficient data routing Reliable data delivery Transaction support Exception handling Many-to-many, bi-directional

communication

• Examples•Single view of the customer•Vendor master sync•Product catalog replication•Financial data consolidation

Application Integration – Multi-step Processes

The Problem Stovepipe applications and

business processes that span them

The Result People have to “bridge” gaps

between systems Need for users to learn and use

multiple applications Slower processing Inconsistent status More opportunity for process

errors

Process Integration Patterns

Automate process flows across different applications

Incorporate external service invocations into existing systems and business processes

Addressing Process Integration Needs

Solution Requirements Business process modeling API-level application integration Data transformation and

mapping Intelligent routing Distributed transaction support

(transaction management and compensating transactions)

Exception handling (done within applications or external user interface)

Process monitoring Service-oriented architecture

• Examples•Quote to Order•Straight Through Processing•Order Status•Credit Verification

Understanding Client- vs. Server-Side Integration

Client-Side Integration

Server-Side Integration

Integration Logic Implementation Application Integration

Server

Processing Model Synchronous Asynchronous

Primary Human Interface End User Administrator

Error Communication Immediate Deferred

Error Handling User-Initiated Programmatic

CustomizableClient Application

Application Serveror Database

Adapter

ApplicationFront-End

Application Serveror Database

Extended Enterprise Integration

The Problem Inefficient interactions between

companies – paper- or fax-based,non-electronic, etc.

The Result Error-prone manual processing Cycle delays Lack of cross-organization

visibility

Extended Enterprise Integration Patterns

Automate document exchanges – using standard EDI, XML, or custom file formats – with trading partners

Deploy an e-standards business process

Implement direct system-to-system integration across the Internet

Addressing Extended Enterprise Integration Needs

Solution Requirements E-standard document type and

protocol support Conversation management Long-running transaction

support Reliable delivery Security Trading partner profile

management Document “warehousing” Tracking and management Cost-effective partner server

capability Seamless back-end integration

• Examples

•EDI

•E-Procurement

•Vendor-Managed Inventory

Workflow Integration

The Problem Critical aspect of a business

process that cannot be automated

The Result Inefficient processing without

proper coordination Opportunity for cycle delays

and processing errors Lack of responsiveness to

business process changes

Workflow Patterns Optimizing repetitive

workflow activities Bridging functional gaps

between different systems in a process flow

Handling exceptions in integration processes

Addressing Workflow Integration Needs

Solution Requirements Integrated business process

management (automation and workflow)

Production workflow functionality

Role-based personalization Task distribution rules Push (to user) and pull (from groups)

models Business calendar support

End-user interface design environment • Examples

• Insurance claims processing

•Approval processes

•Error handling

Composite Application

The Problem Business applications not

aligned with users’ job functions

The Result User needs to learn and use

multiple applications to perform job

User has to be the “glue” to fill gaps in application functionality

Lack of access to required information and functionality

Inefficient, error-prone manual coordination across different systems

Composite Application Pattern

Personalized application – front-end to different back-end systems, trading partner interfaces, and/or business processes

Addressing Composite Application Needs

Solution Requirements Custom application construction Personalized user interface design

capabilities Application logic development and

execution environment Real-time application integration End-user security Run-time management and

administration

• Examples

•Customer Service Representative interface

•Real-time management reporting

Recap

Integration problems occur in recognizable patterns

Patterns help to identify and classify integration opportunities

webMethods provides a unified solution for solving the broad range of business integration requirements

People

ExtendedEnterprise

ApplicationIntegration

Collaboration

Systems

IntegrationRequirements

Businesses