Integration

Communications middleware puts “coupling” troubles in the right context.

The adoption of web services are on the rise, breeding a new era of applications that can now easily communicate or interoperate with each other. Along with this tight “coupling” of applications across different platforms comes increased complexity – the antithesis of the loosely coupled design and interfaces found in popular service-oriented architecture (SOA) patterns.

The Revere Group offers a potential solution to tight coupling issues: Enterprise Message Bus. Microsoft’s solution stack provides BizTalk Server, which offers a message bus publish/subscribe architecture. This enhances middleware with a communications capability that adheres to the loose coupling of applications inherent in SOA.

Shifting toward the services paradigm means adopting a WCF solution

Another key trend is the need for applications to be “services”-aware and communicate in WS* standards. This will soon be the de facto services interoperation standard, much like web services are today. Windows Communication
Foundation (WCF) provides the solution stack for enabling the services paradigm, and The Revere Group can help move your applications in this direction.

Put a stop to data transformation and routing complexities

When it comes to web services or just plain “services,” businesses find themselves faced with contract or message-based interfaces that have to be transformed from one format to another. Routing rules can also change frequently, as can the subscriber or the need to scale.

Add scale, modify subscribers and ease workflow on demand

The inherent architecture of BizTalk Message Bus and Subscription Paradigm allows for scalability, where subscribers can be added or deleted without affecting the solution. The orchestration engine of BizTalk can also trigger workflow components (written in the Windows Workflow Foundation or other business rule/engine-based rules) to route or take appropriate action in a very flexible manner.

Make complicated transformations simple

Need to perform complex transformations in a quick, yet robust, manner? The Revere Group’s deep expertise in both BizTalk Server and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) can determine which domain (application or data) will work best for your needs.

BizTalk has mapping features and tools that allow developers to perform complex transformations right within the integration layer. Existing applications can keep their contracts and even change contracts without negatively affecting the overall solution.
SSIS is sometimes used instead of BizTalk for bulk transforms (also called Extract, Transform and Load (ETL)) and batch feeds that need data to be transformed and consumed into databases. Again, The Revere Group can help you decide whether SSIS is the most appropriate solution.

Solve application connectivity issues with integration solutions

More organizations are opting to buy Line of Business (LOB) applications, or packaged solutions, that can be customized to solve their core IT business needs. While buying “off-the-shelf” solutions like order management, billing or accounting systems has advantages, they can also present some challenging integration issues with existing applications.

The Revere Group helps companies to overcome and facilitate application integration through:

EDI integration or HIPAA and ACORD that enable an accelerated solution for insurance companies.
Integration with SWIFT using the SWIFT Accelerator for financial market integration.
Integrate with SAP R/3 4x and R/3 6.20 (Enterprise) Systems – Integrate with SAP XI solution via the SOAP based SAP XI adapter.
Integrate with IBM DB2 on remote host computing platforms, IBM mainframezSeries, midrange iSeries, and/or
Universal Database on open platforms using BizTalk adapters
Data adapter for host file systems on IBM mainframe zSeries VSAM datasets and midrange iSeries physical files
PeopleSoft Enterprise (versions 8.17.02, 8.43, and 8.45) integration
JD Edwards OneWorld XE (B7.3.3.3 with SP23)
Great Plains and E-Connect Integration using BizTalk Server
Health Care solutions using HL7 Accelerator.

Put Business Process Management to work for your organization

Are you looking to model businesses processes and optimize workflow within your organization? The Revere Group can help you with your business process management (BPM) needs. We have deep expertise in modeling business processes via tools like BizTalk Orchestrations and next-generation workflow tools that are offered in Window Workflow Foundation and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) Solutions. Our experience in modeling work order management across many industries – including utility, telecom and healthcare (EMR) – can bring immediate value to your BPM requirements.