webMethods partnership fuses on-demand applications with back-end systems
By Staff -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 6/1/2006 6:00:00 AM
The on-demand—or software-as-a-service (SaaS)—model can save companies from complex implementation projects, but it rarely frees them from having to integrate new applications with existing systems. That is becoming all too apparent to companies adopting on-demand versions of CRM or regulatory compliance solutions, which, according to Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner, are the two types of applications most often deployed in that mode.
The popularity of on-demand compliance programs is driven by the need to meet strict deadlines for filing government reports. And while an on-demand compliance application typically can be installed in less than 60 days, forging links to other systems holding information that is needed to compile the required reports can delay real usage.
Axentis, which offers a regulatory compliance solution called Axentis Enterprise, has turned to enterprise application integration (EAI) specialist webMethods for help in solving the integration problem for its customers.
"A successful compliance management program must be holistic and dynamic enough to assimilate regulatory and other changes on the fly," says Roger Bottum, VP of marketing for Axentis. "With its SaaS-based model, Axentis delivers on this front. But ensuring similar turnkey integration with back-office data, applications, and processes is an equally important component of our value proposition. That's why we've long relied upon webMethods Fabric as our integration backbone. It helps to deliver on our promise of seamless ongoing compliance management."
Fabric is webMethods' flagship product suite, which it describes as a systems integration and business-process management platform. Bottum says Axentis normally uses components from Fabric to solve specific integration problems for individual customers. Recently, however, Axentis expanded its use of Fabric to create its own application integration framework.
This new framework, called Axentis Enterprise Integrator, will allow Axentis customers to execute and manage their own integration projects, if they wish. This solution was needed, Bottum says, because of the vast number of integration projects Axentis customers find themselves facing as the amount and types of regulations they must comply with continue to grow.
"One of our customers estimated that it has to integrate more than 1,000 compliance-related changes in a year," Bottum says.
BorgWarner, an Auburn Hills., Mich.-based manufacturer of automotive components, uses Axentis Enterprise to manage Sarbanes-Oxley compliance efforts at 70 "reporting units" in 18 countries.
Internal Audit Manager Steve Carlson says BorgWarner chose this application primarily because it's sold as a service, and knowing Axentis would handle all the systems integration was a plus.
"We're facing enough challenges in compliance without having to worry about another application," Carlson says, "and we certainly didn't want to monkey around with source code."
With that in mind, Carlson simply informs Axentis when new compliance regulations or procedures require a change to the application. Axentis promptly rolls out an upgrade, complete with any newly required integration points.
Liz Herbert, an analyst with Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester Research, says "the need to integrate on-demand software with installed systems is the main reason that businesses do not adopt software-as-a-service."
