Getting better processes using composite applications 26 October, 2008 By Vanessa Ho

The seminar, entitled "Better, Cheaper, Faster: Microsoft Composite Applications," discussed why companies should move away from customized applications to composite ones.

John West, enterprise solution architect at Habañero, defined composite applications as software being built specifically using a customer's existing platform such as BizTalk, SharePoint and SQL Server, instead of building from scratch.

"Today's problems are expressed as complex, cross-departmental business issues that require IT to think like strategists," he added.

The business value of composite applications are that they are tailored to a business's specific needs and processes; they enable the business to achieve larger goals and work together as one integrated system; they provide user-centric, intuitive and task-based user surfaces, they deliver real-time actionable decision support and business intelligence within any application, report or office tool and are flexible enough to adapt to changes in the business without delay.

Some examples of what people can do with composite applications include vacation requests and benefit selection for HR departments while the supply chain can use composite applications for such things as inventory transfers. Finance can use composite applications for purchase order tracking and long range obligations forecasting.

There are three layers of composite applications: User surfaces, integrated workflow and systems of records.

User surfaces are usable screens that guide and drive behavior;

"The potential for this layer is we can create an effective workforce, remove all clutter and useless features, provide user-centric, task-based screens and we can reduce or eliminate training costs, which is something IT projects don't factor in their total cost of ownership, to make it dead simple for people to use so you don't have to retrain," explained West.

The next layer, integrated workflow, features automated processes that create workflow across all systems using a company's existing business rules.

The potential for this layer includes increase operational efficiencies; eliminates data re-entry using synchronization, monitors process status and sends reminders; works in parallel to reduce process time; tailors the workflow to follow a company's processes and provides real-time visibility into the process, West noted.

The systems of record layer are operational systems that contain and manage valuable data.

"These are not dumb databases but expensive enterprise applications that has best practices we want to leverage and use," said West.

The potential for this layer is companies can access the industry-standard processes contained within these systems; retrieve the most current business data contained within these systems; synchronize data across systems; integrate business intelligence into a company's user surfaces; and drive alignment between behavior and business goals.

How do SLQ Server, BizTalk and SharePoint play a role in composite applications? For example, West cited that dashboards can be customized by role in SharePoint using SQL while SharePoint can be used to infuse a company's Intranet with real time metrics. BizTalk can be uses to provide role-based alerts to real-time operational events.

West said one of the biggest benefits of composite applications is that it can reverse the 70/30 split between operations and innovation within IT budgets.

"Composite applications can fix current system to free your IT resources from time consuming maintenance and spending more time on innovation means you stay ahead of the curve," he added.

For the channel, composite applications are a great example of how a channel partner/reseller can work with software products that are in the market today to grow their revenue.

"From a BizTalk perspective, most people have standard BizTalk and a partner can provide more value, which can result in a demand for larger licensing and exponential growth in revenue," said West.