Acta Technology has become the first data integration software provider to embed Web services capabilities into an extraction, transformation and loading (ETL) tool, its ActaWorks 5.2. This development will allow customers dynamically to publish Data Integration Web Services to other enterprise applications.
Data Integration Web Services enable companies to exchange data with customers, partners, and suppliers via a central directory, allowing them to connect seamlessly to a wider number of customers, partners, and suppliers, says Johan Cloete, CEO of local Acta partner, Global Technology Business Intelligence (GBI).
"With Data Integration Web Services, companies can combine and consolidate information from customers, partners, and suppliers without having to develop custom data integration with each company," says Cloete. ActaWorks` Web Services can be developed for both batch and real-time data integration, such as for updates of data warehouses and for real-time application-to-application data integration.
Web services describes a way of integrating Web-based applications using the XML, SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI open standards over the Internet. Acta`s Web services implementation uses XML to tag the data, SOAP to transfer the data, and WSDL to describe the services available.
"Exposing batch and real-time data integration functions as Web services is increasingly important for companies as they seek to integrate more closely with suppliers, partners and customers," comments Doug Laney, VP Meta Group. "Using ETL services via standard Web protocols can speed the deployment of data integration solutions within and among companies."
For example, with embedded Web services connections, ActaWorks` customers can call ActaWorks services directly by sending the request as a URL, much like a stock quote on the Internet.
ActaWorks customers can also configure a button on a Web page or in another application that reads "update warehouse". Pushing the button sends a WSDL request that kicks off the jobs required to update the warehouse or perform data integration tasks.
"This development was made possible by the architecture Acta first delivered in 2000 with the delivery of the first real-time ETL engine in ActaWorks 4," adds Cloete. "Data Integration Web Services builds on that real-time foundation, and as such is a logical, evolutionary step."
ActaWorks projects and jobs can be published as WSDL objects and methods respectively. By "publishing" a project to WSDL, ActaWorks will create a WSDL object that maps to the jobs defined in the ActaWorks project that is being published. The WSDL methods it creates also contain strongly typed definitions of the variables that the job expects to receive. The WSDL is platform-agnostic and should be available for all operating system versions of the ActaWorks Job Server.
GBI is the Business Intelligence division of JSE Securities Exchange-listed Global Technology.
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