The arrival of the next generation of business software is imminent. Companies everywhere are fine-tuning their business process orientation because they want to take advantage of the new trend.
So what exactly is so new about service-oriented architecture for application software? Until now, business management functions determined the development of ERP systems. This is readily apparent in module names, such as sales, procurement, production, finance, etc, which in the past had to be interlinked into standardised business processes by consultants.
From now on, platforms will already be process-oriented and incorporate a process engine, for example, with workflow functions and integration tools. Business management process support is then assembled, or "orchestrated" as the experts would say, based upon the services offered (eg, object-oriented application modules).
The new architectures enable business management content to take a major role in setting the "orchestral arrangement". Organisational knowledge becomes the driving force behind the software and it easily accommodates changes within companies. The positive effects on corporate-level strategic planning, implementation and controlling of this paradigm shift have yet to be fully gauged. Thus, management and employees have access to applications that are uniformly defined in a language they understand and that they can then optimise.
Over 20 years ago, business management related IT research using ARIS began as an overall concept to semi-formally describe business management applications using data and process models. If current interest is any indicator, the concept has finally caught on. SAP NetWeaver offers the first software platform to be integrated with ARIS and to support the entire business process lifecycle, including design, configuration, execution and control.
This process orientation was not an overnight success. I distinctly remember discussions in the eighties when we introduced ARIS as a new approach to model information systems. Consulting and software companies could envision ARIS as a documentation method, but not as a basis for controlling information systems.
In the economy, innovation rarely manifests itself as a sudden revolution. Generally, it comes to fruition in a niche and only, if at all, sees widespread success after repeated failures and disappointments.
New, trailblazing ideas emerge once methods and tools have achieved a certain maturity.
For now, the integration of ARIS and SAP NetWeaver is a major highpoint in the combination of application software with business management. And who knows to what phenomenal heights this endeavour can take us in the future.
Business process management had a long row to hoe before it developed into a stable trend, says Professor August-Wilhelm Scheer. For now, the integration of ARIS and SAP NetWeaver is a major highpoint in the combination of application software with business management.
Prof Dr Dr hc mult August-Wilhelm Scheer Scientist, entrepreneur, political advisor
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IDS Scheer (Saarbr"ucken) is the leading provider of business process management and IT solutions. With ARIS, the company offers an integrated and complete tool portfolio with which customers implement modern application concepts such as supply chain management, customer relationship management and enterprise application integration. All the products of the ARIS family are bundled in the ARIS Process Platform.
Collaborative Process Integration
Collaborative Process Integration (CPI) is the premium value-added reseller (VAR) for IDS Scheer AG in SA and the rest of Africa. CPI follows a very strong collaborative partnering approach in putting a total business process integration solution together. CPI is also a registered training partner at IDS Scheer in SA.
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