Businesses are under more pressure to streamline internal and external processes and to integrate IT systems and data systems with those of their businesses and trading partners. The Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000, launched 03 July 2001, is part of Microsoft`s .Net vision for the future of the Internet; connectivity any time, any place and on any device.
The launch of the Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 in South Africa incorporates the trading partnerships of Commerce One South Africa - Distributor Operations, Syspro, Navision, 3fifteen, SalesLogix, Hewlett Packard and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
This server provides an infrastructure and tools which enable businesses to incorporate, manage and automate their business processes. This has given companies the capability to design any type of business process and integrate various applications and platforms ranging from ERP systems to e-marketplaces and e-procurement applications.
With extensive support for XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and standard Internet transport and security technologies, Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 extends the features of traditional e-commerce and electronic data interchange (EDI) products, allowing for integrated e-business communities.
These elements allow businesses to streamline their operations while improving customer satisfaction. It reduces costs by minimising the need for human intervention and improves communication by giving customers access to information themselves and ensuring the accuracy of that information.
Although the Internet has made it possible for organisations to use technology to interact with their trading partners and customers in new ways, the standard Internet technologies such as SMTP and HTTP have serious limitations as they were not created to function as business tools. XML based applications have alleviated these limitations by enabling the interchange exchange of data using the Internet in a simple, standards based manner.
Applications of the Microsoft BizTalk Server:
Commerce One South Africa - Distributor Operations has successfully used Microsoft BizTalk Server in conjunction with Commerce One`s MarketSite software and Enterprise Buyer (e-procurement) software to allow seamless integration between Enterprise Buyer and the backend ERP systems of the respective companies with no additional development work. The integration of Enterprise Buyer into the ERP package was easily accomplished using BizTalk mapping and self-routing.
Navision released Commerce Gateway, a business-to-business solution that opens up Navision Financials to electronic exchange of trading documents. As the first global solution based on Microsoft BizTalk 2000, Commerce Gateway helps mid-sized companies that want to take early advantage of new opportunities for business-to-business collaboration.
Syspro has unveiled e.net solutions, a new component architecture design to help manage the Supply Chain and to enable B2B integration with IMPACT Encore, their global ERP product. BizTalk is ideally suited to integrate with IMPACT Encore using e.net solutions, as both products make best use of XML documents and schemas to describe data being exchanged.
3fifteen designed, developed and implemented a showcase system for this launch. This included developing the Microsoft Commerce Server 2000 application, customising the SalesLogix customer relationship management application and the entire BizTalk Server 2000 development and orchestration. The complete BizTalk Showcase System will be hosted at 3fifteen`s premises after the launch on the 3rd of July for two months. During this period, anyone interested in viewing BizTalk Server in action in an integrated system are welcome to contact 3fifteen for a live demonstration.
SalesLogix, through 3rd party business partner integration services, provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions that track all aspects of customer and supplier liaison. Via BizTalk, information from disparate systems are fed to SalesLogix and recorded. This information can then be utilized by management, call centre agents, marketing and sales staff for tracking and analysis to create and enhance customer satisfaction.
HP, a global company which is internationally aligned with Microsoft in numerous business ways, is set to provide the computing infrastructure for the launch of BizTalk Server 2000. Eight HP Netserver LC 2000 machines will form the foundation of the BizTalk showcase system and, in addition, will host software solutions from the other partners mentioned here. The choice of the HP platform was made in part because of the company`s strength in computing speed and reliability, and in part due to HP`s strategic commitment to the Microsoft platform for end-to-end solutions.
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Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 incorporates new technology and tools that allow organizations to develop, run, and manage distributed business processes that span applications, platforms, and organizations.
Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 provides a comprehensive and integrated environment that enables businesses to:
Easily build, manage, and track distributed business processes that cross organizations, applications, and departments.
Quickly establish reliable, secure business-to-business trading relationships with customers and partners over the Internet. Cost-effectively integrate heterogeneous applications and legacy investments, regardless of platform.
Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 includes BizTalk Orchestration, a graphical environment that allows organizations to model, deploy, and maintain distributed business processes within and between organizations, and BizTalk Messaging, which provides functionality and graphical tools that organizations can use to integrate internal and external applications and systems into the business processes.
Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time any place and on any device.
If users are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft South Africa, please visit the Microsoft Web page at www.microsoft.com , the South Africa home page at http://www.microsoft.com/southafrica/ or the IT Web Website at http://www.itweb.co.za, South Africa`s only daily online source of information and technology news.
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