Using a Standards-Based Integration Platform for Improving B2B Transactions

Abstract

This chapter presents a specific case in which a company explores the use of XML Web services in conjunction with an integration broker. Several business-to-business (B2B) approaches are developed to provide insight into the ability of modern integration technology to improve B2B interactions and to allow a broader group of businesses to participate. Furthermore, technical details and integration methodology principles are presented that can be used as points of reference for scenarios in which the same or a similar set of technologies is applied to advance the efficiency and effectiveness of B2B transactions. An evaluation of the B2B approaches is presented accompanied by a discussion of several key lessons. This chapter then ends with some concluding remarks.