What are web Services?
What are web Services? Web services allow interoperable software components to be built over the web using standard protocols, which can perform business functions and processes. Currently organisations have to choose a single product vendor to provide the software functionality to perform an business function or process i.e. if a company wishes to automate it's HR function then it would look at souring the software from a single ERP vendor rather then source the best bits from the best vendors at the right price. The main reason for this is interoperability of data definition and messaging standards between different vendors is not consistent. This means a-lot of work on integrating the different components would need to be carried out which is not feasible. Interoperability of data and messaging is the underlying foundation of web services. Organisations will be able to get the best components from the companies wish to perform their business functions e.g. within HR a software component to manage compensation and benefits can be bought from SAP, a software component to manage performance management can be bought from PeopleSoft and so on. All these components are interact under the web services framework to provide a seemless automated HR function. This single example simpler more cost effective integration will The concepts that underpin Web Services are not new: *
