Oracle unveils Application Integration Architecture

At the recently held COLLABORATE 07, Oracle announced the Oracle Application Integration Architecture, an open, standards-based platform for business process management across Oracle, third-party and custom applications.  As part of the Oracle Application Integration Architecture, Oracle is delivering pre-built integrations across Oracle ERP, CRM and industry applications using a common object model and an open, Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) based platform. 

The Oracle Application Integration Architecture will be open to the industry so ISV’s can use it to integrate with Oracle Applications and customers can extend the platform to their legacy applications.  The common object model is the same object model to be used in Oracle Fusion applications.  Additionally, customers will be able to extend the object model and have those extensions protected during upgrades.

“Oracle Application Integration Architecture will help us solve our problem of managing processes that rely on several different applications,” said CIO of Subaru Brian Simmermon.  “By leveraging an open, standards-based architecture, we will have the flexibility to make discrete changes without disrupting the entire business process.”

Pre-Built Integration Using Standard Business Process Execution Language (BPEL)

As part of the Oracle Application Integration Architecture, Oracle plans to deliver horizontal and industry specific Process Integration Packs, which provide pre-integrated business flows across Oracle’s portfolio of applications.  Each Process Integration Pack will leverage the Oracle Fusion Middleware SOA Suite and use a methodology that should enable a quick implementation by customers or partners.  By offering pre-built, integration packs, Oracle intends to help significantly reduce the cost to deploy and maintain integrations, while supporting a more adaptive application infrastructure.

  The initial process integration packages that will be available include: 

• Oracle’s Siebel CRM On Demand Integration Pack for Oracle E-Business Suite, which is intended to support the opportunity-to-quote process and includes auto conversion of opportunities to quotes and quotes to orders; and,
• Oracle’s Siebel CRM Integration Pack for Oracle E-Business Suite Order Management, which is expected to support the order-to-cash process lifecycle, including capabilities for complex product configuration, inventory availability, automated order processing, price synchronization and real time order status. 

 The following Process Integration Packs are planned for subsequent releases:

• Oracle’s Siebel CRM Integration Pack for i-flex FLEXCUBE Account Originations, which is intended to provide an integrated front-to-back-office banking solution that gives banks a single view of the customer and a streamlined account opening and fulfillment process;
• Oracle’s Siebel Call Center Integration Pack for Oracle Adverse Event Reporting System, which is intended to support a complete closed-loop adverse event and complaint solution from the moment of notification through reporting and monitoring, which is critical for the life sciences industry;
• Siebel CRM Trade Promotions and Deductions Integration Pack for Oracle E-Business Suite, which is expected to provide a closed-loop trade promotional process for consumer goods companies, encompassing trade promotion creation and settlement flows;
• Communications Integration Packs for Siebel CRM, Oracle Billing and Revenue Management and Oracle Financials, which is intended to support the concept-to-launch and order-to-cash processes enabling product and price synchronization, account hierarchy management, billing activation for sales orders, bill presentation, payments, adjustments and revenue accounting;
• Multi Order Channel Management Integration Pack for Siebel CRM, Oracle E-Business Suite and Oracle Retail, which is expected to provide a uniform customer experience regardless of sales channel, and will enable customer-service and sales representatives in the retail industry to view and manage orders across sales channels;
• Siebel CRM On Demand Integration Pack for Oracle’s JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, which is planned to include support for the lead-to-order process, new account creation and maintenance process and product look up synchronization;
• Oracle Transportation Management Integration Pack for JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, which is planned to include support for rate and route shopping during sales order entry, optimized shipment planning and consolidation, freight audit and settlement processing and carrier payment;
• Oracle’s PeopleSoft Financials Integration Pack for Oracle Financial Services Accounting Hub, which is expected to allow users in the financial services industry to consolidate information from back-office systems into the Oracle Financial Services Accounting Hub and PeopleSoft General Ledger. 

 Industry Reference Models Enable Process Integration across Multiple Applications

As part of the Oracle Applications Integration Architecture, Oracle plans to deliver Industry Reference Models, which will give customers and partners tools and documented business processes to create unique, integrated process flows across heterogeneous environments. With these models, customer and partners are expected to more easily adopt industry best practices and implement unique processes that meet specific business needs and should be protected through upgrade cycles.  Additionally, Oracle is working with the leaders in the systems integrator community to co-develop best practice industry processes and model. 

 Value Extended through Partner Ecosystem

To provide customers access to a broader set of pre-integrated best-in -class processes, Oracle is expanding the Oracle PartnerNetwork Applications Integration Initiative by providing Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) with industry process content, governance methodology, testing and validation.  By developing a formal program for third parties, Oracle intends to give partners access to specialized resources that can help develop supported industry specific solutions that best-fit customers’ unique needs.

 Path to Oracle Fusion Applications

With the announcement of the Oracle Application Integration Architecture, Oracle has met another commitment to provide an evolutionary approach to Oracle Fusion Applications.  The processes, objects, services and methodology planned as part of this architecture are expected to be leveraged in Oracle Fusion Applications, allowing customers to quickly address their integration needs and start adopting a standards-based, SOA architecture to prepare for the next generation of applications.

“The Application Integration Architecture will satisfy customer demands for integration of its acquired applications, while creating a gradual migration path to the future Fusion Applications. The Process Integration Packs combined with BPM tools will give customers an opportunity to implement cross-functional business processes and then create a unique competitive advantage on top of standard enterprise applications.” Bill Swanton, AMR Research, “Oracle Application Integration Architecture: We Love It When A Plan Comes Together,” April 16, 2007.

 About Oracle
Oracle (NASDAQ GS: ORCL) is the world’s largest enterprise software company.  For more information about Oracle, please visit our Web site at http://www.oracle.com.