Using Service-Oriented Architectures to Enhance Business Agility

Companies are in business to deliver services. A service can be any function that is well-defined, self-contained, and designed to deliver a unit of work or value from a provider to a consumer.

A Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a systems architectural style designed around that delivery model. The architecture can be simple—for example, having one service pass data to another—or more complex, with two or more services coordinating activities. What’s new and exciting about SOA is that by focusing on delivery of services instead of individual applications, systems can be more flexible, responsive and solutions-oriented. This allows the business to be better integrated, more efficient and cost effective.

In short, SOAs can help businesses become more agile.

The following diagram illustrates a simple SOA:

Network Effects has the expertise and years of experience to help more businesses benefit from using SOAs. Network Effects system engineers have worked with some of the largest, most sophisticated firms to build SOAs, and with mid-sized firms to help them use SOAs to increase business agility. Let a Network Effects engagement architect show you how SOAs can enhance your business.

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