Web services business models supported in SOA

This article explains the concept and business models that can be implemented using web services in a service-oriented architecture (SOA).

The properties and benefits of using a SOA such as web services is well suited for binding small modules that perform independent tasks within a highly heterogeneous e-business model. Web services can be easily wrapped around existing applications in the business model and plugged into different business processes.

For connecting to a large monolithic system that does not support the implementation of different flexible business processes, other approaches might be better suited, for example, to satisfy specialized features, such as performance or security.

The following business models are easily implemented using an architecture including web services:

• Business information

  Sharing of information with consumers or other businesses. Web services can be used to expand the reach through such services as news streams, local weather reports, integrated travel planning, and intelligent agents.

• Business integration

  Providing transactional, fee-based services for customers. A global network of suppliers can be easily created. Web services can be implemented in auctions, e-marketplaces, and reservation systems.

• Business process externalization

  Web services can be used to model value chains by dynamically integrating processes to a new solution within an organizational unit or even with those of other e-businesses. This modeling can be achieved by dynamically linking internal applications to new partners and suppliers, to offer their services to complement internal services.

To see how these models are implemented using all aspects of Web services, see the web services scenario overview information to learn more about the story of a fictional online garden supply retailer named Plants by WebSphere and how this retailer incorporates the web services concept.

Related:

Overview: Online garden retailer web services scenarios

Web services specifications and APIs