In order for a business to thrive in today’s dynamic world, its computing infrastructure must enable the secure flow of information—not only within the business but also with suppliers and customers. However, many of today’s computing infrastructures suffer from “information chaos” and are unable to support this flexible flow of information due to the long-term proliferation of incompatible computer systems and application programs. Information chaos can cripple a business as it tries to take advantage of new opportunities offered by e-business, process automation, business intelligence, etc. The solution is to “integrate” the disparate information trapped in these diverse application programs and computer systems so they work as one powerful and flexible computing infrastructure—enabling powerful business results.

This book first takes a close look at the information chaos problem and then examines various integration tools and technologies available to solve it with special focus on the XAware suite of integration tools. Key concepts such as Enterprise Application Integration (EIA), Business Process Management (BPM), Enterprise Information Integration (EII), Service-Oriented Architecture and Integration (SOA and SOI), and Data Warehousing are clearly explained. The book introduces the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and reviews its substantial contribution to the integration of business application programs and the information they use. You will learn how to plan and execute your own integration project by examining real-world information chaos problems and how the XAware suite of integration tools is used to solve them.

About the Author

Mr. Kirstan Vandersluis is a pioneer in the use of XML as a foundation for integrating systems within the enterprise. As founder and Chief Technology Officer of XAware, Kirstan was the primary architect for XAware’s product suite, leading to numerous patents pending and one patent. Kirstan’s 19 year career includes the development of dozens of software systems and products spanning multiple industries, including telecommunications, Department of Defense, and semiconductor. Kirstan holds degrees from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and often speaks publicly about XML-related technologies and XAware product strategies.