Baan Extends Enterprise Integration With Launch of New iBaan XML-based Technology Framework

Business Wire, Jan 30, 2001

Business/Technology Editors

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2001

iBaan OpenWorld 2.0 offers extended functionality, and provides customers with seamless transition to Web-based solutions such as e-sales and e-procurement

Powerful platform for B2B and ASP solutions integration

Baan, the global provider of enterprise business solutions, has launched iBaan OpenWorld 2.0 as the embedded integration technology for its new generation iBaan suite of Internet-enabled value web collaboration solutions. The new iBaan OpenWorld universal integration framework extends Baan's powerful enterprise integration capability, and uses new XML-based iBaan OpenWorld technology framework to deliver the highest levels of flexibility and integration for Baan customers. Using iBaan OpenWorld, customers can seamlessly integrate their Baan applications with third party solutions and legacy systems, accelerate time to market for new business processes and ensure that they maximize the potential of their B2B business initiatives.

iBaan OpenWorld features a number of key components, including iBaan OpenWorld Broker, iBaan OpenWorld Adapter, iBaan OpenWorld Studio, iBaan OpenWorld Gateway and iBaan OpenWorld Domains that deliver Business Object Interfaces (BOIs). iBaan OpenWorld is available both as embedded integration technology for iBaan solutions and as a standalone solution. iBaan OpenWorld features a new graphical business object mapping capability that allows the drag-and-drop creation and automatic generation of data mapping between applications. Another major feature is the iBaan OpenWorld Gateway component that provides generic access to BOIs through a dynamic XML interface that provides customers with the facility to integrate Web-based applications and data.

Cost-effective partner integration

The Koelliker Group - a leading distributor of Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Kia cars for the Italian market - selected OpenWorld to help rationalize the interactions with its dealer network and develop a cost-effective way of connecting with its partners. According to Pierluigi Verderio, IT Manager, Koelliker Group: "Previously, our spare parts procurement and tracking operations with our dealers were based on notifications reported at specific times of the day. This process caused delays in the flow of information and turned out to be inefficient at times. As a matter of fact, using the new integrated iBaan OpenWorld solution, our dealerships can now order and track their spare parts sales orders across the Web using the company's Extranet. This has proved a strategically important project for Koelliker, and our rapid implementation within just three months was vital so that we could reduce our administrative costs and take advantage of the technology."

"Every business needs to drive strategic growth, improve processes, reduce operating complexity and increase corporate flexibility - and today it is even more important for companies to understand how to do this using the latest Web-based business solutions. With iBaan OpenWorld, we've developed a technology framework to drive these key business requirements," commented Henk de Ruiter, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Alliances for Baan. "Integration is a key issue today as more and more companies spend their IT budget on maximizing their existing systems' lifecycles and extending their functionality. This is particularly important as customers operate in leaner, automated environments or in tighter B2B trading networks or move towards an ASP Application Service Provider model.

"For existing Baan customers, iBaan OpenWorld provides an excellent platform for e-sales and e-procurement implementation, while for new customers we can offer a range of bundled solutions with OpenWorld embedded. With its powerful integration capability, iBaan OpenWorld represents an ideal technology framework for organizations looking to develop B2B solutions and take advantage of ASP Application Solution Provider delivery," he continued.

Baan's parent company Invensys will also use iBaan OpenWorld to seamlessly integrate some 30 separate legacy systems across a number of different sites. This will be a key development for Invensys, enabling close integration across each division and positioning Invensys as a true solutions provider in the industrial manufacturing sector. According to Bruce Henderson, head of the Invensys Software Systems division: "iBaan OpenWorld is an ideal platform for our major integration project, and we're now working quickly to harmonize our operations worldwide and create a leaner and more flexible organization."

iBaan OpenWorld features XML technology, making it extremely flexible for software applications to communicate regardless of their underlying programming language. The technology is independent of the underlying transport medium, giving customers the freedom to use the most appropriate middleware architecture. In addition to Internet protocols such as HTTP, SMTP, FTP, HTML, MAPI and POP3, iBaan OpenWorld also implements the LDAP Lightweight Directory Access Protocol which is supported by the Netscape Directory Server, IBM's SecureWay Directory and Microsoft's ADS Active Directory Service, and Microsoft BizTalk.