Oracle Debuts Application Integration Architecture

Giving users a hint of what to expect when Fusion is rolled out, Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) has introduced its Application Integration Architecture, an open standards-based platform for integrating software from its various product lines.

The platform includes prebuilt integrations for Oracle's enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management and industry applications using a common object model and an open, BPEL (Business Process Execution Language)-based platform.

The Oracle Application Integration Architecture will be open to the industry, so that ISVs (independent software vendors) can use it to integrate with Oracle applications.

The common object model is the same object model to be used in Oracle Fusion. Additionally, customers will be able to extend the object model and have those extensions protected during upgrades.

A Communication Standard

To be strictly accurate, the platform is not a substitute or even an interim step leading to Fusion's introduction. Rather, it is a process-centric integration tool, allowing customers to extend the platform to their legacy applications and otherwise manage processes that rely on several different applications.

The typical use case would be a company making specific changes in a complex IT ecosystem without disrupting the entire business process.

The platform facilitates communications between applications said Paco Aubrejuan, vice president of application strategy at Oracle. He compared it to a UN interpreter helping representatives from many different nationalities communicate with each other.

"That standard of communication is not going to change with Fusion," Aubrejuan told CRM Buyer.

Prebuilt Components

Oracle's initial rollout of its platform includes prebuilt integration packages for its Siebel CRM On Demand and Siebel CRM integration pack for Oracle E-Business Suite Order Management.

These will support the opportunity-to-quote process, as well as the auto conversion of opportunities to quotes, and the quotes to orders process for CRM On Demand.

In Siebel CRM, it will support the order-to-cash process lifecycle, with capabilities for complex product configuration, inventory availability, automated order processing, price synchronization and real-time order status reports.

Future Releases

Following are some of the additions planned for future releases of the platform:

• Oracle's Siebel CRM Integration Pack for i-flex Flexcube Account Originations -- an integrated front- to back-office banking application, as well as account opening and fulfillment process;
• Oracle's Siebel Call Center Integration Pack for Oracle Adverse Event Reporting System -- a complete closed-loop adverse event and complaint application that starts from notification and moves through reporting and monitoring;
• Siebel CRM Trade Promotions and Deductions Integration Pack for Oracle E-Business Suite -- a 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 -- a tool that will support the concept-to-launch and order-to-cash processes for 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 -- functionality that 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 -- a package that will include support for the lead-to-order process, new account creation and maintenance process and product lookup synchronization;
• Oracle Transportation Management Integration Pack for JD Edwards EnterpriseOne -- support for rate and route shopping during sales order entry, optimized shipment planning and consolidation, freight audit and settlement processing, and carrier payment; and
• Oracle's PeopleSoft Financials Integration Pack for Oracle Financial Services Accounting Hub -- an application to help the financial services industry consolidate information from back-office systems into the Oracle Financial Services Accounting Hub and PeopleSoft General Ledger.