SOA M-3 – a platform for integrating a range of programming products into a single IT complex
Most businesses today use a selection of software for historical reasons that include heterogenous applied solutions, both purchased from outside and their own, and which have been developed at different times. The classic problem for IT departments within businesses is how to ensure information from different departments or services is properly co-ordinated, received in timely fashion, and that its analysis and management are effective.
Along with the traditional solutions for these kind of tasks (the introduction of fully functioning systems of the ERP class), a range of other possible solutions is available, with the application of SOA architecture (service-oriented-architecture) for developing hybrid solutions. Since the logic of SOA presupposes architecture, in which all functions are determined as independent services with interfaces that can be recalled, the combination of approaches to these services in a pre-determined sequence of events allows one to execute a wide variety of business processes relevant to the specific enterprise.
On the basis of technology created under the framework of introducing the fully functional ERP system, M-3, a complete integrational platform, SOA M-3, has been developed, which comes up to the highest modern standards. In particular:
It enables the receipt of fully coordinated data from the point of view of the logic of processing objects in the ERP- system, independent of the software (PO), in which data is formed initially;
The possibility of integrating systems without introducing any kind of operations in the initial texts of the software that is already in existence, as it is called, integration through use of information from accounts;
The possibility to use in parallel the software one already is using and corresponding modules of the ERP-systems, as relevant to the wishes of the business and of its various managers;
The application of SOA M-3 for the integration of data from the systems of different businesses, including the data of contractors and partners, which have their own integrated systems, under the framework of realisation of single projects, and also for the setting up of single informational processes for businesses;
The possibility of dynamic changes in business processes;
The possibility of integration of data, which is absent from the ERP-system, in single formats with the use of them in planning, analytical and control modules;
The use of SOA Ì-3 as a lower-tier system for integration of different companies’ systems with the systems of management of holding companies;
The possibility to develop business processes with the use of the Workflow module of various software and the SOA M-3 platform.
Receiving fully coordinated data from the point of view of the logic of processing objects in the ERP-system, independent of the software, in which data is initially formed.
SOA Ì-3 also uses as a basic structure of its database the built-in business processes of the M-3.ERP system, which enables companies to ensure that directories are absolutely correct and that data coming to the platform is fully coordinated.
Built-in controls prevent information from being duplicated and from accepting data which is improperly formed or which contains conflicting descriptions of objects. For storing data which does not have an obvious place in the M-3.ERP structure, the ‘Storage of extra data’ has been created.
For organising services in SOA Ì-3, the M-CALS mechanism is used. This answers to the correct description of the CALS points and ensures that the software and platform work properly together. The business process of developing the information received through CALS is described in the M-3.Workflow module. It can be fully automatised (in the workable coordination of different types of software in the absence of need for solving discovered conflicts or incomplete identification of data), and also hybrid, envisaging the introduction of visas or instructions for supplementary information, which is not present in the software, which forms the data that is being passed over to the service.
The possibility of integrating systems without introducing any kind of operations in the initial texts of the software that is in existence now, as it is called, integration through use of information from accounts
Every point of M-CALS corresponds to its own role and object (for example, to create an invoice, to change the descriptor of a contractor to establish requirements for production etc), that is, it can be an element of aggregative business processes in the logic of SOA M-3 of the business.
Depending on the software, the following programs can be used:
Xml-format for event-trigger sychronisation of software and platforms;
MS Excel – in those cases when it is impossible to gain access to events used in the business’s software (software is externally sourced and does not support it or was written a long time ago and the business does not have initial texts or the necessary specialists], but the software forms the accounts. Under instructions from a specialised interface the location of the accounts of information linked to changes in the state of the corresponding informational objects, M-CALS independently monitors the timeliness and sequence of data coming in, ensures it is complete and does not contain contradictions from the point of view of the demands of the ERP-system.
The possibility of using in parallel the software already in existence and corresponding ARMs of the ERP systems, in relation to the wishes of the business and of particular managers within it
Thanks to the use of the M-3.ERP system as a basis for the database, the business can use a hybrid solution from the point of view of organising staffing for information input, deciding according to the particular situation which jobs to input in the familiar software and which to move over to the ARM system M-3 ( under the scheme, as an example, the chosen users of ARM are marked in green, and the majority of remaining ARMs are not in colour) As the database is the only one for all the software linked to the platform, while the organisation of CALS ensures there are no contradictions in the accepted information, then the option for introducing homogenous information simultaneously from the specialised ARM system M-3 and also from the linked software through CALS does not demand extra work and is a regular occurrence.
The possibility of dynamic changes in business processes
The SOA M-3 platform is designed for businesses which have dynamically developing business processes and allows them to quickly insert the changes into the descriptors of the business processes that have been formed according to redistribution of business functions, the purchase of specialised software or changes to the organisational structure of the company (expansion, becoming part of a holding company, change of ownership etc].
SOA technology is not a collection of different services of different kinds of software, but a means of uniting existing and newly created technologies in order to solve business tasks, that is, for building effective business processes.
The application of SOA Ì3 for integrating data from different companies’ systems, including from contractors and partners, which have their own integrated systems, under the framework of realisation of joint (single) projects, and also creating unified informational processes for the business. The possibility of dynamic changes to business processes
For a modern company, one critically important task is to support interrelationships with partners in the framework of corporate informational systems, which generates supplementary demands and creates perceptible complications in the task of integration. SOA M-3 allows companies to build models of interaction between companies and their constituent parts, using electronic mail as a means of transportation between CALS. This approach enables monitoring joint projects in real time, with the companies that are taking part using a variety of informational systems. With this, one can with one single design monitor planning and execution of interrelated work, allocation and expenditure of special articles in the budget, movement of documents and copying over – all linked to the realisation of projects and individual pieces of work, and also the movement of material valuables, controlled on the level of the project management.
The application of integrated solutions on the basis of SOA Ì-3 as a system of lower level for integration with systems of the head companies-holdings
Systems used in holding companies (mainly foreign) are more oriented towards specialised analysis of information that the company already has – modules of budgeting and controlling – and also towards optimisation of the algorythms of planning how to allocate resources.
For the collection of information, it is necessary to input a large number of operations of registry types, which can be carried out with the same level of quality in the framework of easier and cheaper integrated systems, where staff jobs of the registry and accounting types make up the majority of jobs in the company and need a corresponding amount of licenses, which in foreign systems cost significantly more. This also applies to the cost of technical support, which is determined by, proportionally, the number of jobs. In this case, as it has been shown, the time needed for introducing certain registry modules of a foreign system is far longer that that needed to introduce a comparable Russian system.
Clearly, in regard to operations such as billing, registration of warehousing operations, delivery of materials to workshops, and registering accounting operations, powerful foreign integrated systems do not have any advantages over their Russian counterparts.
Rational design allows the maximum exploitation of the advantages of those systems similar to SAP R/3 and Oracle Applications, in the area of analytical mechanisms and a single data storage directory with simultaneous transmission of parts of the simple functions, linked to registration and preparation of information, the Russian integrated informational system or a complex of accompanying programming products, depending on a single platform, so that for similar division of information in a company it should be completely coordinated and correct.
The possibility of building business processes with the use of the Workflow modules of various software and the SOA M-3 platform
If a company is in possession of modern programming products, which have the Workflow module, it is worth preserving entire business processes or their fragments on the basis of these products.
The SOA M-3 platform has in its arsenal the powerful M-3.Workflow module, and this enables the completion of a chain of business processes, described in various software, for their expansion, and also enables the formation of united business processes, using M-3.Workflow as an element of joining up and building missing links. Using M-3.CALS for accepting information and as a means of passing over information from SOA M-3, one can build a united design, and if one wishes, monitor business processes with the help of the M-3.Dokumentooborot module.
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