Business process interoperability

Business process interoperability (BPI) is a state that exists when software applications can exchange data automatically. Typically, this state exists when software is designed with standardization as the objective. The objective of BPI is end-to-end processing; the ability of a transaction to start and end without unnecessary human interaction. Because of the need for seamlessness, BPI can be thought of as an on-off switch: it either exists or it doesn’t.

BPI is on, for example, within most suites of popular enterprise software where the functions are highly interrelated, such as managing sales, purchasing, manufacturing and accounting. BPI is off, however, when the software needs to exchange data with other applications needed for end-to-end processing, such as when a manager needs to combine sales data from several incompatible systems.

Today, global BPI is practically non-existent. Organizations use an enormous variety of disparate database programs to run day-to-day operations. Burdened by a lack of commonality, companies must invest valuable resources to automate even the simplest of tasks. Disparate applications also make it impossible to achieve BPI with customers, suppliers and business partners across every industry. This is no small matter. Designed without the Internet in mind, non-interoperable legacy system programs are entirely out of step with the growing demand for anywhere-anytime access to information. They prevent enterprises from reaping billions in added productivity, and deprive consumers of huge advances in customer service and convenience.