IBM’s MQSeries Workflow Automates Business Processes To Help Companies Compete in E-business
Frees IT Shops to Focus on Real Business Needs
SOMERS, N.Y (July 28, 1998) – IBM today announced the worldwide availability of IBM MQSeries* Workflow, powerful business process automation and workflow management software that gives organizations more control of their business activities by automating mission-critical processes involving their employees, customers and applications.
Part of IBM’s MQSeries family of Business Integration software, IBM MQSeries Workflow is a fully scaleable solution designed to help enterprises align and integrate their resources, lower costs, eliminate errors and improve productivity by delivering the right tasks to the right people at the right time. For example, an insurance claim typically triggers specific actions by individuals or departments throughout an insurance company, each dependent on different information from the claim to complete the task. MQSeries Workflow routes claim information across the organization, automatically launching applications and processes based on a specific workflow model defined by the business.
MQSeries Workflow is built on the secure and reliable foundation of IBM MQSeries (Version 5), IBM’s industry-leading, messaging-oriented middleware (MOM) that links disparate activities, systems and applications across an immense variety of heterogeneous platforms.
“Customers already using IBM’s Business Integration family of products are reporting higher productivity and better service to customers at reduced costs,” said Steve Mills, general manager, Software Solutions, IBM. “This latest enhancement will help these companies become even more agile, customer-oriented and competitive.”
In a May 1998 report, International Data Corporation predicts that emerging businessware products based on message-oriented middleware “are likely to deliver a future that for the first time unifies the diversity of applications that are present in today’s business.” The reports cites IBM for understanding that, in addition to application integration, the businessware customer value proposition includes event-driven processing and business process automation. Products with these features will enable companies to “integrate, energize and automate their businesses across the enterprise and beyond.”
Greater Flexibility, More Speed, Easier to Use
MQSeries Workflow is the next version of IBM’s industry-acclaimed FlowMark offering, renamed with this version. MQSeries Workflow enables separation of business flows from application logic, and enhances application to application workflow automation. This enables companies in virtually any industry, from banks to non-profit organizations, to create and change their business processes to address market changes in less time, with greater speed and flexibility.
“We see IBM’s MQSeries Workflow as forming a core component of our enterprise architecture,” said Joseph Gendler, vice president, Chase Manhattan. “We have been benchmarking Flowmark in the current environment and expect an RFA (request for assistance) for a a mid-size project to be processed within two weeks compared to the five-to-eight weeks that it takes now. Results like this practically guarantee that MQSeries Workflow will be a critical part of continuing efforts to improve customer service, reduce costs and eliminate wasted effort.”
Network Computing and e-Business
The Internet presents a huge opportunity for the development of new integrated, global solutions. Speed-to-market and quick reaction to market changes are key in this environment. To enable the flexibility needed for e-business, MQSeries Workflow can integrate existing and new application components on distributed platforms, while IT managers can individualize workflow application components or the process model gradually as the business demands.
“Business process workflow will have a profound impact on enterprise infrastructures, particularly as they face the increasing complexities of conducting business globally and electronically,” said Judith Hurwitz, president and CEO, Hurwitz Group.
Source: IBM