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IBM and Siebel Systems Inc. last week announced that Siebel will standardize its UAN application integration initiative on IBMs WebSphere middleware.
Siebel, of San Mateo, Calif., also committed to natively support Java 2 Enterprise Edition in versions of its CRM (customer relationship management) software running on WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere Portal Server.
As a result, Siebels Universal Application Network will be able to leverage the WebSphere integration platform, including its business process and Web services integration modules, enabling enterprises to better integrate Siebel software with disparate systems, said officials from the two companies.
As part of the expanded alliance, IBM, of Armonk, N.Y., and Siebel will extend UAN, Siebels open-standards platform for integration of its applications with disparate systems. The companies will also provide rapid business process integration through the combination of UAN and WebSphere Business Integration Server.
In addition, the duo will provide tighter integration between Siebels eBusiness Applications and the messaging, calendaring, collaboration and e-learning technologies of IBMs Lotus Software division. They will also optimize the eBusiness Applications for IBMs Tivoli systems management and security software, as well as IBMs AIX operating system, DB2 database and eServer hardware.
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IBM and Siebel will also co-develop integration adapters for vertical markets. The first adapter helps banks deliver consistent services across branch channels.
William Geronimo, who uses IBMs MQ Series and Siebel software, said he welcomes the tighter integration.
“We do a lot of point-to-point integration with MQ, and from what I know with WebSphere, we can use a lot of reusable [connections],” said Geronimo, director for application development/CRM at Pitney Bowes Inc., in Stamford, Conn.
“Right now, if were in Siebel and we want a piece of data that sits in another system, a lot of times we go out to three different places, so thats three middleware transactions,” Geronimo said. “What WebSphere offers is to go out once, and if one of the three pieces changes, it makes the change throughout.”