Abstract
The proliferation of modular and standards-based service-oriented
architectures (SOAs) promises to make corporate IT operations more agile and
adaptable. However, the SOA trend is also catalyzing changes within the vendor
community that could create conflicts among long-time partners. One of these
changes is the emerging strategy of many systems integrators (SIs) to use SOA
methodologies to create reusable assets. These software assets encapsulate
best practices and business processes that the SIs formerly offered only via
custom consulting projects.
As SIs shift more of their consultant-based expertise into SOA business
services and other software, they are likely to encroach into territory that
was once the exclusive preserve of applications ISVs. The largest of these
ISVs which have ambitious SOA-based initiatives of their own should be
able to reach mutually beneficial arrangements with the SIs, which have long
been their partners. However, the prospects for second- and third-tier ISVs
are less certain, and potentially bleak. These smaller vendors may be able to
leverage SOA standards to offer best-of-breed complements to broad solutions
sold by the major ISVs and SIs. However, many ISVs may be driven from
once-safe vertical market and specialty niches by new business services
competition from SIs.
Table of Contents
Key messages
- SOA will change vendor business models and relationships
- Major application vendors have little to fear
- Smaller vertical-market and specialty ISVs face increasing threats
SOA sparks new industry dynamics
Vendors have rushed to SOA-enable and revamp product offerings
Major ISVs adopt SOA
SAP, Oracle and Microsoft have built up an ecosystem of partners
Platform-centric Microsoft remains heavily dependent on partners
Microsoft relies on partners to extend its applications into vertical niches
Oracle seeks to balance SI interests with its product ambitions
Oracle taps into SOA to tackle application portfolio integration challenges
SAP expands partnering outreach to supplement its process expertise
SAP is following a two-track SOA model
Salesforce.com builds leading SaaS-based ecosystem
Salesforce.com uses SaaS/SOA synergy to ease integration issues
Uncertain future for small ISVs and SaaS vendors
Small players must adopt and adapt to SOA to survive
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