GXS launches GridConnect for embedded integration

Aimed at ISVs (independent software vendors), SaaS (software as a service) providers and corporate solutions developers, it will enable them to connect manufacturing, retailer and banking customers – giving them access to the six million trading partners already on the GXS Trading Grid. Andrea Brody, vice president, market and business development at GXS, says they will also gain transparent access to a portfolio of GXS Trading Grid services that can accelerate customer and community integration. "Traditionally, e-procurement systems, vendor managed inventory (VMI) systems, supply chain planning applications and transportation management systems (TMS) were process-specific and separate from a company's business partner network," explains . "But, with the rise of cloud computing, the lines are blurring between applications and integration platforms. ISVs are realising that time-to-revenue is heavily dependent on speed-to-implementation between their applications and their customers," she adds. Brody says that's why, over the past year or so, many of its software partners have asked for help to "accelerate and differentiate their cloud offerings by directly integrating to the GXS Trading Grid". Analysts are impressed: "It is increasingly becoming obvious that the perceived barrier between application vendors and integration infrastructure vendors is, in reality, a very porous veil," comments Deborah Wilson, research director at analyst Gartner. "Looking forward, the composite integration market looks healthy, as organisations continue to shift their focus from internal business processes to external collaboration, and as application implementation moves increasingly outside the firewall."