My experience with SOA is only about one year. However, I have learned that Integration can offer a significant success to those who are trying to get communications going between two entities. My association with iWay products provided by IBI http://www.ibi.com has shown me that java-based data exchange between business entities can be rapid and simple, if a specific approach is taken and tested. The expense to the user will depend upon the degree of sophistication required, and the type of entities trying to interact.

As an example, one can transfer data from one database (say SQL Server 2005 database) to another database (say AS400), as long as the proper set of software tools (Adapter Manager, Adapter Designer, and Adapter Transformer) are used. At the same time, one can also send an e-mail to another entity when the data exchange is completed. Then certain selected data may be uploaded to an FTP site after the e-mail has been sent. From this example, one can see that the communication possibilities are limitless so long as the entities are well-defined and are compatible to the java-based engine and the defined process flows.

I would be happy to offer my experience in this area, as business needs are ever-expanding in terms of communications and data exchange.