SOA is a technology independent concept that enables systems to be sub-divided and classified according to their individual service components.
The major advantage is being able to re-compose business processes as discrete entities meaning they can be changed with far less effort and with a reduced impact on the business operation.
Typical business benefits that can be achieved through an SOA initiative include:
- Shorter time to market for products and services
- Improved customer service
- Increased business agility through reducing system integration complexity
- More flexibility in outsourcing or out-tasking
- Easier collaboration with external partners
- Greater visibility of information
- Greater visibility into business processes
- IT better able to support business strategy
- Savings in both business and IT costs
- Personal benefits for key stakeholders
- Technology independence
- Shorter and smaller development projects
- More efficient development processes
- Re-use of services, system components and business processes
- A low risk evolutionary approach
