Proving SOA Worth Is a Big Challenge for IT

Computerworld - The allure of easing integration costs and infusing flexibility into rigid monolithic applications is persuading IT shops to flock to Web services and service-oriented architectures. But soon after committing to use the new integration architectures, many IT managers find themselves searching for ways to justify the cost to top corporate management. "It is very difficult to convey this message to senior executives who don't have a clue what SOA is nor what it brings to the party," said David Berry, senior vice president and CIO at Coty Inc., a cosmetics company in New York. "The only thing they do recognize is the end result."

IT managers say that efforts to manage SOAs are far more difficult than similar projects for client/ server and Internet technologies. Some companies are creating or buying tools to help calculate the performance and measure the benefits of an SOA. Then they can use the data to persuade sometimes skittish executives to continue investing in the technology.

Berry: Execs only recognize the end result.

The company last month finished integrating IT systems it acquired in its purchase of Unilever Cosmetics International by using SOA middleware from Information Builders Inc. subsidiary iWay Software Inc.

Coty acquired the perfume business of London-based Unilever for $800 million late last year.

Berry said that although top management was initially nervous about using SOA for the large integration effort, executives are so far pleased with the resulting benefits.

Berry credited the SOA technology with allowing Coty to absorb in six months a company that will make up approximately 30% of its business.

In addition, Coty used the SOA technology to integrate new SAP software being rolled out in the U.S., Canada and Europe with existing systems, Berry said.

The decision to use the SOA as part of the SAP rollout "was the key to integrating our existing business to our distribution centers," Berry said, adding that "what it really means is that we can ship our products to our customers."

The SOA rollout caused "almost zero disruption" to the overall business, he said.

The vice president of SOA strategy and Web services for the global architecture group at a large U.S.-based financial services firm, who asked not to be named, said his company this month will begin final testing of a new tool set that can justify the company's SOA investment to senior management throughout its lines of business.