Software AG, a Germany-based leader in business infrastructure software, recently launched a new release of its webMethods platform, which allows customers to capitalise on both open architecture and existing infrastructure investments.

WebMethods 8, the new release, also enables users to reduce the time and cost to improve processes and integrate systems, and allows end-user productivity through tighter collaboration between IT and the business.

WebMethods 8 is a major milestone in the evolution of the webMethods platform, and offers new functionality across the entire suite, that includes enterprise integration, B2B, business process management, BAM, and SOA governance (CentraSite).

While Software AG continues the process of acquiring IDS Scheer, customers can use the webMethods 8 and Aris products together based on process model interoperability between the product lines, a statement said.

"We use webMethods to integrate our heterogeneous IT landscape, which includes both Java and .Net applications," said Emmet Oliver, IT manager, CenterPoint Energy, which is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and is a domestic energy delivery company that serves more than five million metered customers.

"The EntireX RPC functionality allows our web-based applications to communicate with backend NATURAL business logic around our core programs and databases. We are live on version 8 to stay current on our solutions and take advantage of enhanced functionality, including increased buffer sizes for our integration,” he added.

With webMethods 8, companies can improve their overall operation through effective reuse, management, and orchestration of both business and IT services thus delivering faster time to value, according to the statement.

“The feedback from FCS customers such as CenterPoint has been overwhelmingly positive and primed webMethods 8 for general availability,” said Dr Peter Kuerpick, chief product officer and member of the executive board, Software AG.

“We are confident that this will be the most complete, stable, and impactful release in the history of the webMethods product line,” he added.

“We can now deliver even faster time-to-value and increased return on existing infrastructure investments,” Dr Kuerpick continued.

“We are pleased our customers continue to leverage the webMethods foundation to support their integration, process improvement, and SOA objectives.” – TradeArabia News Service