Web services create compatibility and interoperability among various packaged and customized Web applications – in a standardized and vendor-neutral manner. Web services are most economical – and beneficial – when used in an enterprise-level business scenario that combines the functionality of multiple applications into easy-to-use enterprise services. Such a business scenario requires a service-oriented architectural approach.

For SAP, Web services play an important role in the concept of enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA). Web services ensure interoperability between platforms, and all communication within enterprise SOA is based on Web services. Enterprise services expose the functionality and data of applications so that they can be accessed by any service user. Just as Web services take the complexity out of platform connectivity, enterprise services take the complexity out of application integration.

Transforming Your IT Infrastructure

SAP NetWeaver was designed as a platform for the development, deployment, and management of Web services to transform your IT infrastructure into an enterprise service-oriented architecture, through a series of manageable, cost-efficient steps.

For example, SAP NetWeaver Portal uses Web services to offer role-based interfaces that allow employees to work together. The application platform provides existing application functionality, based on Java or ABAP, as Web services. These services are described using Web Services Description Language (WSDL).

The Web services are provided through a framework used by the integration broker to describe Web services interfaces in a Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) repository. Business process management coordinates the activities of Web services provided by business partners to manage processes across applications.

Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) provides a mechanism for sending Web service messages and XML service requests based on WSDL. The composite application framework encapsulates functionality from underlying IT systems as Web services. It then implements a standard framework for the user interface and process control, taking advantage of existing IT investments.

In addition, SAP is actively involved in the Web Services Interoperability (WS-I) consortium, supporting both the WS-I Basic Profile and WSI-I Sample Applications activities.