Web Services

Web Services enable your organisation to harness the full power of the Internet.

The following picture shows the evolution of the Internet and how technology has driven the applications that can use the Internet.

The diagram shows the Internet has moved through 4 distinct stages, each one driven by innovations in technology.

• What existed at the beginning of the Internet was not much more than a technolgy standard, with only few universities connected using the TCP/IP standard.
• To take use of this new connectivity, protocols were developed for applications such as file transfer and email.
• In the mid 1990s, the world wide web arrived when HTML and the web browser were developed. This enabled an explosive growth in the use of the Internet, much of which is continuing today. However, this phase centred on presentation. i.e. a collection of web pages. Many organisations have remained at this third stage today. Sure they may have added a shopping basket to automate some of their sales but they have yet to tap the real potential of the Internet.
• To harness the true potential of the Internet, you need to move to the fourth stage - and integrate your applications into the Internet.
  This fourth stage, where an organisation reaches beyond merely browsing the web and programs the internet, is often referred to by a variety of names. XML, SOAP, Web Services, .Net. They all refer to technology that enables your organisation to communicate directly with others - thus saving time and increasing productivity.

Contact us if you'd like us to explain how Web Services can streamline your business processes.