Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2 (RFID Component)
Date:
By: Simon Holloway
Classification: InDetail
In the opinion of Bloor Research the following
represent the key facts of which prospective
users should be aware:
- Although this is an initial version of the RFID element, the major component (the Event
Processing Engine) is in its fourth version
with some 7,000 active customers! There are
also a number of customer case studies
varying from the large (CHEP) to the
relatively small (Blue Sushi). - The new Branch version of Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2 is being offered to the market
at a price $1,800. This makes a very attractive
price comparison when compared to existing
middleware vendor costs, for manufacturing
and retail companies with a large number of
facilities that need to support RFID
applications. - For developers and administrators, the
facilities are extremely familiar and Microsoft
Visual Studio is recognised for its ease of
use. Added to this is the capability to use
partner products like iLog or InRule or
RuleBurst, allowing rules to be defined by
business users. Other BPM products that are
part of the Business Process Alliance, such
as K2 and IDS Scheer, can be used to define
the business process. (see Bloor Research
white paper – Microsoft and BPM). - BizTalk RFID is flexible from a solution
architecture view point. It allows a solution to
be created that supports a complete
centralist or a complete decentralist or
hub-spoke point of view. - If simulation is important to you then Bloor
would strongly recommend that you get
Microsoft to demonstrate the capability that
they have.
BizTalk RFID provides an ability to hot swap
devices through the Device Service Provider
Interface. This feature, with the support for a
large number of IHV products linked to the
ability for developers to be unconcerned with
the hardware side during process and rule
development, is a key deliverable.