Service-oriented architecture (SOA) promises so much to companies of all different shapes and sizes, right across the world. However, the practicalities of implementing enterprise-wide SOA, reaching from the business processes down to the individual operational components, can be daunting to some. However, new approaches are emerging, striving to deliver some of the benefits of SOA without all of the work.

Message-driven SOA brings together the powerful concepts of message-driven integration with key SOA attributes such as developing reusable, business-aligned services to offer a pragmatic approach to solving business integration needs while at the same time benefiting from lower costs, quicker time to market and improved business visibility of operations. By adopting the message-driven SOA approach, companies can follow a cost-conscious, tactical needs-driven IT agenda while at the same time positioning themselves for future progression to wider strategic SOA goals.