GE Power Systems and Corporate Express implemented enterprise application integration (EAI) projects to improve operations. For GE Power Systems, EAI allowed real-time data sharing between legacy systems and applications, improving data quality and accuracy. For Corporate Express, EAI doubled the number of web-based customer interfaces and cut internal and customer costs by replacing legacy interfaces. Both companies benefited from increased efficiency and reduced costs through better integration of their applications, showing how EAI can deliver business value.

1. GE POWER SYSTEM AND CORPORATE EXPRESS :THE BUSINESS CASE FOR ENTERPRISE APPLICATION INTEGRATION By- Umesh Upadhyaya Susmriti Shrestha Sujin Prasad Joshi Sudeep Mani Nepal Sumit Shrestha

2. Background: GE Power Systems World’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies Works with governments to manage complex international relationships Increase the efficiency of traditional energy systems to develop leading-edge renewable energy sources Products : cost effective :with environmental awareness

3. Background: Corporate Express Inc. World's largest supplier to businesses of office products Owned by the Dutch firm Buhrmann N.V. since October 1999 Market leader in North America, Australia and ranked second in Europe Operates several complementary manufacturing and services businesses

4. EAI : An Introduction Term used to describe the integration of the computer applications of an enterprise Use of software to connect variety of application into a cohesive unit Serves as middleware to provide Data conversion Communication between systems Access to system interfaces

5. About the Case GE Power Systems The Subsidiary of GE had a collection of business units running as independent operations Shared data among variety of legacy systems , ERP software and web- based applications Benefits are the ability to send data in real time from one system to another, improved quality and accuracy of the data EAI is funded by individual projects run by various functional units

6. About the Case Corporate Express Inc. Used an EAI project to improve customer service by almost doubling the number of Web-based interfaces Implemented to cut costs both internally and for it’s customers Replaced many legacies interfaces, went back to few older interfaces and retrofitted them Integrated business- to business systems, which include EDI and XML interfaces

7. Case Study Questions Question #1: Why has EAI recently “become a critical part of the IT strategy at many organizations”, and a high- ranking project of top IT executives? It makes the organization more efficient Reduces costs Increases sales GE Power Systems: Ability to send data in real time from one to another system Setup of Project Management Office

8. Continued….. Corporate Express: Doubled the business partners from 120 to more than 200 Cut costs both internally and for its customers Question #2 What is the major difference in the business value of the EAI projects at GE Power and Corporate Express? GE Power: ease of doing business and tightening up transactions CE : reduce costs and remain attractive as a preferred supplier

9. Continued…. Question #3 What are some of the challenges in developing and implementing EAI systems? How can company meet these challenges? Challenges High cost Specific skills and extensive coordination Time consuming Security Factor Protectionism

10. Meeting the challenges: Arrange training and development programs : companies needs to arrange training, induction, orientation and development program Security Improvement : must have encryption, security transport, firewalls etc. Cost Effective : avoiding anchoring IT budgets and resources.

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