Q. What is BizTalk Server?

BizTalk is a Business Process Management Server designed to connect the people, processes and information that you need to effectively manage and grow your business. By connecting applications within and between organizations, and providing the tools to let business staff define, create and modify the business processes that depend on that software, BizTalk Server provides real-time visibility into critical business functioning, maximizing your organizational agility. BizTalk Server 2006 is the fourth major release of the product, and offers dependable, scalable and enterprise-ready business process management.

In a common scenario, BizTalk enables companies to integrate and manage business processes by exchanging business documents such as purchase orders and invoices between disparate applications, within or across organizational boundaries.

Today, over 7,000 organizations rely on BizTalk Server to integrate systems, automate processes and communicate across global processes, partnerships, and supply chains.

Q. What platforms does BizTalk Server support?

Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003, SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005, .NET Framework 2.0. In addition, BizTalk Server offers 64-bit run time support. BizTalk Server also supports interoperability with non-Microsoft platforms, and with its robust adapter framework, BizTalk can quickly connect to proprietary systems.

Q. What services and support do you offer for BizTalk Server?

Microsoft offers a range of support options, whether you require on-site or phone-based support. New to Microsoft are technology centers which provide the facility and resources to determine whether the BizTalk integration solution will work for you. For ongoing information, join the BizTalk Community to share great new ideas.

Q. What advantages does BizTalk Server 2006 offer over the 2004 release?

BizTalk 2006 offers a simplified installation and configuration process, and offers the IT administrator a more productive management and deployment process. Additionally, business user capabilities are extended, providing real-time support for business activities and alerts.

Q. How easy is it to upgrade from BizTalk Server 2004 to the latest release?

The upgrade from BizTalk 2004 to 2006 is seamless, reducing the time and costs associated with upgrading to new technologies.

Q. Why would it be important for a Small Enterprise to automate and manage the businesses processes?

More and more large customers and suppliers are demanding that the businesses in their supply chain automate in order to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce costs. While these mandates and government regulations impose a burden on small and midsize companies, achieving compliance (with Sarbanes-Oxley Act, for example) promotes business process transparency and better process controls, both of which can greatly benefit the organization.

Q. What does Business Process Management (BPM) mean?

Business process management refers to the automation of manual processes and the subsequent optimization of those processes. The goal of management is to improve the flow of business processes such that efficiencies are improved, risks are lessened and costs are lower.

Q. What are the Components of Microsoft’s Business Process Management Solutions?

Business Process Management: Tools and technologies to manage business processes that span applications and organizational boundaries.

Application Integration: Internal application integration within an enterprise using either standard or proprietary communication protocols.

Business-to-Business Integration: External integration with trading partners, customers or suppliers using either standard or proprietary communication protocols.