All About Business-To-Business Middleware

Back in the 1990s, Windows NT Server was the operating system of choice for every business. An enterprise decided to update to the latest Windows XP company wide. Since their entire production and supply chain operation was based on SAP and Filemaker Pro workflow tools, they hired an IT expert to integrate both applications and create a unified dashboard in Internet Explorer 6. Yet, when the latest version, Windows XP, was launched, they could not upgrade it as it only used Internet Explorer 7. Their business dashboard was incompatible with the browser. The company then had to license two Windows versions while paying the expert a fee for his integration services. Could there be a less costly solution?

Yes, B2B Middleware can be your savior! It refers to a software layer between various dissimilar applications. It integrates or bridges two applications making them compatible with each other. In the above case, the business could have created an integrated dashboard for SAP and Filemaker Pro, irrespective of the operating system they used. B2B Middleware helps route data from organizational applications to third-party tools used by business partners, vendors, suppliers and other entities. Sounds interesting?

Let’s take a better look!
 

What Is Business-to-Business Middleware (B2B Middleware)?

Applications outside of the enterprise's system also need access to services, data and other capabilities. Yet, as they operate on different operating systems and technologies, we need Business-to-Business Middleware. It is responsible for managing the APIs, messaging, authentication and other services provided to non-enterprise platforms. By connecting all applications, databases, tools and end users, B2B Middleware enables business stakeholders to share, communicate and collaborate more quickly.

It is like the silent middleman Eddie Temple; an unsung hero working silently in the background to make sure others can go about their business. You can imagine how vital it is for any enterprise to carry out translations and interactions between various tools and databases. This is where B2B Middleware becomes critical.

Yet, this wasn’t always the case – find out more below.
 

Evolution And Origins Of Business-to-Business Middleware

Businesses have always faced the challenge of collaborating and sharing information with multiple vendors, suppliers, customers and affiliates. For a long time, this process relied on emails, memos and other manual communication.

The term “middleware” first appeared in a 1968 NATO Software Engineering Conference report held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The conference aimed to define “software engineering” based on the concepts of software design, production and distribution. Middleware was used to refer to any software that operated as an interface between two separate applications.

Then, Managed File Transfer (MFT) appeared as one of the earliest methods of integrating information from two different application sources. MFT helped an application read data that was generated by another application. Yet, the two applications had to compromise certain aspects such as file format, storage location, privileges, etc. Hence, a new approach was devised – shared databases. In this method, several applications used a common database to share information. The next phase was the internal development of middleware by businesses. They developed systems where applications were inter-connected. As a result, businesses temporarily solved integration challenges while subsequently developing more serious business interoperability problems.

As applications and databases became increasingly complicated, Enterprise Application Interchange (EAI) was developed as a dedicated middleware platform to centralize data and application integration. A fresh architectural concept emerged in the modern era in the form of the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB). It is middleware that grants applications the ability to connect and exchange messages/ data in accordance with business policies. These gradual steps led to the creation of B2B Middleware.

Just as middlemen do not produce goods or services, B2B Middleware creates no data or information of its own – instead it enables the communication and integration between other applications. Here’s how!
 

How Does Business-to-Business Middleware Work?

 

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For its day-to-day operations, businesses rely on a wide range of cloud and on-premises platforms as well as web services. To manage and share business information easily, all these systems must be connected in a way that they can exchange information seamlessly. B2B Middleware makes it easier to transfer data between the applications – no matter where they are located.

Generally, software development teams collaborate with businesses to define the software, hardware, services, etc. deployed and identify the required middleware capabilities. Some middleware requires custom programming, while others can be integrated directly into already-existing applications. The aim is to create a fully automated solution that reduces time and expenses while offering unified services, access and data to clients, partners and other stakeholders. The B2B Middleware works by performing the following tasks:
 

• Unifies the vast distributed network of applications, tools and databases

• Creates a unified user experience for stakeholders by enabling applications to operate together

• Provides software developers with tools to support application interoperability

You could be wondering; how does this software bridge the gazillion applications my business uses? That is precisely why you need to know about the various types of Business-to-Business Middleware.
 

Types Of Business-to-Business Middleware

Listed below are a few of the popular B2B Middleware types used by modern enterprises:
 

• Application Development Middleware

  Middleware can support software developers and architects in working across platforms that follow separate frameworks and programming languages to deliver new functionalities.

• Optimization Middleware

  This Middleware can assist developers in converting old, monolithic applications into cloud-native applications to retain legacy tools while enhancing performance and interoperability.

• Integration Middleware

  By leveraging features like transformation, connectivity, composability, etc., middleware can integrate crucial internal and external features so developers can easily extend capabilities across applications.

• Business Automation Middleware

  Developers, architects and IT teams can benefit from middleware by automating manual actions to enhance resource management and overall business effectiveness.

 
That’s how it feels like having B2B Middleware, trust us!

If you don’t believe us, head on to the next section to discover the benefits of this nifty technology.
 

Benefits Of Using B2B Middleware

Here are the most significant benefits of using a B2B Middleware:
 

• Efficient connectivity between various business applications, platforms and services – even if they rely on different technologies, operating systems and proprietary licenses.

• Enables your software development teams to automate and integrate applications to deliver innovative business solutions.

• Provides more concise transition periods when moving to the cloud, updating software or transitioning to or from legacy infrastructure.

• Offers easy access to several workplace tools as they are all integrated and interconnected.

We’re sure you understand why B2B Middleware is critical for enterprises. Yet, with the growing complexity of applications and technologies, their role in the IT infrastructure will grow even more important. Here’s how B2B Middleware will cope in the future.
 

What’s The Future Of Business-to-Business Middleware?

The application infrastructure middleware market had a market valuation of USD 38 billion in 2020. This number is expected to reach roughly USD 60 million by 2026! Moreover, roughly 67% of the workforce is expected to carry personal devices (read: BYOD policies) to work in the coming years. Hence, the emphasis on improved middleware for mobile devices is growing. It will ease enterprise data security and remote data access management as middleware can provide secure communication channels.

Moreover, the skyrocketing adoption of IoT devices and 5G technology is expected to bring significant changes. Businesses will deploy more B2B Middleware to enable a quicker exchange of application data and interoperability between IoT-enabled devices. Additionally, as vendors begin offering PaaS-based services to businesses, we will see an increase in the use of open-source B2B Middleware.
 

Summing It Up