IBM joins with CommerceQuest to provide unified integration framework

CommerceQuest Inc. announced today that IBM will begin reselling Process Manager for Data (PM4Data), a leading managed file transfer and data movement product, to leverage WebSphere MQ* and to enhance CommerceQuests on demand strategy. PM4Data enables legacy assets to participate in enterprise services buses based on IBM technology and serves as an on-ramp for valuable legacy file-based assets to become integrated to the WebSphere* Business Integration Message Broker. The reseller relationship extends CommerceQuests relationship with IBM via its WebSphere brand and offers IBM customers a valuable way to manage the movement of data across multi-platform environments and gain visibility into disparate systems throughout the enterprise.

CommerceQuests PM4Data contains all the services and interfaces required to access and transfer local and remote files and databases in a batch or real-time format within IBM WebSphere MQ-enabled systems. PM4Data also facilitates systems integration by exposing files and database access and movement as XML or Web services-enabled components.

CommerceQuest further extends its relationship with IBM by announcing the transformation of its WebSphere Innovation Centre to an IBM Business Partner Innovation Centre. The IBM Business Partner Innovation Centre at CommerceQuest leverages IBM WebSphere and Data Management technologies coupled with CommerceQuest offerings to further the advancement of IBM on demand solutions. The centre enables customers to visualise the power of IBM and CommerceQuest solutions in support of their on demand efforts.

CommerceQuests and IBMs customers share a common need to expand the capabilities of existing systems by leveraging the rich resources of data in existing legacy and mainframe systems, said Mike Forster, chairman and CEO of CommerceQuest. Our solution addresses this critical customer need. Customers will also gain benefits which include highly automated processing of bulk-data, as well as the ability to react quickly to organisational changes with a unified integration framework.

This joint enterprise integration platform will benefit many customers, including Charming Shoppes Inc, a leading specialty apparel retailer, and Standard Chartered Bank, one of the world's most international banks.

"CommerceQuest has demonstrated its expertise and knowledge of the complex process integration requirements of a global financial institution, added Lewis Jones, system integration manager of Standard Chartered Bank. The IBM/CommerceQuest architecture now in place allows us to respond much more quickly to those requirements, while simplifying overall system development, deployment and operational management."

We set out to modernise our IT infrastructure which included many key legacy systems, explained Denis Gingue, CIO of Charming Shoppes. Working with IBM and CommerceQuest means that we will be in a position to deliver an enhanced integration platform that extends our legacy assets and gives the IT organisation increased agility and flexibility to respond to the needs of our business and customers.

Managed file transfer products (MFT) are becoming increasingly more important for an organisations overall integration strategy. According to Frank Kenney, research analyst with Gartner, Companies should make their managed file transfer deployments an integral portion of their overall integration projects and strategies, ensuring tight integration within their Enterprise Nervous System.

"CommerceQuests PM4Data will enable customers who have adopted IBMs on demand business strategy to extend the value and longevity of their IT assets, by moving closer toward achieving a real-time enterprise," said Dr. Bob Sutor, director, IBM WebSphere Software. "With the additional capability of end-to-end visibility of data movement, customers will benefit from improved business productivity and IT efficiency."