BloorResearch.com

In the opinion of Bloor Research the following represent the key facts of which prospective users should be aware:

• Although this is an initial version of the RFID element, the major component (the Event Processing Engine) is in its fourth version with some 7,000 active customers! There are also a number of customer case studies varying from the large (CHEP) to the relatively small (Blue Sushi).
• The new Branch version of Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2 is being offered to the market at a price $1,800. This makes a very attractive price comparison when compared to existing middleware vendor costs, for manufacturing and retail companies with a large number of facilities that need to support RFID applications.
• For developers and administrators, the facilities are extremely familiar and Microsoft Visual Studio is recognised for its ease of use. Added to this is the capability to use partner products like iLog or InRule or RuleBurst, allowing rules to be defined by business users. Other BPM products that are part of the Business Process Alliance, such as K2 and IDS Scheer, can be used to define the business process. (see Bloor Research white paper - Microsoft and BPM).
• BizTalk RFID is flexible from a solution architecture view point. It allows a solution to be created that supports a complete centralist or a complete decentralist or hub-spoke point of view.
• If simulation is important to you then Bloor would strongly recommend that you get Microsoft to demonstrate the capability that they have.

BizTalk RFID provides an ability to hot swap devices through the Device Service Provider Interface. This feature, with the support for a large number of IHV products linked to the ability for developers to be unconcerned with the hardware side during process and rule development, is a key deliverable.

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