Web Services Could Provide Spark For Some Of Biggest Tech Names; Trend Forces Changes; Shift provides natural fit for systems integrators such as IBM, Accenture.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: J. BONASIA

There's little doubt that the shift to a service-oriented architecture in business computing is transforming the software sector.

The rapid growth of SOA, which relies on Web services rather than traditional software installations, is forcing software makers to change the way they do business.

But the trend may have an even bigger impact for a different group: systems integrators. These companies, led by IBM and Accenture, help businesses tie together their hardware and software. The move to SOA could provide a huge source of revenue for such firms. And because of the nature of Web services, integrators should be able to slash their costs and profit more.

"When you take the cost out of systems integration, it changes the game," said Cindy Shaw, an analyst at Moors & Cabot.

Older legacy systems require a direct point-to-point link between software programs. But new Web service standards allow companies to easily link disparate software systems via the Internet. Users can mix applications and data to create new services that run over the Web.

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