There's probably been more discussion about Web services than any other technology topic in the trade magazines lately. And the debate abides: Is it hype, or will Web services truly add business value to the insurance industry?
It isn't hype, but only full Web services, those offering a common interface for all systems and applications, can make the potential of Web services a reality.
Additionally, those systems and applications must be tightly yoked with a service-oriented architecture (SOA), the foundation that enables the different pieces of the puzzle-the business services-to work together.
Web services are already starting to make it easier and more efficient for insurers to conduct business, and we're at the beginning of the revolution.
