Before launching its BizTalk 2006 business integration and process management tool this month, Microsoft is briefing customers about the benefits of such systems.

Analyst firm Gartner predicts that the deployment of business process management (BPM) systems will be a top priority for firms this year. However, many firms are unsure about the return on investment from such technology, according to Microsoft business integration and process product manager Gavin King.

"There is a poor understanding in the market about what BPM is and how it could be used to benefit firms," said King. He added that BPM systems can reduce companies' costs and create new business opportunities. "BPM suites are used for enterprise application integration, and to create and manage business-to-business and human workflows," he said.

King argued, "The Holy Grail would be for business users to define dynamically how a business should operate, and have that responded to immediately by the IT department." However, traditionally the IT department has taken the lead.

King added, "More often than not projects fail because requirements or expectations change before the project is delivered. We're advocating, and Gartner agrees, that the business needs to be interlinked with the development cycle, and a [senior business manager] should be on the [design] team that's accountable for delivering the project."

It is also vital for business analysts to be closely involved, King added.
Microsoft previously announced that the next version of BizTalk would follow the launch last autumn of SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005, which contain technology links to BizTalk.

BizTalk 2006 is now due to be launched on 27 March in London.