Architectural design for selling project-based services application software

• US 8,321,306 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Cirpus, Vytas, Von Geisau, Otfried, Faisst, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): ADE, OGER GARCIA
• Application Number:
  US12/327,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing the selling of project-based services are disclosed. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Project Processing process component that supports the management of projects, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component that manages supplier invoices, an Accounting process component that records relevant business transactions, a Customer Invoice Processing process component that manages customer invoices, and a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component that receives a confirmation from an employee of goods received or services rendered.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising instructions encoded on a non-transitory, computer-readable medium, the instructions being structured as process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, the instructions operable when executed by at least one processor to:

define a plurality of process components, each of the process components comprising a modular and application-independent package of reusable, granular software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the business process comprising functionality exposed by the process component via a corresponding service interface, the plurality of process components including;

an opportunity processing process component for developing, processing, and monitoring of opportunities to initiate sales and service deals;

a customer quote processing process component for processing of quotes to customers offering delivery of goods according to specific terms;

a sales order processing process component for processing of customers'"'"' requests to seller for delivery of goods, on a specific date, for a specific quantity, and for a specific price;

a customer relationship auxiliaries processing process component for processing of supplementary functions that support customer relationship management;

a project processing process component for structuring, planning, and executing simple short-term measures and complex projects;

a customer project invoice preparation processing component for creating invoice requisitions for a customer project based on the expenses incurred, the project progress, and the invoicing agreements;

a customer invoice processing process component for invoicing of customers for the delivery of goods or the provision of services;

a purchase request processing process component for creating, changing, and processing purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

a purchase order processing process component for creating and maintaining purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a goods and service acknowledgement process component for confirming received goods or rendered services by an employee;

a purchasing contract processing process component that is responsible for creating and maintaining purchasing contracts;

a supplier invoice processing process component for managing and volume processing supplier invoices;

a due item processing process component for collecting, managing, and monitoring trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a balance of foreign payment management process component for collection, processing, and reporting of receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by the financial authority of a country;

an accounting process component for recording relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a costing process component for estimating costs for materials, projects, service products, sales order items, and production lots; and

a payment processing process component for processing and managing payments, associated communication with financial institutions, and providing the primary input for liquidity management; and

define a plurality of service interfaces, each service interface associated with exactly one process component and comprising at least one operation, each operation being implemented for exactly one process component, the operations comprising inbound and outbound operations, the outbound operation for a first process component being operable to send a message to a second process component of the plurality of process components, the second process component having an inbound operation for receiving the message, the sending and receiving of messages between an inbound and an outbound operation defining a message-based pair-wise interaction between the respective process components of the respective operations, the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components including interactions between;

the sales order processing process component and the customer project invoice preparation process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the sales order processing process component and the customer project invoice preparation process component includes the transmission of;

a customer project invoicing agreement maintain request message from the sales order processing process component to the customer project invoice preparation process component, the customer project invoicing agreement maintain request message comprising a request for invoicing of a customer project; and

a customer project invoicing agreement maintain confirmation message from the customer project invoice preparation process component to the sales order processing process component, the customer project invoicing agreement maintain confirmation message comprising a confirmation to sales order processing that a customer invoice was created in response to a corresponding customer project invoicing agreement maintain request message;

the project processing process component and the costing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the costing process component includes the transmission of;

a project cost estimate request message from the project processing process component to the costing process component, the project cost estimate request message comprising a notification to the costing project regarding creation or modification of at least one costing-relevant project element;

the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase request message from the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component, the purchase request message comprising a request for the purchase request processing process component to externally procure services for a project;

a purchase request confirmation message from the purchase request processing process component to the project processing process component, the purchase request confirmation message comprising a confirmation of creation, modification, or cancellation of a purchase request to the corresponding requester;

the project processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

a project expense view notification message from the project processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the project expense view notification message comprising a notification to project processing regarding a supplier invoice related to a particular project;

the customer project invoice preparation process component and the customer invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer project invoice preparation process component and the customer invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

a customer invoice request message from the customer project invoice preparation process component to the customer invoice processing process component, the customer invoice request message comprising a request for creation of a customer invoice request or update to a previously created customer invoice request; and

a customer invoice issued confirmation message from the customer invoice processing process component to the customer project invoice preparation process component, the customer invoice issued confirmation message comprising a confirmation of invoicing in response to the customer invoice request message;

the customer invoice processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer invoice processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

an invoice accounting notification message from the customer invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting regarding creation of invoices or credit memos; and

an invoice cancellation accounting notification from the customer invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice cancellation accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting of cancellation of a previously created invoice or credit memo;

the due item processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the due item processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

a due clearing notification message from the due item processing process component to the customer invoice processing process component, the due clearing notification message comprising a notification to customer invoice processing regarding clearing of trade receivables;

the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component includes the transmission of;

a foreign receivable payable notification message from the customer invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable notification message comprising a notification to customer invoice processing regarding an invoice to track a receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner; and

a foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message from the customer invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message comprising a notification to customer invoice processing regarding cancellation of an invoice to cancel information about a previously-tracked receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner;

the customer invoice processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer invoice processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

an invoice request message from the customer invoice processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the invoice request message comprising a request to create a supplier invoice corresponding to a customer invoice containing claims or liabilities for delivered goods or services rendered;

the payment processing process component and the due item processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the payment processing process component and the due item processing process component includes the transmission of;

a clearing request message from the payment processing process component to the due item processing process component, the clearing request message comprising a request to clear at least one payment within due item processing;

a clearing cancellation request message from the payment processing process component to the due item processing process component, the clearing cancellation request message comprising a request to cancel a previously sent clearing request from due item processing by reference;

a clearing confirmation message from the due item processing process component to the payment processing process component, the clearing confirmation message comprising a confirmation to payment processing associated with a previously-sent clearing request message or clearing cancellation request message;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component includes the transmission of;

a due clearing notification message from the due item processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the due clearing notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding clearing of trade receivables;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component includes the transmission of;

a foreign receivable payable notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding an invoice to track a receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner; and

a foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding cancellation of an invoice to cancel information about a previously-tracked receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

an invoice accounting notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting regarding creation of invoices or credit memos; and

an invoice cancellation accounting notification from the supplier invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice cancellation accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting of cancellation of a previously created invoice or credit memo;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a sales and purchasing accounting notification message from the purchase order processing process component to the accounting process component, the sales and purchasing accounting notification message comprising a notification to accounting of creation, modification, or cancellation of a particular purchase order;

the purchase order processing process component and the sales order processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the sales order processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase order request message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order request message comprising a request to sales order processing to process a new purchase order;

a purchase order change request message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order change request message comprising a request to sales order processing to modify a previously-sent purchase order request;

a purchase order cancellation request message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order cancellation request message comprising a request to sales order processing to cancel a previously-sent purchase order; and

a purchase order confirmation message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order confirmation message comprising a confirmation of modifications to a customer of changes to a particular purchase order;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

an invoicing due notification message from the purchase order processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the invoicing due notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding a new, changed, or cancelled purchase order; and

a purchase order invoice values notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the purchase order processing process component, the purchase order invoice values notification message comprising a notification regarding actual values and qualities of a particular supplier invoice that is saved and contains a reference to a particular purchase order;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a goods and service acknowledgement notification message from the goods and service acknowledgement process component to the accounting process component, the goods and service acknowledgement notification message comprising a notification to accounting regarding creation of a goods and service acknowledgement relevant to accounting; and

a goods and service acknowledgement cancellation notification message from the goods and service acknowledgement process component to the accounting process component, the goods and service acknowledgement cancellation notification message comprising a notification to accounting regarding cancellation of a previously-sent goods and service acknowledgment;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

an invoicing due notification message from the goods and service acknowledgement process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the invoicing due notification message comprising a notification of invoicing-relevant data regarding delivered materials and services rendered to supplier invoice processing; and

the supplier invoice processing process component and the purchasing contract processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the purchasing contract processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchasing contract release notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the purchasing contract processing process component, the purchasing contract release notification message comprising a notification regarding posting of a supplier invoice that contains a reference to a particular purchasing contract.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of process components further includes;

a time and labor management process component for managing employees'"'"' planned working times, and the recording and valuating of work performed and absence times;

an expense and reimbursement management process component for managing and monitoring of expenses incurred by employees, and the reimbursement of expenses to employees; and

an inventory processing process component for managing inventory and recording of inventory changes, and providing services to maintain current stock, content and structure of logistic units and allocations; and

the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components further include interactions between;

a purchase order processing at customer process component and the sales order processing process component;

the time and labor management process component and the accounting process component;

the project processing process component and the time and labor management process component;

the time and labor management process component and the goods and services acknowledgement process component;

the expense and reimbursement management process component and the project processing process component;

the expense and reimbursement management process component and the accounting process component;

the inventory processing process component and the project processing process component;

the inventory processing process component and the accounting process component;

the due item processing process component and a due item processing at business partner process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the payment processing process component and a bank statement creation at bank process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component; and

the supplier invoice processing process component and a customer invoice processing at supplier process component.

3. The product of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of process components is assigned to exactly one deployment unit among multiple deployment units, and each deployment unit is deployable on a separate computer hardware platform independent of every other deployment unit; and

all interaction between a process component in one deployment unit and any other process component in any other deployment unit takes place through the respective service interfaces of the two process components.

4. The product of claim 3, wherein the deployment units comprise:

a customer relationship management deployment unit that includes the opportunity processing, the customer quote processing, the sales order processing, and the customer relationship auxiliaries processing process components;

a project management deployment unit that includes the project processing and the customer project invoice preparation process components;

a customer invoice deployment unit that includes the customer invoice processing process component;

a purchasing deployment unit that includes the purchase request processing, the purchase order processing, the goods and service acknowledgement, and the purchasing contract processing process components;

a supplier invoicing deployment unit that includes the supplier invoice processing process component;

a financials deployment unit that includes the due item processing, the accounting, the balance of foreign payment management, the costing, and the payment processing process components;

a human capital management deployment unit that includes the time and labor management process component;

an expense and reimbursement management deployment unit that includes the expense and reimbursement management process component; and

a production and site logistics execution deployment unit that includes the inventory processing process component.

5. The product of claim 1, wherein:

each of the process components includes one or more business objects; and

none of the business objects of any one of the process components interacts directly with any of the business objects included in any of the other process components.

6. The product of claim 5, wherein the business objects comprise a business process object.

7. The product of claim 5, wherein none of the business objects included in any one of the process components is included in any of the other process components.

8. The product of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of process agents, each process agent being either an inbound process agent or an outbound process agent, each inbound process agent being operable to receive a message from a corresponding inbound operation, each outbound process agent being operable to cause a corresponding outbound operation to send a message, each process agent being associated with exactly one process component.

9. The product of claim 8, wherein each inbound process agent comprises a first inbound process agent operable to start an execution of a business process step requested in a first inbound message by creating or updating at least one business object instance.

10. The product of claim 8, wherein the outbound process agents comprise a first asynchronous outbound process agent that is called after a business object that is associated with the first outbound process agent changes.

11. The product of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise synchronous and asynchronous operations.

12. A system, comprising:

a computer system comprising at least one hardware platform for executing computer instructions, the computer instructions structured as a plurality of process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, each hardware platform including at least one processor for executing the computer instructions;

at least one memory storing a plurality of process components executable by the respective processor of the particular hardware platform, each of the process components comprising a modular and application-independent package of reusable granular software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the business process comprising functionality exposed by the process component via at least one service interface, the plurality of process components including;

a purchase request processing process component that creates, changes, and processes purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

an opportunity processing process component for developing, processing, and monitoring of opportunities to initiate sales and service deals;

a customer quote processing process component for processing of quotes to customers offering delivery of goods according to specific terms;

a sales order processing process component for processing of customers'"'"' requests to seller for delivery of goods, on a specific date, for a specific quantity, and for a specific price;

a customer relationship auxiliaries processing process component for processing of supplementary functions that support customer relationship management;

a project processing process component for structuring, planning, and executing simple short-term measures and complex projects;

a customer project invoice preparation processing component for creating invoice requisitions for a customer project based on the expenses incurred, the project progress, and the invoicing agreements;

a customer invoice processing process component for invoicing of customers for the delivery of goods or the provision of services;

a purchase request processing process component for creating, changing, and processing purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

a purchase order processing process component for creating and maintaining purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a goods and service acknowledgement process component for confirming received goods or rendered services by an employee;

a purchasing contract processing process component that is responsible for creating and maintaining purchasing contracts;

a supplier invoice processing process component for managing and volume processing supplier invoices;

a due item processing process component for collecting, managing, and monitoring trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a balance of foreign payment management process component for collection, processing, and reporting of receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by the financial authority of a country;

an accounting process component for recording relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a costing process component for estimating costs for materials, projects, service products, sales order items, and production lots; and

a payment processing process component for processing and managing payments, associated communication with financial institutions, and providing the primary input for liquidity management; and

the memory further storing a plurality of service interfaces, each service interface associated with exactly one process component and comprising at least one operation, each operation being implemented for exactly one process component, the operations comprising inbound and outbound operations, the outbound operation for a first process component being operable to send a message to a second process component of the plurality of process components, the second process component having an inbound operation for receiving the message, the sending and receiving of messages between an inbound and an outbound operation defining a message-based pair-wise interaction between the respective process components of the respective operations, the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components including interactions between;

the sales order processing process component and the customer project invoice preparation process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the sales order processing process component and the customer project invoice preparation process component includes the transmission of;

a customer project invoicing agreement maintain request message from the sales order processing process component to the customer project invoice preparation process component, the customer project invoicing agreement maintain request message comprising a request for invoicing of a customer project; and

a customer project invoicing agreement maintain confirmation message from the customer project invoice preparation process component to the sales order processing process component, the customer project invoicing agreement maintain confirmation message comprising a confirmation to sales order processing that a customer invoice was created in response to a corresponding customer project invoicing agreement maintain request message;

the project processing process component and the costing process component where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the costing process component includes the transmission of;

a project cost estimate request message from the project processing process component to the costing process component, the project cost estimate request message comprising a notification to the costing project regarding creation or modification of at least one costing-relevant project element;

the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase request message from the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component, the purchase request message comprising a request for the purchase request processing process component to externally procure services for a project;

a purchase request confirmation message from the purchase request processing process component to the project processing process component, the purchase request confirmation message comprising a confirmation of creation, modification, or cancellation of a purchase request to the corresponding requester;

the project processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

a project expense view notification message from the project processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the project expense view notification message comprising a notification to project processing regarding a supplier invoice related to a particular project;

the customer project invoice preparation process component and the customer invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer project invoice preparation process component and the customer invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

a customer invoice request message from the customer project invoice preparation process component to the customer invoice processing process component, the customer invoice request message comprising a request for creation of a customer invoice request or update to a previously created customer invoice request; and

a customer invoice issued confirmation message from the customer invoice processing process component to the customer project invoice preparation process component, the customer invoice issued confirmation message comprising a confirmation of invoicing in response to the customer invoice request message;

the customer invoice processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer invoice processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

an invoice accounting notification message from the customer invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting regarding creation of invoices or credit memos; and

an invoice cancellation accounting notification from the customer invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice cancellation accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting of cancellation of a previously created invoice or credit memo;

the due item processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the due item processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

a due clearing notification message from the due item processing process component to the customer invoice processing process component, the due clearing notification message comprising a notification to customer invoice processing regarding clearing of trade receivables;

the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component includes the transmission of;

a foreign receivable payable notification message from the customer invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable notification message comprising a notification to customer invoice processing regarding an invoice to track a receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner; and

a foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message from the customer invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message comprising a notification to customer invoice processing regarding cancellation of an invoice to cancel information about a previously-tracked receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner;

the customer invoice processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer invoice processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

an invoice request message from the customer invoice processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the invoice request message comprising a request to create a supplier invoice corresponding to a customer invoice containing claims or liabilities for delivered goods or services rendered;

the payment processing process component and the due item processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the payment processing process component and the due item processing process component includes the transmission of;

a clearing request message from the payment processing process component to the due item processing process component, the clearing request message comprising a request to clear at least one payment within due item processing;

a clearing cancellation request message from the payment processing process component to the due item processing process component, the clearing cancellation request message comprising a request to cancel a previously sent clearing request from due item processing by reference;

a clearing confirmation message from the due item processing process component to the payment processing process component, the clearing confirmation message comprising a confirmation to payment processing associated with a previously-sent clearing request message or clearing cancellation request message ;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component includes the transmission of;

a due clearing notification message from the due item processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the due clearing notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding clearing of trade receivables;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component includes the transmission of;

a foreign receivable payable notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding an invoice to track a receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner; and

a foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding cancellation of an invoice to cancel information about a previously-tracked receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

an invoice accounting notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting regarding creation of invoices or credit memos; and

an invoice cancellation accounting notification from the supplier invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice cancellation accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting of cancellation of a previously created invoice or credit memo;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a sales and purchasing accounting notification message from the purchase order processing process component to the accounting process component, the sales and purchasing accounting notification message comprising a notification to accounting of creation, modification, or cancellation of a particular purchase order;

the purchase order processing process component and the sales order processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the sales order processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase order request message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order request message comprising a request to sales order processing to process a new purchase order;

a purchase order change request message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order change request message comprising a request to sales order processing to modify a previously-sent purchase order request;

a purchase order cancellation request message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order cancellation request message comprising a request to sales order processing to cancel a previously-sent purchase order; and

a purchase order confirmation message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order confirmation message comprising a confirmation of modifications to a customer of changes to a particular purchase order;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

an invoicing due notification message from the purchase order processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the invoicing due notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding a new, changed, or cancelled purchase order; and

a purchase order invoice values notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the purchase order processing process component, the purchase order invoice values notification message comprising a notification regarding actual values and qualities of a particular supplier invoice that is saved and contains a reference to a particular purchase order;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a goods and service acknowledgement notification message from the goods and service acknowledgement process component to the accounting process component, the goods and service acknowledgement notification message comprising a notification to accounting regarding creation of a goods and service acknowledgement relevant to accounting; and

a goods and service acknowledgement cancellation notification message from the goods and service acknowledgement process component to the accounting process component, the goods and service acknowledgement cancellation notification message comprising a notification to accounting regarding cancellation of a previously-sent goods and service acknowledgment;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

an invoicing due notification message from the goods and service acknowledgement process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the invoicing due notification message comprising a notification of invoicing-relevant data regarding delivered materials and services rendered to supplier invoice processing; and

the supplier invoice processing process component and the purchasing contract processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the purchasing contract processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchasing contract release notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the purchasing contract processing process component, the purchasing contract release notification message comprising a notification regarding posting of a supplier invoice that contains a reference to a particular purchasing contract.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of process components further includes;

a time and labor management process component for managing employees'"'"' planned working times, and the recording and valuating of work performed and absence times;

an expense and reimbursement management process component for managing and monitoring of expenses incurred by employees, and the reimbursement of expenses to employees; and

an inventory processing process component for managing inventory and recording of inventory changes, and providing services to maintain current stock, content and structure of logistic units and allocations; and

the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components further include interactions between;

a purchase order processing at customer process component and the sales order processing process component;

the time and labor management process component and the accounting process component;

the project processing process component and the time and labor management process component;

the time and labor management process component and the goods and services acknowledgement process component;

the expense and reimbursement management process component and the project processing process component;

the expense and reimbursement management process component and the accounting process component;

the inventory processing process component and the project processing process component;

the inventory processing process component and the accounting process component;

the due item processing process component and a due item processing at business partner process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the payment processing process component and a bank statement creation at bank process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component; and

the supplier invoice processing process component and a customer invoice processing at supplier process component.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein:

each of the process components includes one or more business objects; and

none of the business objects of any one of the process components interacts directly with any of the business objects included in any of the other process components.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein none of the business objects included in any one of the process components is included in any of the other process components.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of process agents, each process agent being either an inbound process agent or an outbound process agent, each inbound process agent being operable to receive a message from a corresponding inbound operation, each outbound process agent being operable to cause a corresponding outbound operation to send a message, each process agent being associated with exactly one process component.

17. The system of claim 12, the system comprising multiple hardware platforms, wherein:

the opportunity processing, the customer quote processing, the sales order processing, and the customer relationship auxiliaries processing process components are deployed on a first hardware platform;

the project processing and the customer project invoice preparation process components are deployed on a second hardware platform;

the customer invoice processing process component is deployed on a third hardware platform;

the purchase request processing, the purchase order processing, the goods and services acknowledgement, and the purchasing contract processing process components are deployed on a fourth hardware platform;

the supplier invoice processing process component is deployed on a fifth hardware platform;

the due item processing, the accounting, the balance of foreign payment management, the costing, and the payment processing process components are deployed on a sixth hardware platform;

the time and labor management process component is deployed on a seventh hardware platform;

the expense and reimbursement management process component is deployed on an eighth hardware platform; and

the inventory processing process component is deployed on a ninth hardware platform.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the first through the ninth hardware platforms are distinct and separate from each other.

19. A computer-implemented method for developing a computer software application, the method comprising the following steps performed by at least one processor:

obtaining, in a programmable computer system having at least one processor, a storage medium, and an interface, digital data representing an architectural design for a set of processes implementing an end-to-end application process, the design specifying a process component for each process in the set of processes, each of the process components comprising a modular and application-independent package of reusable granular software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the business process comprising functionality exposed by the process component, and the design further specifying a set of process component interactions based on messages transmitted between two or more of the process components, wherein;

the specified process components include;

an opportunity processing process component for developing, processing, and monitoring of opportunities to initiate sales and service deals;

a customer quote processing process component for processing of quotes to customers offering delivery of goods according to specific terms;

a sales order processing process component for processing of customers'"'"' requests to seller for delivery of goods, on a specific date, for a specific quantity, and for a specific price;

a customer relationship auxiliaries processing process component for processing of supplementary functions that support customer relationship management;

a project processing process component for structuring, planning, and executing simple short-term measures and complex projects;

a customer project invoice preparation processing component for creating invoice requisitions for a customer project based on the expenses incurred, the project progress, and the invoicing agreements;

a customer invoice processing process component for invoicing of customers for the delivery of goods or the provision of services;

a purchase request processing process component for creating, changing, and processing purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

a purchase order processing process component for creating and maintaining purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a goods and service acknowledgement process component for confirming received goods or rendered services by an employee;

a purchasing contract processing process component that is responsible for creating and maintaining purchasing contracts;

a supplier invoice processing process component for managing and volume processing supplier invoices;

a due item processing process component for collecting, managing, and monitoring trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a balance of foreign payment management process component for collection, processing, and reporting of receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by the financial authority of a country;

an accounting process component for recording relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a costing process component for estimating costs for materials, projects, service products, sales order items, and production lots; and

a payment processing process component for processing and managing payments, associated communication with financial institutions, and providing the primary input for liquidity management; and

the process component interactions include interactions between;

the sales order processing process component and the customer project invoice preparation process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the sales order processing process component and the customer project invoice preparation process component includes the transmission of;

a customer project invoicing agreement maintain request message from the sales order processing process component to the customer project invoice preparation process component, the customer project invoicing agreement maintain request message comprising a request for invoicing of a customer project; and

a customer project invoicing agreement maintain confirmation message from the customer project invoice preparation process component to the sales order processing process component, the customer project invoicing agreement maintain confirmation message comprising a confirmation to sales order processing that a customer invoice was created in response to a corresponding customer project invoicing agreement maintain request message;

the project processing process component and the costing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the costing process component includes the transmission of;

a project cost estimate request message from the project processing process component to the costing process component, the project cost estimate request message comprising a notification to the costing project regarding creation or modification of at least one costing-relevant project element;

the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase request message from the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component, the purchase request message comprising a request for the purchase request processing process component to externally procure services for a project;

a purchase request confirmation message from the purchase request processing process component to the project processing process component, the purchase request confirmation message comprising a confirmation of creation, modification, or cancellation of a purchase request to the corresponding requester;

the project processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

a project expense view notification message from the project processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the project expense view notification message comprising a notification to project processing regarding a supplier invoice related to a particular project;

the customer project invoice preparation process component and the customer invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer project invoice preparation process component and the customer invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

a customer invoice request message from the customer project invoice preparation process component to the customer invoice processing process component, the customer invoice request message comprising a request for creation of a customer invoice request or update to a previously created customer invoice request; and

a customer invoice issued confirmation message from the customer invoice processing process component to the customer project invoice preparation process component, the customer invoice issued confirmation message comprising a confirmation of invoicing in response to the customer invoice request message;

the customer invoice processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer invoice processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

an invoice accounting notification message from the customer invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting regarding creation of invoices or credit memos; and

an invoice cancellation accounting notification from the customer invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice cancellation accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting of cancellation of a previously created invoice or credit memo;

the due item processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the due item processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

a due clearing notification message from the due item processing process component to the customer invoice processing process component, the due clearing notification message comprising a notification to customer invoice processing regarding clearing of trade receivables;

the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component includes the transmission of;

a foreign receivable payable notification message from the customer invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable notification message comprising a notification to customer invoice processing regarding an invoice to track a receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner; and

a foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message from the customer invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message comprising a notification to customer invoice processing regarding cancellation of an invoice to cancel information about a previously-tracked receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner;

the customer invoice processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer invoice processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

an invoice request message from the customer invoice processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the invoice request message comprising a request to create a supplier invoice corresponding to a customer invoice containing claims or liabilities for delivered goods or services rendered;

the payment processing process component and the due item processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the payment processing process component and the due item processing process component includes the transmission of;

a clearing request message from the payment processing process component to the due item processing process component, the clearing request message comprising a request to clear at least one payment within due item processing;

a clearing cancellation request message from the payment processing process component to the due item processing process component, the clearing cancellation request message comprising a request to cancel a previously sent clearing request from due item processing by reference;

a clearing confirmation message from the due item processing process component to the payment processing process component, the clearing confirmation message comprising a confirmation to payment processing associated with a previously-sent clearing request message or clearing cancellation request message ;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component includes the transmission of;

a due clearing notification message from the due item processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the due clearing notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding clearing of trade receivables;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component includes the transmission of;

a foreign receivable payable notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding an invoice to track a receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner; and

a foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the balance of foreign payment management process component, the foreign receivable payable cancellation notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding cancellation of an invoice to cancel information about a previously-tracked receivable from or a payable to a non-resident business partner;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

an invoice accounting notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting regarding creation of invoices or credit memos; and

an invoice cancellation accounting notification from the supplier invoice processing process component to the accounting process component, the invoice cancellation accounting notification message comprising a notification informing accounting of cancellation of a previously created invoice or credit memo;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a sales and purchasing accounting notification message from the purchase order processing process component to the accounting process component, the sales and purchasing accounting notification message comprising a notification to accounting of creation, modification, or cancellation of a particular purchase order;

the purchase order processing process component and the sales order processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the sales order processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase order request message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order request message comprising a request to sales order processing to process a new purchase order;

a purchase order change request message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order change request message comprising a request to sales order processing to modify a previously-sent purchase order request;

a purchase order cancellation request message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order cancellation request message comprising a request to sales order processing to cancel a previously-sent purchase order; and

a purchase order confirmation message from the purchase order processing process component to the sales order processing process component, the purchase order confirmation message comprising a confirmation of modifications to a customer of changes to a particular purchase order;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

an invoicing due notification message from the purchase order processing process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the invoicing due notification message comprising a notification to supplier invoice processing regarding a new, changed, or cancelled purchase order; and

a purchase order invoice values notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the purchase order processing process component, the purchase order invoice values notification message comprising a notification regarding actual values and qualities of a particular supplier invoice that is saved and contains a reference to a particular purchase order;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a goods and service acknowledgement notification message from the goods and service acknowledgement process component to the accounting process component, the goods and service acknowledgement notification message comprising a notification to accounting regarding creation of a goods and service acknowledgement relevant to accounting; and

a goods and service acknowledgement cancellation notification message from the goods and service acknowledgement process component to the accounting process component, the goods and service acknowledgement cancellation notification message comprising a notification to accounting regarding cancellation of a previously-sent goods and service acknowledgment;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component includes the transmission of;

an invoicing due notification message from the goods and service acknowledgement process component to the supplier invoice processing process component, the invoicing due notification message comprising a notification of invoicing-relevant data regarding delivered materials and services rendered to supplier invoice processing; and

the supplier invoice processing process component and the purchasing contract processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the supplier invoice processing process component and the purchasing contract processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchasing contract release notification message from the supplier invoice processing process component to the purchasing contract processing process component, the purchasing contract release notification message comprising a notification regarding posting of a supplier invoice that contains a reference to a particular purchasing contract; and

generating, using the at least one processor on the computer system, a computer software application to perform the set of processes based on the obtained design including the specified process components and the specified process component interactions.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the specified process components further include;

a time and labor management process component for managing employees'"'"' planned working times, and the recording and valuating of work performed and absence times;

an expense and reimbursement management process component for managing and monitoring of expenses incurred by employees, and the reimbursement of expenses to employees; and

an inventory processing process component for managing inventory and recording of inventory changes, and providing services to maintain current stock, content and structure of logistic units and allocations; and

the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components further include interactions between;

a purchase order processing at customer process component and the sales order processing process component;

the time and labor management process component and the accounting process component;

the project processing process component and the time and labor management process component;

the time and labor management process component and the goods and services acknowledgement process component;

the expense and reimbursement management process component and the project processing process component;

the expense and reimbursement management process component and the accounting process component;

the inventory processing process component and the project processing process component;

the inventory processing process component and the accounting process component;

the due item processing process component and a due item processing at business partner process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the payment processing process component and a bank statement creation at bank process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component; and

the supplier invoice processing process component and a customer invoice processing at supplier process component.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein each process in the set of processes is a business process transforming a defined business input into a defined business outcome.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein obtaining digital data representing the architectural design further comprises editing the design before using the design.