Cloud Computing Meets Plug and Play Interfaces– Introducing the “PIE”

The PilotFish Interface Exchange (PIE) Gives Any Entity Within the Insurance Value Chain the Ability to Rapidly Share Interfaces, Tweak Them to Their Own Needs and With One Click Promote Them to Production

MIDDLETOWN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PilotFish Technology is pleased to announce the release of the PilotFish Interface Exchange (PIE) to the insurance industry. The PIE is a Web-application that enables any entity in the Insurance Ecosystem to easily and rapidly share interfaces and interface components that were developed using the PilotFish XCS eiConsole. With the PIE, each entity need only be responsible for the “tweaks” particular to integrating their business without having to reinvent what is common and can be shared throughout their industry. These entities can achieve integration of all trading partners decades sooner than would otherwise be possible.

The PIE builds on several prior PilotFish products. These include the XCS eiPlatform* (the Java runtime), the XCS eiConsole (the graphical IDE), the XCS eiConsole for ACORD and the Validation Server (an automated Validation and Certification component). And now - the PIE.

Central to the PIE is the PilotFish XCS eiConsole, an integrated development environment (IDE) for the creation, deployment and management of interfaces. Through a graphical interface with a structured “assembly line” process, the developer has the ability to rapidly and reliably develop end-to-end interfaces. Configurable connectivity, transformation and data manipulation components (easily extended with an open API) enable interfacing any system with any other system, regardless of data format, communication protocol or location. To promote interfaces configured by the XCS eiConsole into production, a user simply copies the configuration files generated by the IDE to the XCS eiPlatform where they run in unattended mode.

With the PIE, users can now easily share or "exchange" these configuration files. You simply select the “interface” you want to share from within the XCS eiConsole IDE. The PIE’s intuitive Wizard opens; you can choose to share the interface with individuals, groups or publically on the Web; decide whether to charge a license fee or offer a free license; add any attachments (brochures, videos, documentation and more) and the interface is immediately uploaded to the PIE. There is no fee or commission to ANY entity charged by PilotFish for listing on the PIE and special developer licenses are available solely for building and publishing interfaces on the PIE.

To access interfaces published to the PIE, you simply download the interface from the PIE to your XCS eiConsole. Once downloaded, it behaves just like any other interface you have configured yourself. Make your own "Tweaks", copy it to your XCS eiPlatform to promote it to production and you are all set to "Go" – weeks, months, even years of effort can now be accomplished in hours or days.

The release of the PIE dovetails perfectly with ACORD’s Plug and Play Consortium. PilotFish has been an active member and contributor, has architected the Plug and Play Message Monitor and already configured and tested all of the messages to be delivered.

In a separate agreement between ACORD and PilotFish Technology, ACORD has agreed to participate in the PIE, and to offer and share ACORD Plug and Play message configuration files so that these templates may be downloaded, “tweaked” and deployed to production. “PilotFish is leading by example with their PIE, work with our Plug and Play group, and use of ACORD Templates. They are showing that action is essential and ACORD standards implementation benefits not only their company, but all of their customers,” said Lloyd Chumbley, Vice President, Standards, ACORD.

“The combination of the PIE, Plug and Play Message templates, the ACORD Testing and Certification Facility, the XCS eiConsole and the XCS eiPlatform, provide a total solution to achieving the insurance industry’s objective of standards-based integration.” commented Neil Schappert, President of PilotFish Technology. “Every entity within the insurance value chain can achieve seamless integration now regardless of whether they are communicating with legacy systems, dealing with extensions, different ACORD versions, operating systems or communication protocols.”

Companies interested in publishing on the PIE and/or VAR agreements should contact Briana Marsh at PilotFish at 860 632-9900 x 511.

To learn more about the PIE visit: http://www.integration-tools.com

ACORD Members: Download Your FREE XCS eiConsole for ACORD License*

(a $10,000 Value) at the ACORD Site Third-Party Tools

Non-Members: Download a 90-Day Free Trial

*The ACORD TCF (Testing and Certification Facility) and Plug and Play Message Harness are both PilotFish XCS eiPlatform products.

About PilotFish Technology

Founded in 2001 and based in Middletown, CT, PilotFish Technology provides comprehensive software and services to enable the integration of disparate systems using XML standards. For more information, visit www.pilotfishtechnology.com, or for press or marketing inquiries, contact Monika Vainius at 860 632-9900 x 303.

PilotFishBriana Marsh, 860 632-9900 x 511
or
www.pilotfishtechnology.com
or
press or marketing inquiriesMonika Vainius, 860 632-9900 x 303

Source: PilotFish Technology