Two leading specialists in business process automation and enterprise application integration have joined forces to offer local authorities a way to deliver e-Government through a simplified, incremental, low-cost and low-risk IT strategy.

The combined expertise of Green Hat Consulting and Sonic Software provides a flexible solution to councils’ need for a standards-based, Authority-wide IT framework delivering joined-up services and processes. The solution is predicated on a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), a flexible network for integration of IT services that allows incremental development and enhancement.

The framework enables authorities to achieve interoperability of their IT systems across the organisation while providing the flexibility required to adapt their systems to meet changing demands, and without removing departmental autonomy. The two major benefits are the simpler approach to system development, which reduces delivery time, and the opportunity to re-use existing IT services.

Mark Glading, Green Hat Consulting’s e-Government Business Manager, says, "e-Government can help local authorities meet the challenges of efficiency and performance targets, but without standard models or frameworks for implementation, e-Government can be a challenge in itself. Authorities have been left to figure it out for themselves. But our SOA approach, based on Sonic’s Enterprise Service Bus, gives authorities the flexibility to align their IT assets to meet the demands they face, quickly but through evolution rather than revolution. That reduces cost, risk and complexity, and helps to achieve joined-up service delivery in shorter, faster and more manageable increments."

Sonic Software’s Public Sector Accounts Manager Marc Selzer says, "An SOA-based approach is the only way most local authorities can meet both e-government and business objectives, with existing technology, skills and resources. The Enterprise Service Bus is the ideal platform for service-based integration, but getting the architecture right is equally important. The combination of Green Hat Consulting and Sonic Software represents a unique opportunity for local authorities to finally achieve the level of agility that has typically been out of reach of public sector budgets and resources."

Sonic Software is the inventor and leading provider of the enterprise service bus (ESB), an enabling communication and integration infrastructure to support SOA. Green Hat Consulting has been providing systems integration expertise to large organisations since 1996. Their free White Paper, "Implementing e-Government", can be downloaded from www.greenhatconsulting.com

The two companies are exhibiting jointly at the Local e-Government Expo.

For further information please contact:
   Mark Glading
   phone: 020 7936 9495
   email: mark.glading@greenhatconsulting.com

About Green Hat Consulting
Green Hat Consulting is a business process automation and systems integration company, specialising in the finance, energy and telecommunications sectors. Our clients include some of the largest European and American investment banks, stock exchanges and providers of trading systems.

In addition, we have delivered fully integrated process automation ("STP") solutions to major clients in the finance, telecommunications, energy trading and travel & logistic sectors across Europe. Our expertise in developing and delivering industry solutions which automate and integrate the key business processes in that sector has enabled our clients to enjoy real improvements in efficiency and productivity.

Green Hat Consulting's products include feeds and adapters, monitoring and administration tools and front-ends. Our bespoke development service accommodates individual requirements.

For more information about our products and services, or to download free software and tools, visit our website: www.greenhatsoftware.com.

Green Hat, Aldersgate House, 135-137 Aldersgate Street, London, EC1A 4JA
phone: +44 (0) 20 7776 4700, fax: +44 (0) 20 7776 4720
www.greenhatsoftware.com.

Green Hat Consulting and the Green Hat Consulting globes logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Green Hat Consulting Ltd. All other product and company names and marks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners and are mentioned for identification purposes only.