Siebel COM-Based Interface

An Innovative Alternative to EIM

Siebel eBusiness Application provides an inbuilt solution to enable bi-directional batch data integration using the Siebel Enterprise Integration Manager (EIM). It interfaces with Siebels Data Objects layer reading and writing bulk data in and out of the Siebel database via the Siebel interface tables. With some amount of administration and additional interface tables Siebel EIM offers a popular out-of-thebox solution. This paper explores an alternative method of secure data loading which leverages the exibility and maintainability of using Siebel VB COM objects.

Siebel COM Based Interface An Innovative Alternative to EIM

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About the Author

P Sridhar Sridhar has been working as a CRM consultant with TCS for more than 4 years. Sridhar has been leading various Siebel projects for key clients. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration.

Siebel COM Based Interface An Innovative Alternative to EIM

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction 2. Siebel EIM 3. An Alternative Approach to EIM 4. Required Setup for Implementing Scenario 5. Implementation Steps 6. Other Alternatives 7. Conclusion 3 3 4 5 6 7 7

Siebel COM Based Interface An Innovative Alternative to EIM

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Introduction
One of the greatest information management challenges facing any organization is to maintain a consistent 360-degree view of the customer. Even though there are several applications for managing customer relationships or a CRM suite like Siebel eBusiness Applications, there is still a need for rich data integration with the back-ofce systems. Siebel eBusiness Application provides an inbuilt solution to enable bi-directional batch data integration using the Siebel Enterprise Integration Manager (EIM) to interface with Siebels Data Objects layer. This enables reading and writing bulk data in and out of the Siebel database via the Siebel interface tables. While EIM offers an out of the box solution to the batch data integration needs, it demands overheads in terms of administering and maintaining additional interface tables. The focus of this paper is to explore Siebel VB Scripting using COM Interface as an alternative approach for secure data loading into the Siebel Database. Siebel VB provides for in-built methods and functions to invoke Siebel objects through the COM interface and act much like the data entry via the user interface. These invocations are achieved through a program external to the Siebel application.

Siebel EIM
Siebel EIM manages the bidirectional exchange of data between the Siebel databases and other corporate databases. This exchange of information is accomplished through intermediary (interface) tables called EIM tables. The EIM tables act as a staging area between the Siebel application database and other databases. Direct modication of Siebel base tables is not supported because there is a high risk of corrupting the data integrity since the logical relationships that exist within the Siebel base tables are many and complex. Data ow in EIM is shown in the gure below.

The Siebel database contains Siebel interface tables and Siebel base tables. EIM transports the data between the interface tables and the base tables. Any SQL ancillary program utility can be used to transport the data to/from the interface tables from/to a non-Siebel database.

Siebel COM Based Interface An Innovative Alternative to EIM

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An Alternative Approach To EIM

Siebel COM Data Control interface allows external applications to access remote Siebel Business objects. Siebel VB can act as a bidirectional application interface because Siebel supports the usage of Siebel VB to carry out Data manipulation. It also provides bi-directional access to Siebel Business Object Layer through Siebel COM methods. It refers the Siebel database through the Siebel Business Layer just like the Siebel User Interface layer. Hence it ensures uniform data interactions through User Interface and data load. The gure below shows how external applications use Siebel COM Data Control to communicate with the Siebel application.

A sample implementation scenario is considered for explaining this alternate (usage of Siebel VB) approach. Consider a scenario where an organization has multiple sources of data (such as external purchased lists, campaign questionnaires, third party feed, web forms etc.) to be loaded in to Siebel. The format of data varies with the source. Receiving data from multiple sources through a standard automated process for data consolidation is a very common requirement for many organizations. This can be loaded onto the Siebel database after applying all the necessary validations and business rules.

Siebel COM Based Interface An Innovative Alternative to EIM

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Required Setup for Implementing Scenario

1. Designate a secured ftp site with separate folders for different sources to receive the data les. 2. Design a Standard format (for example, an MS Excel le) as superset of columns and data from all data sources. 3. Map the data feed columns to Siebel Business Component Fields in the Standard format. 4. Create database tables to store Siebel Business Object/Siebel Business Component entity mappings (BO Table) and the Siebel Business Component/Business Component eld entity mappings (BC Table). These tables will be the driving force for the complete loading process. The target Business Objects, Business Components and eld mappings are dened here. The VB program scans through these tables to determine the entities to be processed. As the data/entity mappings are stored in the database, the super user (instead of a developer) can take care of future changes in the business requirements. Enhancements to include additional entities and elds can be done without any code change. This provides a reusable, exible and sustainable design. 5. Write a VB program using COM Data control technique for loading data from the standard format data le to Siebel database using the mappings dened in the above tables. 6. Apply Business Rules, if any, and schedule the VB program as required.

All input parameters such as cfg le name, Login parameters for Siebel application, ftp site and database should be dened in an external text le (.ini le) or in the registry or in a database table. Hence the same generic program can be used for different applications or instances by changing the parameters externally.

Siebel COM Based Interface An Innovative Alternative to EIM

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Implementation Steps
The ow diagram given below explains the program ow using a single record example.

Siebel COM Based Interface An Innovative Alternative to EIM

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Program Flow for Single Record 1. The program obtains the set of parameters from the parameters le/database table. 2. Data feed les are downloaded from the pre-dened ftp location and are converted into a pre-dened standard format. 3. Data is read from the standard format le and stored in an array (for example, Data Array), using the mapping dened in the BC Table. 4.Processing starts with retrieving the list of Business Objects to be invoked from the BO Table in the order of the sequence number. 5.The list of business components for the rst BO is retrieved from the BC Table. 6.The list of mandatory elds is retrieved for each of the Business Components and the data feed records with not null values in all the mandatory columns will undergo duplication check with the Siebel DB before it is processed further. For example, updating an existing record or creating a new record for the BC. Note: Records from the data feed having null valued mandatory columns will be rejected and entered in the Error log table or the error log le. 7.Details of loading such as total count of records, count of rejected records, etc. would be entered into the Load Log Table or the Load log le. 8. Load Report would be generated from the Load Log and Error Log table or le.

Siebel COM Based Interface An Innovative Alternative to EIM

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Comparison Between Siebel VB And EIM

Other Alternatives
Other than Siebel VB, data imports can also be handled through custom eScripts using Business Services, Workows and EAI. Data loading is direct (that is, from a at or .XML le) without going through intermediate staging tables. eScripts have their own methods to invoke Siebel objects to do data validation and manipulation. However, eScripting is not recommended when the volume, variety and velocity of data loading is high.

Conclusion
EIM offers an innovative, secure, scalable and robust method to import or export bulk data. Siebel VB reduces complexity, ensures ease of deployment, optimizes cross platform business processes by adhering to a standards-based architecture that needs to be factored in before any given choice is made. Implementation teams need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages on a case-by-case basis before arriving at the nal decision.

Siebel COM Based Interface An Innovative Alternative to EIM

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About TCS CRM Practice

The CRM practice brings the right set of proprietary tools, methodologies, knowledge assets and alliances to partner meaningfully with leading organizations to support their CRM initiatives. Leveraging on extensive experience, the CRM practice helps organizations right from establishing a strategic vision to implementing and sustaining the CRM application. CRM consultants have worked with some leading global enterprises such as GE, Target, Bank of America, ING, Verizon, AXA, Merrill Lynch, British Telecom and AIG.

About Tata Consultancy Services

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is among the leading global information technology consulting, services and business process outsourcing organizations. Pioneer of the exible global delivery model for IT services that enables organizations to operate more efciently and produce more value, TCS focuses on delivering technology led business solutions to its international customers across varied industries.

For more information contact

Raj Agrawal Global CRM Practice Head Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Akruti Business Port, Road No. 13, MIDC, Andheri (E) Mumbai 400 093 Phone: +91-22-55505555 Fax: +91-22-55506855 Email: raj.agrawal@tcs.com Website : www.tcs.com

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Siebel COM Based Interface An Innovative Alternative to EIM

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