The evolution of web-based optimisation: from ASP to e-service

In many application domains, optimisation, decision analysis and other analytic models are often embedded as a decision engine within the respective business processes. In order to respond effectively to global as well as regional competition, successful companies have started to formalise and improve their Business Process Management (BPM) procedures. In this paper, we study recent trends in the provision of optimisation tools and optimisation based decision support systems as remote applications. We also analyse the evolution from the Application Service Provision (ASP) model to the e-Services model, and we illustrate the importance of distributed optimisation components in the effective deployment of analytic applications in businesses. As implementation examples of these paradigms, we provide an overview of the OSP and the WEBOPT projects, which exploit web-service technology to deliver optimisation based applications and optimisation components in a distributed environment. Patrick Valente, Centre for the Analysis of Risk and Optimisation Modelling Applications: CARISMA, Dept of Mathematical Sciences and Department of Economics and Finance, Brunel University, West London, UK, also OptiRisk Systems, UK. email: [email protected] Gautam Mitra Centre for the Analysis of Risk and Optimisation Modelling Applications: CARISMA, Dept of Mathematical Sciences and Department of Economics and Finance, Brunel University, West London, UK, also OptiRisk Systems, UK. email: email: [email protected]