The Spoke Unit is a centrally managed component for the Business Integration Server. This solution allows the greatest potential for collaboration among the small partner integration options as the Spoke has the ability to integrate with the small partner's back-end applications. Practical uses of Hub & Spoke architectures include:

• Inter-organization Data Distribution reducing internal communication costs associated with data delivery by utilizing Internet protocols while gaining guaranteed delivery and message tracking 
• Automating and on-boarding trading partners that are unable to afford complete B2B solutions
• Rolling out EDIINT AS2 initiatives with trading partners

At a high level, there are two key components. The Hub solution which is fully integrated with the SEEBURGER BIS allows the larger organization to define a series of documents (EDI or XML) which they would like to utilize for electronic trading. These documents are made available to the smaller partners via the "Spoke" component. The "Spoke" is a small down-loadable Java application that allows the smaller partner to do translation, communication, and integration.

Additional functionality includes:

• Hub and Spoke communicate via the Internet, so there are no VAN charges
• Time or event driven automatic transmission and reception of electronic messages
• JAVA Web Start based setup/usage guarantees automated and centralized versioning
• No instant-on internet connection necessary, automated data exchange possible through mailboxes