SAP NetWeaver Business Rules Management
Externalize Critical Business Logic for Enhanced Flexibility

by Volker Stiehl, Chief Solution Expert, SAP AG (July 2010)

Discover how the Rete engine in SAP NetWeaver Business Rules Management helps you define business logic — without the need for IT assistance. As this logic is encapsulated and handled in a dedicated environment, business experts can adapt rules during runtime to react to changing market conditions.

Categories: Administration

Key Concept

Rete (a Latin term meaning “net”) is the name of an algorithm for pattern matching. You define Rete-based rules by writing if-then statements. Each if-then statement represents one rule.

Business rules play an important role in your day-by-day business activities. They help to enforce company policies or business guidelines. Several typical business scenarios can be handled much faster due to the efficient handling of rules by automated rules engines. Think of all the business scenarios that can now be covered by using rule-based solutions:

Decision rules with the goal to automate complex decisions such as distributing workload by using a rule-based task assignment logic considering aspects such as availability and expertise of employees. Another typical use case for decision rules is the optimization of transportation logistics supporting truck loading and inventory management.
Validation rules for checking the contents and validity of data coming in via messages or forms. Another use case for validation rules is the verification of an applicant’s eligibility for certain product offerings, for a credit card, or loan.
Recommendation rules allowing the guidance of the buying behavior by personalized Web sites and product recommendations
Calculation rules for calculating sales commissions, prices, discounts, and rebates
Alert rules identifying suspicious or critical business events such as fraud, or the drop or increase of stock prices by a certain percentage in a certain time

As this list indicates, rules are almost everywhere. Handling them efficiently means huge benefits for companies as rules typically change frequently.

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SAP NetWeaver Business Rules Management Externalize Critical Business Logic for Enhanced Flexibility

Would you like to see the full version of this article?

SAP NetWeaver Business Rules Management
Externalize Critical Business Logic for Enhanced Flexibility