an architecture for a computing environment wherein transactions preferably model the enterprise and its business processes directly , allowing third - party systems , like erp , supply chain and web portals , to be more loosely coupled . because the system will often be distributed throughout the enterprise , reliance on central critical servers is reduced . the system of the present invention can also fill - in gaps in the functionality of legacy systems , as well as invoke complex applications and direct automated systems . the system offers an architecture where users can model their particular enterprises in business terms so that disparate applications can be linked without custom programming .