network management solution, this ele- ment might have an active status in the inventory management module when Fundamentals of EMS, NMS and OSS/BSS the data is not synchronized. The data synchronization solution routinely checks for discrepancies and will ensure that the network and inventory data base are synchronized. 71. Integration tools: These tools enable operators to quickly integrate diverse support systems and network elements. EAI tools like Vitria, WebM, and Tibco are examples of integration tools. Electronic integration of support sys- tems is required for an automated back-office in large-scale operations. Tools like EAI creates an open data exchange platform optimized for heterogeneous interprocess communication. These tools are not limited to OSS and can be used to support communica- tion between software systems in other domains also. Compliancy to standards can significantly reduce integration costs and minimize the integration effort. 23.3 Conclusion With evolution in technology new and improved, networks are coming up in the market and there is an increased demand for management solutions that can man- age these next generation networks or its elements by hiding the inherent complex- ity of the infrastructure. The capital and operational expenditure in managing the networks keeps on increasing when the OSS/BSS framework is not supporting the advances in network and service technology. The problem most service providers face is considerable effort to have an OSS/BSS framework that can manage a new network and effectively bill the customer to yield business benefits. There are multiple OSS/BSS applications that are discussed in this chapter. These applications makes it easy to manage the network and services in a mul- tiservice, multitechnology, and multivendor environment. Standardizing bodies are coming up with standards and guidelines in developing these management solutions. Current developments in telecom industry have lead to the addition of new networks and expansion of existing networks 