IBM WebSphere Partner Gateway's hub community consists of three entities connected to a central hub for the real-time exchange of business documents: Community Operator, Community Manager, and Participants.
The Community Operator is a company responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of the hub community. The Community Operator maintains the hardware and software infrastructure of the hub community on a 24x7 basis. Responsibilities include:
The role of the Community Operator can be contracted to a third party company within the hub community, or the Community Manager who purchased WebSphere Partner Gateway can elect to perform the function of the Community Operator.
The Community Manager is the primary company and driving force within the hub community. This company is responsible for the purchase and construction of the hub community, including definition of the electronic business processes transacted between them and their Community participants.
The Community Manager can also choose to be the Community Operator.
Participants are the companies that do business with the Community Manager via the hub community. Participants must complete a configuration process to connect to the hub community. Once connected, participants can exchange electronic business documents with the Community Manager.