[1] Applications and documents can be extended to add enterprise-specific features, and different line of business (LOB) systems can be integrated with Microsoft Office to make the LOB system more accessible.
OBAs employ a composite application architecture and link the 2007 Microsoft Office System applications running on the desktop to custom and off-the-shelf Line of Business (LOB) applications running on remote servers.
OBAs can be developed to meet a multitude of customer needs.
ISVs and integrators can build applications consistent with the OBA paradigm, and leverage the existing IT investments of their customers to deliver more end-user productivity.
Microsoft developed an OBA application, in cooperation with SAP, that is called Duet.