Abstract: A system and method are provided that employ web service applications to obtain up-to-date information from a plurality of distributed sources in substantially real-time over a network. The system includes web service applications that reside at a plurality of distributed devices. One or more client terminal devices submit data requests, which are broadcast over the network to the plurality of distributed devices. The web service applications receive data requests and authenticate the source of the data request. If authenticated, the web service applications analyze the data request and retrieve information corresponding to the data request from the distributed devices. The retrieved information is forwarded to associated servers and merged into up-to-date reports or other documents.