A communication system (110) for connecting in real-time an Internet-based network interface (130) to a plurality of backend systems (136), each of the plurality of backend systems having an associated backend communications protocol and requiring an associated backend data format. The system includes a router (112) for receiving a job (124) having a front-end data format and a front-end communications protocol from the Internet-based network interface. The router selects one or more backend systems from the plurality of backend systems as a function of attributes of the job for delivery of the job to the one or more backend systems. The system also includes a plurality of service agents (114, 116, 118), each in communication with an associated one of the plurality of backend systems and configured to translate and reformat the job prior to delivery to the one or more backend systems.