A system and method are provided for executing a request from a client application. Unlike conventional networks in which a client application transmits several data access transactions to several server applications, the client application of these preferred embodiments merely sends a single request to a gateway application, which converts the request into appropriate data access transactions. The preferred embodiments provide the advantage of allowing a client application to communicate with a plurality of server applications without knowing the server application's format or syntax requirements. Further, unlike environments in which a client application compiles data received from each contacted server application, in the environment of the preferred embodiments, the client application is presented with a single integrated response.