In one embodiment, a method for correlating web service messages includes operating an autonomous software agent. This agent can detect a correlation key of a message, and then associate the message with the detected correlation key while a transaction is pending. During the transaction, the message can be accessed to retrieve information. In another embodiment, the method includes further operating said autonomous software agent to acquire a subset of rules governing execution of the transaction. The agent can be configured to intercept a noncompliant message associated with the correlation key. If it does, the agent can modify the noncompliant message to comply the said subset of rules.