Generally speaking, business applications today come in two types: desktop applications designed to run over the LAN and “on demand” browser based applications designed to run over the internet. The problem is neither one of these solutions really meet the need of today’s “connected” business.
Interprise Suite bridges this gap giving businesses the connectivity they want, without sacrificing the performance and rich user interface they have come to expect from a desktop application. Whether a user is connecting to Interprise Suite via the LAN or Internet, Interprise Suite’s state-of-the-art “Smart Client” technology will automatically optimize itself based on the connection method.
For companies that do not need connectivity, Interprise Suite can be installed on a local area network just like any other Client / Server application.
Wide Area Networking and Why Smart Client?
Most companies today need a mobile solution. They have branches and mobile workers. A product that allows them to have full functionality and the same user interface wherever they are will give the user much better productivity. All systems in the market place today are a compromise in some area to get this functionality until now.
Interprise Suite is the first of a new breed of software applications called “Smart Client” or “SOA” applications that bring together the best aspects of a traditional desktop application with its rich user interface, amendability, easy printing and a browser based application with its advanced internet connectivity. This allows Interprise Suite to provide the best of both worlds allowing users to use the application whether in the office, at home or on the move.
The Yankee Group released a study at the current state of the SMB Accounting Market and based on its research “…urges vendors to consider redesigning products to embrace a service-oriented architecture [Smart Client] and give customers a choice of on-demand or on-premise delivery models…” In that report they continued, “the vendor overcoming these obstacles [the need for applications suited for the demands of anytime, anywhere access for the mobile workforce] will be well positioned to seize future growth opportunities”.
We are in the fortunate position to have an application that does this right here right now. What is your existing software vendor doing about this? It’s not a feature than can be added later as it cuts straight to the heart of the application design.
There are applications in the marketplace that allow wide area networking (remote access) functionality but there is always some down side to the implementation. They also mean additional cost, complexity, and the actual user interface does not give the exact functionality of the LAN version like limitations when printing. They are typical heavy footprint applications and usually have good user interfaces, are easier to amend and are responsive. To make these work remotely or over a wide area network requires Terminal Services or Citrix as you get more users. There is a cost and complexity to use these products as well as limitations like printing when using them.
Some of the above have a web client, which in reality is the worst of all worlds as it is effectively 2 different applications to manage, host, amend, implement, learn and support. A lot of the time the functionality is different as well due to the nature of the interfaces. A user would be better off with Citrix in reality at least they are using the same application. The web client suffers from the same issues that other web-based applications have. Bandwidth is usually a real issue in these type of applications as the system is usually hosted on customer site.
The best points about a browser based application are its easy to deploy, update and has a broad reach. However web based applications do hurt useability as data entry is not as easy as in a desktop application, it must have an Internet connection, speed is dependent on the bandwidth available, printing usually means printing to pdf first and amendability is limited. Also a hosted only option is a typical restriction so a user with a reasonable number of users cannot have a LAN option. You are at the hosted application companies mercy when it comes to price increases and service.
In the real world if a user had the option they would have a Local Area Network (LAN) solution that also allows connectivity to other branches and remote users with the same user interface, functionality and easy deployment. Interprise allows the LAN users to run over the LAN and the remote users over the Internet in this way. I.e. the best of both worlds. You could rent a hosted server and run the application if your preference is hosted. This means you can shop around for better service and price for your hosted server.
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"Certainly, smart-client environments are the absolute future" - Bank Technology News
- Gartner estimates that by 2010, 80% of midrange businesses will be deploying SOA [smart client applications] to enable them to benefit from compelling business advantages including: Improved business agility, Reduced software development costs, More efficient, streamlined business processes and Simpler application integration.
- "Smart Client Applications: The Best of both worlds - The Desktop and The Web" - Jupiter Research
- "Through smart clients, organisations can take advantage of a powerful combination: the traditional productivity of business applications and new web based technology that can help companies customize and streamline information access to create more connected, responsive and agile businesses" - Microsoft
- Giga information group predict a significant increase in Smart Client use within 3 years, replacing traditional fat clients and thin clients.