VerticalSuite technology moves application customization and
personalization out of the "black box" and into the hands
of the user. Unlike coded software, VerticalSuite applications
can be changed over time with no additional IT cost. This
is due to VerticalSuite's special design tools, which allow
users to customize and personalize their applications directly-using
data. From simple changes such as adding a new field to a
data entry form, to more complex changes such as adding a
new business rule, VerticalSuite provides a new way to translate
business requirements into instant application functionality.
VerticalSuite applications are delivered via the web, eliminating
the worry of software maintenance, distribution and upgrades.
The Java technology that generates the user interface of the
application is maintained by VerticalSuite and provided through
the browser when the user logs in. The actual business processes
and best practices of the application are embodied in your
metadata, which may be kept securely at your site without
risk of unauthorized users accessing your information.
VerticalSuite provides Java technology that allows users to
rapidly create sophisticated web-based applications without
generating any software code. This breakthrough technology
is founded on the concept that the business functionality,
including business rules, of an application can be separated
from its technology. In VerticalSuite, the business functionality
is maintained in the form of data stored in metadata tables.
These metadata tables take the business abstractions inherent
in data entry forms, reports and worklists and reduces them
to database objects.
There are two types of metadata in VerticalSuite: table/logic
metadata and application metadata. The table/logic metadata
stores information about the user's business database, specifically
its data dictionary and logic. The application metadata stores
information about what a user wants an application to look
like and do. The metadata tables are created by VerticalSuite
tools, which allow users to link their database to VerticalSuite
and start configuring their business functionality online
and in real time. There is no new software code created in
this process. During runtime, metadata interpreters in the
application interface use Java business objects to read the
metadata and dynamically generate the required screens and
behavior.
In VerticalSuite, there is a metadata interpreter for each
type of function (e.g. data entry, report, worklist, etc.).
The application interface that contains these interpreters
is delivered via the web and accessed through the VerticalSuite
login. All customization and personalization of an application
occurs in the metadata, which you can maintain at your site
or have hosted on a secure VerticalSuite server.
VerticalSuite is a full-featured application environment that
can be applied to virtually any business requirement. For
those accustomed to developing applications using conventional
development tools or methods, VerticalSuite is an entirely
new approach to solutions creation. Using data to dynamically
inform the user interface, VerticalSuite provides all of the
generic features and functions of an enterprise data management
application - already coded and ready to use on the web. These
business-ready features and functions fall into three groups,
Business User, Administrator and Designer.
Business User
The Business User features and functions cover what a typical
user needs on a day-to-day basis. This includes tracking work
tasks, entering and analyzing data, generating reports, and
scheduling jobs. All of these capabilities are ready-made
and instantly available via the web.
Administrator
The Administrator features and functions cover what an application
administrator needs to support day-to-day business use. This
includes monitoring jobs; importing, exporting and archiving
data; setting up and maintaining security; and setting up
and maintaining messaging services. Metadata maintenance tools
are also included for creating, loading, transferring and
maintaining table, logic and application metadata. All of
these capabilities are ready-made and instantly available
via the web.
Designer
The Designer features and functions cover what an application
configurer needs to create business functionality. This includes
design tools for menus, worklists, workflow, tables, data
entry forms, reports, queries, and business rules. All of
these capabilities are ready-made and instantly available
via the web.
- VerticalSuite is a full-featured application environment
that can be applied to virtually any business requirement.
- The use of existing databases provides users with the
ability to develop applications in a matter of days.
- Customization is easy and no longer do users have to
change their business processes to match the application.
- Applications are developed from the ground up as web-native
applications.
- Innovative Java-based technology enables custom applications
in 60 to 80 percent less time and 60 to 80 percent reduction
in costs associated with traditional development solutions.
- The application and the software that runs it enables
quick customization from any database by embodying the
application in metadata, rather than executable byte code.
- Anyone can develop applications since the user does
not have to do any programming - they just have to understand
the business.
- No code to modify, recompile, test, debug, distribute
or maintain.
- Business processes and best practices of the application
are embodied in your metadata which can be hosted securely
or fully implemented behind your firewall.