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Mobilizing the Back Office: Web-enabling a Desktop Application
Clearly, the Web environment has changed business processes. New technologies have emerged and are designed to make the jobs of IT administrators and end users easier. Before web-enabled technology, administrators were only able to install a product update or a service release on a client desktop. End users, such as field workers, lost significant productivity time as a result of inaccessibility to information stored in client/server applications.
In today�s web-enabled market, administrators and end users can connect to a remote server via Internet and run all applications from anywhere in the world at anytime of day. Web-enabled client servers allow for minimal deployment while maintenance by IT staff and end users are much more effective at their daily tasks as a result.
Mainstream web-enabled software products are entirely Web-browser based. Basically, end users no longer need to manually install specialized software. Web-browser based products use a scripting language or browser plug-ins. Examples of scripting languages include PHP, ASP, Perl, Python and Ruby. Examples of browser plug-ins include a Java applet or an ActiveX component, which is used to make the client connection.
There are many matters to consider before converting a company�s client/server application to a fully-integrated Web-enabled application. Read on to learn the benefits and considerations.
BENEFITS
Implementing web applications is a feasible opportunity due to the inherent reliability of the Internet, expanding bandwidth capacity, availability of wireless access, improvements in security architectures�such as VPN's and firewall-protected computer systems--and the ever improving cost versus performance curve of computer components. These advances allow an organization to realize significant benefits, some of which are:
- The ability to access an application anytime and anywhere without incurring the cost and complexity of alternative
- Low cost development tools such as MySQL (free) and PHP (free)
- Low support costs associated with deploying application updates, maintenance, and troubleshooting
CONSIDERATIONS
When it comes to computer intensive job requirements, such as graphic design or software development, the traditional client/server architecture is the best mechanism. Its feature-rich user interface has a large impact on the user experience, efficiency and application performance. By having the program reside on the end user's computer, more functionality is possible above and beyond the user interface style.
Other web-enabling technology considerations include:
- Concern about client-sessions being confused, hacked or abused. While web-enabled applications are not completely hack proof, web applications can be designed to be very secure; current technologies provide protection for a wide range of intrusions.
- It is difficult to access outside hardware and devices. While this is possible, it requires special engineering and configuration efforts.
- There are potential instability issues due to the installation of the desktop application�s drivers or other required software updates.
- Web-enabled applications may run slow and experience downtime due to data being sent over the network wires via specialized display protocols.
- Extra efforts are required to ensure these advantages are fully realized in a Web application. Besides the expected storyboarding, prototyping and usability studies, the developers will need to provide tools for Web-based administering, monitoring and tuning of the application.
SUMMARY
The bottom line of Web-enabled applications is to make the jobs of IT administrators and end users easier while increasing productivity. The choice to convert from a client/server application to a Web-enabled application depends on individual corporation needs. Web-based technology has been helpful for corporations that want an easy maintenance and a relatively low total cost of ownership. It is important to evaluate the pros and cons of Web-enabled technology before converting. Organizations considering conversion should speak to a qualified conversion technology provider to help with the evaluation process.
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Peter Kuczaj is the Founder and President of Crocus Plains Software Ltd, a leading software development services and enterprise solutions agency. Crocus Plains offers sophisticated Web-enabling conversion solutions for client/server applications. For more information, visit CrocusPlains.com.
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