Illusion Technologies: Software Development

Cross-platform Custom Software Development & Integration – It
Strategy For Large Corporation
By Andrew Karasev

Microsoft Business Solutions products: Great Plains, MS CRM,
Navision, Axapta, MS RMS integration with UNIX/Java based
platforms & non-Microsoft applications: Oracle, Lotus
Notes/Domino, DBII, PeopleSoft, SAP

The history of software application development indicates that
global trends to unification might be reversed in the future. If
you take a look at C programming language, intended as cross
platform solution (which resolves graphical interface cross
platform migration). Later on java was invented to encapsulate
the application within java virtual machine, and at the same
time we see thin client conception development, which can not be
done in C, due to the nature of the internet browser. So,
inevitably – large corporation, where system life cycle should
last at least a decade, should consider multiple platform
adoption: Unix, Microsoft, Linux, MS SQL Server, Oracle, DB2,
Lotus Notes/Domino, Microsoft Exchange, etc.

• Microsoft Business Solutions products integration. Project
Green will lead to Microsoft suites: Microsoft Financials,
Microsoft Distribution/Supply Chain Management, Microsoft Human
Resources. The interesting part is – which product will be the
base for the specific suite. At this point we don’t know the
answer

• Customization Tool evolution. If we look back to the history
of Microsoft Great Plains – Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise –
it had native programming language / IDE Great Plains Dexterity.
Today – Dexterity is concurring with such customization and
integration tools as eConnect – the set of stored procedures,
this is definitely the trend emphasizing SQL coding and
developing

• Cross Platform ODBC/JDBC calls. If we look at MS SQL Server
or Oracle Transparent Gateways and Generic Connectivity – we
will see that Database tools support cross platform
heterogeneous SQL requests and updates. The proof of the
co-existence trend – isn’t it?

• Java versus C#. The appearance of C# confirmed the fact, that
pure Java conception with its virtual machine and isolation
doesn’t satisfy Microsoft .Net development requirements. .Net
objects could not be isolated the same way as Java/EJB/J2EE.
This is where we again have to admit coexistence of two Worlds:
Microsoft Windows and Java

• The Stakes. Probably the mixture – and considering the fact
that cross-platform integration is addressed from both sides –
different platforms should be just integrated. Good balance
would be relatively inexpensive Microsoft Business Solutions ERP
application: Great Plains (USA, Canada, Latin America, Middle
East, Australia, New Zealand, UK), Navision (France, Germany,
Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Russia and the rest of continental
Europe), Axapta – if you need rich ERP functionality – then your
business specific application: Freight Forwarding database,
Lease tracking, Consignment, etc. should be placed into
Oracle/DB2/Unix/Linux. Microsoft CRM - this is the temptation
and we do recommend it - it could be integrated with Java
applications

• Reporting. If you plan to deploy them from Windows side: use
Crystal Reports upon heterogeneous SQL views, in the case of
Java – it depends on the vendor: Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP, IBM
Lotus Notes Domino, Siebel, etc.

We encourage you to analyze your alternatives. You can always
appeal to our help, give us a call: 1-866-528-0577 or
1-630-961-5918, help@albaspectrum.com

About the Author: Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer at
Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ),
serving Microsoft Great Plains, CRM, Navision to mid-size and
large clients in California, Illinois, New York, Georgia,
Florida, Texas, Arizona, Washington, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan
and internationally.

Source: http://www.isnare.com