Unitek, an ERP software vendor, has been investigating System i modernization solutions for more than a year to find the best method to modernize its ERP's front-end. Last month, Unitek concluded its search with a decision to implement Profound Logic Software's rapid Web development tool, RPGsp. The decision came after determining that RPGsp was able to provide their users with a stable Web interface and increase performance, according to Profound Logic.
Based in Lisbon, Portugal, Unitek has a strong niche market in Europe and parts of Africa. The company's software, e-XXI'S, provides a compliant, native solution for the many specific laws that are prevalent in its client's countries, whereas many competing packages cannot provide that level of detail, the company said. The software itself is currently written in RPG with a Visual Basic front-end. Along with e-XXI'S, Unitek offers a comprehensive selection of hardware and services to ensure easy implementation of its ERP software. This provides its clients with a comprehensive solution for all of their business needs.
Prior to choosing RPGsp, Unitek attempted to implement a .NET Web interface for e-XXI'S, but this approach had serious limitations with stability and performance. These limitations lead to the decision to use native iSeries technologies in place of a Microsoft solution. Once this had been decided, Unitek began working with modernization ISVs across the industry to find their tool of choice. However, they discovered that many of the solutions had their own limitations, such as cumbersome environments, use of proprietary languages, and limited technical support.
"We wanted a solution that would allow us to capitalize on our RPG background and experience. We also wanted assurance that we would receive the support we needed to implement the solution," said Vasco Mauricio, general manager at Unitek.
Unitek then came upon Profound Logic Software's tool and decided to evaluate it. Right away, Unitek developers noticed an increase in performance that they had not seen with other tools. Helder Mauricio, operations manager at Unitek, noted that "a few of our databases have close to a million records, and we were able to achieve sub-second response times with RPGsp."
RPGsp would also create a more stable environment for e-XXI'S by using native technology to build on top of the product's RPG-written backend. In addition, Unitek felt that with this tool they could build upon their existing skills and business logic, instead of replacing it. These benefits, combined with Profound Logic's solid technical support, convinced Unitek that RPGsp was the right solution.
Once the decision was made, Unitek representatives visited the Profound Logic offices in Dayton, Ohio, where they received hands-on training on the tool from an experienced RPGsp trainer. During training, the representatives got the opportunity to explore Profound Logic's entire product line, which includes modernization solutions for Web-enablement and database editing. While learning about Profound Logic's products, Unitek saw the opportunity to promote these tools in Portugal, where there are few options for modernization and little support. This initiated a decision to become a reseller for Profound Logic Software in their area, and obtain a competitive advantage for their market.
Moving forward, Unitek plans to make heavy use of RPGsp in their effort to Web-enable their ERP. Over time, they plan to completely replace their old Visual Basic front-end with a modern browser interface. "Profound Logic is excited to welcome Unitek as a new partner, said Alex Roytman, CEO of Profound Logic. "I believe this is the beginning of a strong relationship between us, and expect to see great results as Unitek continues to grow in their market. We will fully support them in all their efforts," he said.
About Unitek
Based in Lisbon, Portugal, Unitek (http://www.unitek.pt) is an ERP developer for the iSeries community. Founded in 2001, Unitek developed a native ERP client-server solution, called e-XXI'S, for clients across Europe and Africa. Today, Unitek has become highly specialized in their market and continues to grow rapidly due to their dedication of providing the best ERP environments available for their clients' businesses to grow.
About Profound Logic Software, Inc.
Profound Logic Software is a leading provider of application development tools for the iSeries (AS/400) platform. Established in 1999, Profound Logic started creating innovative programming tools that streamline the application development process. Profound Logic has also focused on providing excellent customer service to its clients. Today, Profound Logic Software enjoys thousands of software users in more than 50 different countries. Profound Logic offers its software along with related training, consulting, and support services.
Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.
IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn:
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