UK-based systems integrator Simply Computing, Ltd. (SCL) has helped deliver a new Web-based real-time procurement system for clothing supplier Alexandra plc that is driven by Alexandra's RPG-based System i back-end.

Alexandra, a major UK provider of work wear, with a royal warrant of appointment by Her Majesty the Queen, has for the most part been satisified with its custom back-end RPG applications. However, the company needed to deliver a new Web-based application, and it had to do it quickly. Working with SCL, Alexandra was able to complete the application rapidly by using looksoftware’s soarchitect to provide Web-services access to its existing RPG code.

"Using looksoftware’s products, we’ve been able to reuse our existing System i applications to drive the new front-end Web application and integrate it with our back-end RPG code in real-time,” said Ken Turner, systems manager at Alexandra.

Marcus Dee of looksoftware said, “SCL’s success with Alexandra is a great example of how a Web services approach can deliver rapid results and high reuse of existing RPG code. By service-enabling back-end applications, new solutions can be delivered quickly and relatively easily."

As a looksoftware solution provider, SCL also has developed an application for exporter documentation using looksoftware’s dynamic development suite. The resultant "Exdocs" delivers efficiency, cost-savings, customer service, and regulatory compliance benefits to exporters.

Another customer is starting its fourth project aimed at delivering new functionality by reusing unchanged RPG applications. It has improved call-center productivity by 40 percent and has since implemented interactive voice recognition (IVR) to provide 24x7 customer service. Riding on the success of its other projects, the firm will integrate its back-end application with a partner’s SAP ERP system—all done with a service oriented approach but without changing a single line of RPG code.

Ian Harris, SCL’s founder and managing director, has shaped his career around the mainframe and System i midrange hardware and has seen many industry changes, mostly for the better. Harris, passionate about IBM’s midrange market said, “looksoftware is making such a big difference because its Web-enabling and application-integration strengths are so instantly evident. Combined with our ‘Punchout’ and ‘EXdocs’ customer application focus, I just know we can deliver exceptionally robust and high value solutions to our customers, and we can do it very quickly.”

About SCL

As well as application modernization (increasingly with looksoftware), SCL’s service lineup also includes multi-platform software configuration management, System i portal management, and application re-engineering, data distribution, transmitted and stored data encryption/decryption and code version conversion tools (RPG 3 to modern syntax/free form).

About looksoftware

looksoftware has its headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, and is an Advanced IBM Partner and Microsoft Certified Business Partner. It provides easy-to-use, powerful tools to Web-enable, reuse, extend and integrate core applications. looksoftware is a member of the IBM Developer Roadmap and the Midrange Alliance Program. With over 2,000 customers in 45 countries, looksoftware’s products are distributed by a global network of 120 resellers and ISV partners.

For more information, contact looksoftware in Australia at + 61.3.9535.4444 or in the USA at 678.494.5465. Alternatively, visit the company's Web site at looksoftware where you will find more on Alexandra's and SCL's experiences with back-end modernization and successes using looksoftware products.