Snapshots in Productivity

John Meleky, IT and Security Director

www.vri.com

BCD: What types of applications did you develop with WebSmart?

Meleky: "For our election services, we developed applications to let members of organizations vote over the web along with the use of Interactive Voice Response equipment. All of the data that's collected is kept in a single and secure central data repository on the iSeries machine. For our other services, we will be using WebSmart to develop an online solution for 24/7 payment capabilities."

BCD: Was any training necessary?

Meleky: "I did attend both basic and advanced training but the product is very easy to use, very intuitive."

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Chuck Ackerman, Vice President of Lamps Plus

www.lampsplus.com

BCD: What types of applications have you developed with WebSmart?

Ackerman: "We use it for any new interactive programs-- we don't do green screens anymore."

BCD: Were you able to use your existing iSeries staff and were special skills needed?

Ackerman: "I have six programmers using it- no special skills were necessary."

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Larry Wood, IT Director of Desoto County

www.desotoms.com

BCD: What types of applications have you developed with WebSmart?

Wood: "We wrote inquiry applications to make our public data accessible. Everything on our website is done with WebSmart. The site offers tax appraisal information, land records, voter registration, board of supervisors meeting minutes and agendas are all online. Much of it accesses AS/400 database files. Our tax assessor who wanted a site that facilitated inquiries prompted developing this solution. The assessors office got phone calls all day- non stop from people closing on houses and that kind of thing."

BCD: Did you evaluate any competitive products?

Wood: "I thought about doing this in Lotus Domino. I didn't want to do it in WebSphere because of the cost more than anything- and I didn't want to do the IBM thing. When I decided to evaluate WebSmart, I went to BCD's website, downloaded it and it started to work immediately. These guys have their act together. And compared to the alternatives ProGen WebSmart is a very reasonably priced product."

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Paul Feng, Vice President of IT at Spears Manufacturing

www.spears.com

BCD: What types of applications have you developed with WebSmart?

Feng: "There are several: The first is an Internet accessible Client Information Management System. We needed to allow field technical service people and salesmen to be able to manage information on customer requirements. Then, our Technical Service reps needed a Contact Management system-- their goal is to visit engineering firms and find out what their requirements are so we can generate solutions. The third is an e-commerce system-- a way to let customers place orders and check order status."

BCD: What does your computing environment look like?

Feng: "Our backbone system and database is iSeries based-- a model 270 is hosting the website. We are in the process of upgrading to a 520 because we have lots of new users."

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Doug Long, Vice President of Information Systems EGS

www.egseg.com

BCD: What types of applications have you developed with WebSmart?

Long: "We developed a web-based customer order tracking system to replace a Domino based system, and recently, a customer order entry screen and a request for quote screen."

BCD: Did it take long to adapt to WebSmart?

Long: "In three to four hours after installing the product I had developed a working application that mirrored one of the Domino production applications."

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Paul Cree, Senior Supervisor of Programmings

www.nipponexpress.com

BCD: Did you evaluate any competitive products?

Cree: "We looked at WebSphere but we didn't have the Java skills in house to do the type of programming that was required. WebSphere also seemed very difficult to use-- it would have required a bigger processor than the one we had. It was much easier for us to pick up the WebSmart platform. We also looked at Seagull's products to create programs from RPG code-- these were screen scraper type programs. They were fairly expensive and wouldn't have given us the same functionality."

BCD: Was WebSmart easy to use?

Cree: "I'm a pretty good programmer-- in three or four days I was able to do something productive with it. If you are already an RPG programmer you need to understand a little HTML and Java script coding. Beyond that it's relatively easy to get people on board with WebSmart."

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Gary Stewart, IT Director

www.academicbookservices.com

BCD: Did you evaluate WebSphere or any other competitive products and why did you select WebSmart?

Stewart: "I looked at WebSphere and found it to be both very costly and very complicated. I also looked at Lansa and CA Fusion 2E. I spent seven years with Synon Professional Service and am the author of the Synon Made Simple books, so I have a preference for the Synon or Fusion 2E tool. I selected WebSmart because of its ease of use and cost, BCD’s support, and my comfort level with the tool. I really needed to have a product that non-iSeries and entry-level people could also use. It was the best business decision I could make. WebSmart also gave us more time to focus on the functionality of the business application rather than having to learn the peculiarities of a new language or a complicated tool."

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