WebSmart Customers Share Their Web Application Development Experiences
Read the following customer interviews about how they use WebSmart to develop new RPG and PHP web applications that help their business, and how it reduced their web development learning curve.
Mitsubishi Fuso
Why did you choose WebSmart?
Our IT staff at MFTA is small and grounded heavily in RPG and IBM i, with exceptional skill sets and experience. WebSmart marketed itself as an easier transition to the web for RPG programmers and we have found this to be true. When we learned that we must show a presence on the web, we decided to retrain, rather than replace, our in-house talent.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Transportation
Paul Russell Associates
What is your programming background and why did you decide to begin developing web applications for IBM i?
I began green screen development in 1979 and have worked exclusively with IBM midrange applications since then. Most of my clients are small to medium-sized companies that use traditional green screens.
- Products: WebSmart PHP
- Industry: ISV
Draper Tools
Why did you choose WebSmart ILE to begin developing web applications for your IBM i?
We have over 25 years' experience using IBM mid-range equipment but didn't start developing for the web until 2004. We began using WebSmart ILE in 2005 after assessing several methods for writing web applications that could integrate with our IBM i database. Based on our assessment, WebSmart ILE was by far the easiest and most cost-effective solution.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Wholesale
Minnesota Rubber & Plastics (a division of Quadion LLC)
Why did you decide to begin developing web applications for your IBM i?
We needed to present data better than a green screen could. Most of our users are accustomed to a Windows environment and thought green screens were confusing and hard to use.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Manufacturing
Training Masters
What types of applications have you developed with WebSmart?
We converted and modernized an end-to-end school management green-screen application into one that delivers software as a service (SaaS). Now, small institutions don't have to make a big investment in hardware, software, or other IT related assets. Our solution can also be licensed to run on the school's in-house System i computer.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: ISV
Stanley Furniture
What types of applications have you developed with WebSmart?
There are lots of them. We have probably written between 75 to 100 different programs with WebSmart. Some are full applications and others are supplements to existing applications. In our manufacturing area alone, we have developed 12 different programs.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Retail
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc.
How did you come upon WebSmart?
I looked to IBM's iSeries Developer Roadmap, which we aspire to follow and saw that IBM listed WebSmart. I called BCD and they said all I really needed to do was download the tool and I would soon be developing web applications. I thought, no way! I have 25 years of RPG experience and zero exposure to web development. I downloaded WebSmart and soon found out that BCD was right! I couldn't believe it... I went through the WebSmart tutorial and started writing web programs.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry:Transportation
Moraine Valley Community College
Is eCommerce important in today's iSeries business computing space?
Yes, definitely. Things are moving in that direction, even for those who are slow to adapt. Web connectivity has a significant impact on many facets of business. If organizations want to reach out to their supply chain they are going to have to make changes to the way their applications are accessed. From our perspective, it's clear that organizations are recognizing that they need people who are trained in eCommerce technologies. Because of supply constraints, some organizations are going to run into a situation where they are not going to find people who know their way around eCommerce.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Education
Mississippi Sportswear, a division of Betlin, Inc.
What applications did you develop with WebSmart?
We did just about everything with WebSmart. For example, we did an order entry system for stock merchandise and a custom order entry system for custom orders. Dealers can check inventory, check prices, place orders, get PDF copies of their invoices, review order status, and track it with UPS. Our sales reps can track orders with ease now; before they had to call a skilled customer service person.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Manufacturing
Hickory Farms
What are a few things you really like about WebSmart?
We received excellent support and excellent training. WebSmart is easy to use and the manuals are easy to understand and no hardware upgrade was necessary. And, WebSmart produced 100% of the generated code.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Retail
Bristol Hospital
What types of applications did you develop with WebSmart?
They are dashboard or portal types of applications that run on the iSeries OS/400 Apache HTTP server. One application is a phone directory of all hospital employees; another provides an instant hospital census-- now management doesn't have to make phone calls to find out how many patients we have. We also developed a drug formulary inquiry system for the pharmacy...
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Health Care
Canadian Kawasaki, Inc.
What types of applications did you develop with WebSmart?
We developed an ordering and communications system for our dealers-- we have about 250 dealers across Canada. They place parts orders, inquire about vehicles, register new vehicles, send warranty claims-- so basically the tool they use to communicate with us is made with WebSmart.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Manufacturing
VRI
What types of applications did you develop with WebSmart?
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.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: ISV
Lamps Plus
What types of applications have you developed with WebSmart?
We use it for any new interactive programs-- we don't do green screens anymore.
Were you able to use your existing iSeries staff and were special skills needed?
I have six programmers using it- no special skills were necessary.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Manufacturing
DeSoto County
What types of applications have you developed with WebSmart?
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.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Government
Spears Manufacturing
What types of applications have you developed with WebSmart?
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.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Manufacturing
EGS Electrical
What types of applications have you developed with WebSmart?
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.
Did it take long to adapt to WebSmart?
In three to four hours after installing the product I had developed a working application that mirrored one of the Domino production applications.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Electrical Services
Nippon Express USA
Was WebSmart easy to use?
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.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Transportation
Academic Book Services
Did you evaluate WebSphere or any other competitive products and why did you select WebSmart?
...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.
- Products: WebSmart ILE
- Industry: Wholesale