Modern businesses have long realised the benefits of components and objects. This is according to Steve Green, Technology Manager at Baan SA.
The componentisation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems has meant that users are no longer forced to choose between integration and function and can combine these with new add-on components.
"Traditional ERP systems are tightly integrated into monolithic software structures-this high degree of integration makes it virtually impossible to introduce an upgraded version of a package without affecting other areas of the system. As a result, the entire software suite has to be upgraded, a costly and painful process that is intrusive to a business` daily operations. Companies are reluctant to take this move and components are the logical solution," describes Green.
Citing research conducted by Baan, Green says companies wanted integrated systems that combined best-of-breed technology with best-in-class business practices.
"This was a tall order but achievable through the introduction of ERP components such as the BaanSeries which decoupled applications into stand alone components. These can be mixed and matched to a businesses changing requirements," says Green.
"With the BaanSeries, a component can be as large as a stand alone solution defined as a Business Object Component Set that includes it`s own runtime environment. This set can support at least one combination of platform, operating system, database, user interface and the necessary infrastructure components to control the flow of information in and between the application components, or as a small and simple as a ledger transaction," explains Green.
Whilst supporting Java, Baan are focusing their efforts around Microsoft`s DCOM technology as the primary technology for distributed systems. According to Green, this is motivated by the growing momentum of Microsoft`s DCOM technology and its commitment to port DCOM to non-Windows platforms. For integration with third party components, CORBA support is also available.
According to the US based AMR Research consultancy, the ERP market is expected to soar to $52 billion annually by the year 2002. Already, the sale of components is making a significant contribution to the current market estimated to be around $15 billion per year.
"Many companies today maintain a mixture of platforms and operating systems that have their own individual benefits. A total software base of a company is often deployed over disparate, distributed systems. In these scenarios, it is possible to distribute various components over multiple systems where there are also integration requirements between third party software," says Green.
"It is largely with this in mind that Baan created a family of open components applications, giving companies the choice and flexibility they need to change and grow. With such products as the BaanSeries, companies are able to pick and choose the best components-and only the ones they want-to add functionality without complex and costly upgrades, "concludes Green.
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Baan Company
Founded in 1978, Baan Company (ASE: BAAN; Nasdaq: BAANF) is a leading global provider of enterprise business software. Baan Company`s comprehensive portfolio of best-in-class, component-based applications for front office, corporate office, and back office automation are in use at approximately 12,000 customer sites worldwide. Baan Company`s products reduce complexity, improve core business processes, are faster to implement and use, are more flexible than our competitors` in adapting to business changes, and optimize the management of information throughout the entire value chain. Baan Company has dual headquarters in Barneveld, The Netherlands and Reston, Virginia, USA and can be found on the World Wide Web at www.baan.com.
Baan has been represented in South Africa since 1989 by the Q Data group company QMCS. In 1995 Baan took over the company from Q Data and a wholly owned subsidiary Baan South Africa was formed. Its client base consists of more than 80 leading organisations countrywide.
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