Microsoft.NET vision embraced by Access in new product launch

ASYST International SA, the sole South African distributor for Access Accounting Ltd, today announced that Access Dimensions.NET is to be launched at Softworld in March 2001. It is the first product in a complete range of business and finance software from Access Accounting Ltd that fully embraces the Microsoft .net vision to deliver software that is 100% operable through a web browser.

This new product delivers all of the power and flexibility of the Access Dimensions client/server business and finance system - but over the Internet. It allows transaction entry, direct into the back office accounts database, from anywhere in the world using no more than Microsoft`s Internet Explorer browser software on the remote computer.

The concept of this product is not new. What is new and exciting is the way in which features of the desktop software are faithfully replicated in a browser with real time validation of all data as it is entered. The speed over a standard telephone line is quite exceptional due to the exclusive use of XML for transportation of data.

There is no requirement to download applets or scripts into the remote computer. Users simply log onto the Internet, key in the web address of their accounts system, enter their user name and a password and then operate the software as if they were using the conventional desktop version.

There are many benefits to be derived from this technology:

Low cost WAN (wide area networking)

The software can be deployed as an Intranet, Extranet or Internet system. It reduces the cost of installing and deploying large multi-user systems, wherever the users are situated, on site, in your customers` or suppliers` offices or anywhere in the world.

Bespoke forms

Access Specialist Centres can use standard web editing tools to provide unique on screen forms that meet different customers` requirements. They have total control over the GUI (graphical user interface). They can add and delete fields from the forms, interact with third party or custom software and perform special calculations on screen. The business rules and integrity of the accounts database is completely protected by a COM+ layer on the back office server.

Bespoke B2B solutions

Transaction entry forms for orders, invoices and any business process can be personalised for customers and/or suppliers who can then use the forms on their own computers in their own offices without installing any special software (other than Microsoft Internet Explorer browser). Entries they make are validated instantly against the back office accounts system and the completed form is updated into the back office system. This means that a user of such a system can offer unparalleled efficiency to their customers and suppliers.

Scalability and cost of ownership

The system is optimised for Microsoft 2000 terminal server, SQL Server 2000, Windows 2000 and Microsoft Internet Explorer utilising COM+ and XML as the core technology. It is very fast system even on a standard 56k telephone line, which makes it accessible to the smallest of companies. It can cope with literally thousands of concurrent users subject only to hardware and bandwidth restraints. Having configured the servers there is zero time or cost implication in adding users to the system (providing the users are running Internet Explorer).

"We were the first in the market to introduce mid-range accounts software for Windows, the first to introduce a client/server accounts solution for the mass market, the first to introduce end to end e-commerce in an affordable package and now we will be the first to introduce the exciting new .net technology," commented Access Managing Director Alistair O`Reilly. "This is the future of business and financial accounting software."

For further information please contact Justine de Vos, Marketing Manager, ASYST International SA (Pty) Ltd: tel (011) 622-0112, fax (011) 622-0124, e-mail jdv@asystint.co.za.