Spar enters cyber space with ColdFusion

Macromedia`s ColdFusion, available through local Macromedia distributor and Web-enablement specialist, Dax Data, has enabled the Spar group of shopping stores to host business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions online from its shopping Web site - www.sparonline.co.za.

According to Kinty Peetz, from Spar, the process on the ColdFusion powered site is as simple as registering, logging in and choosing a store to purchase from. "Once you`ve chosen the store and selected your groceries, a Spar team springs into action."

Herman Oosthuizen from Eliance, contracted by Spar to set up and develop the site, says the companies conducted extensive research to find out what shoppers want and need from an online shopping Web site. "The knowledge gleaned from this process along with ColdFusion`s functionality, has gone into creating a user-friendly Web site, with easy-to-follow navigation that allows customers to order groceries by simply clicking a button.

"Online shoppers can use Visa and MasterCards, and can shop in complete confidence, as the site is totally secure," he adds.

Peetz continues by stating that the site had to offer consumers several benefits, including same day delivery. "Now, if shoppers place their orders before 12 noon, the order will be delivered on the same day. The site also offers a collection facility at no charge, so shoppers can also choose to pick up their groceries from their local Spar store at a time most suitable to them."

Oosthuizen says ColdFusion combines an approachable and productive scripting environment, effortless connectivity to enterprise data, and a powerful suite of built-in application services which helped Eliance in quickly deploying Spar`s self-service application commerce site.

Jeremy Matthews, managing director of Dax Data agrees: "Macromedia ColdFusion MX provides everything companies need to quickly create a variety of applications, from advanced Web sites to dynamic publishing systems and many customers are using it as an environment for rapid application development.

"The product has long enjoyed a reputation for being fairly easy to learn and the latest MX version adds significant new features for rapidly developing Web applications," he adds.

"We used ColdFusion`s intuitive tag-based language that requires fewer lines of code by handling low-level programming tasks automatically thereby simplifying code reuse," says Oosthuizen. "The program also offers fully integrated application services for adding full-text search capabilities as well as dynamic charting and high performance connectivity to Macromedia Flash clients to Spar`s application."

With native connectivity to Flash Player, support for server-side ActionScript, and integrated debugging from the Flash authoring environment, ColdFusion provides an easy way to build rich Internet applications.

Peetz adds that ColdFusion`s Full-Text Indexing and Searching functionality has proven to be incredibly accommodating to Spar`s online users as it enables them to search for information on products quickly without spending too much time.

The Spar Online roll-out has already begun, with 12 stores currently operating in the Durban, Gauteng and Western Cape areas. ColdFusion`s built-in Load Balancing and Failover component can ensure that the Spar application can scale to handle growing traffic volume and remain running without interruption.