Increasing demand for Web-enabled enterprise applications is being fuelled by the need to reduce costs and improve security, says Aad van Schetsen, worldwide Uniface sales director of Compuware.
Costs are reduced through centralised software deployment. This avoids high implementation and maintenance costs associated with client-server applications, as well as eliminating the need for powerful on site application servers, he explains.
"Security risks are also much lower because Web-enabled applications are centralised behind a firewall," says Van Schetsen.
As a result of these market forces, Van Schetsen predicts a swing towards rich Internet applications based on asynchronous Javascript and XML (AJAX) architecture.
"AJAX combines Web functionality with the rich user interfaces traditionally associated with client-server applications, delivering significant performance advantages and a far better user experience without the need for plug-ins," he says.
In addition to lowering costs and improving security, Web-based applications also address the increasing need for mobility. "Companies can improve productivity, data accuracy, business agility, and flexibility by making enterprise applications available on mobile devices," says Van Schetsen.
He advises corporate in-house developers or software houses begin developing applications that meet new market demands, or begin converting their existing applications.
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