JK businessGLUE Windows Application

JK Internet has announced a new data integration application that synchronises office databases with web sites.

The new software consists of two parts, which communicate with each other over the Internet. The office part is a Windows Application - a service that runs in the background on a PC (or server) in the office. The second part is a web server application that links to the web site database. The two parts operate together to ensure that one or more databases in the office are synchronised with the web site database.

Building web-based business applications using an externally hosted web site often causes integration problems. Developers have to find ways to link office-based data to a remote database, and this commonly means 'uploading' the data. Files from office systems must be uploaded to the web site to keep it current, and data collected by the web site must be downloaded into the office systems. Although this process can be automated, it is often a chore to be completed every day - and even then the data is up to a day out of date.

JK businessGLUE provides a Synchronisation service between office databases of different types, and the web site. The two data sources are kept synchronised at all times, so there is no need for a file upload.

A wide variety of data sources are supported, including:

• Web site (using XML Web Services)
• Access Database
• Excel Spreadsheet (read only)
• Text File (CSV format)
• Text File (XML Format)
• SQL Server
• Oracle (using ODBC)
• Sage Accounts (using ODBC)

Information collected from the web site, such as registrations or orders, can be fed back into the office. Changes to the database in the office are fed back to the web site.

Applications of JK businessGLUE include:

• Customer accounts, and logins
• Customer Relationship Management
• Booking Systems
• E-Commerce, with stock control
• Project or Service status

JK businessGLUE is a stand-alone application. Although designed for use with JK WebDIRECTOR software, it can be implemented with any data-driven web site application.

JK businessGLUE software is currently in Alpha test, and a beta-test programme is scheduled for the end of April.

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