Looksoftware’s ( http://www.looksoftware.com ) UK partner Simply Computing ( http://www.scl-it.com ), working with its customer Alexandra plc, has delivered a new web-based procurement system driven in real-time by its RPG-based System i back-end.

Alexandra, the UK’s number one provider of workwear clothing with a Royal Warrant of Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen, has always been satisfied with its custom back-end RPG applications. However, it needed to deliver a new web-based procurement application and had to do it quickly. Working with SCL, Alexandra was able to rapidly complete the application by using looksoftware’s soarchitect to provide web services access to its existing RPG code. 

“Using looksoftware’s products, we’ve been able to reuse our existing System i applications to drive the new front-end web application and integrate with our back-end RPG code in real-time”, says Ken Turner, systems manager at Alexandra.

Early this year, with many corporate buyers accessing its e-commerce website from diverse locations, and using a variety of procurement applications, Alexandra urgently needed a solution that would enable buyers to seamlessly access its website. It wanted these remote users to be able to select and order product – from within their own procurement application – in one simple, uninterrupted operation. Communications between buyers’ applications and e-commerce website would need to be maintained transparently, in the background, via commerce XML (cXML).

Working with Siply Cpmputing (SCL), Alexandra developed ‘Punchout’, an enhanced version of existing RPG code which SCL used as the basis for the new web services modules that form the core of the web application. Developed with looksoftware’s soarchitect, and powered by lookserver, the non-invasive integration approach and re-use of existing back-end modules has driven rapid delivery of the new front-end web service.

Using looksoftware’s soarchitect, the key RPG functions were service-enabled, making this functionality available to any other application, development tool or device that supports web services. SCL had experience using Microsoft’s Visual Studio and delivered the ASP.net web site in no time.

Applying looksoftware’s modernisation technology to enhance a back-end process with ASP.net as a front-end, has delivered an effective, open-ended solution that’s also generated investment payback. Biggest outlay would typically be in development -- in preparing the catalogue element (which would be necessary whether a company was pursuing this route or a traditional paper-based exercise).

Improvement of the customer interface means Alexandra’s customers are now benefiting from a streamlined and simplified procurement system. Punchout’s design means all the necessary transactions like quotations, orders, purchases etc, can be automatically processed by the customers’ own procurement applications and within Alexandra’s fulfilment application, with little or no human intervention. Indeed, that is only required where there is a need for approvals or authorisations.

As a looksoftware solution provider, SCL has also now developed an application for export documentation using looksoftware’s dynamic development suite. ‘Exdocs’ delivers efficiency, cost-savings, customer service and regulatory compliance benefits to exporters.

Marcus Dee of looksoftware says: “SCL’s success with Alexandra is a great example of how a web services approach can deliver rapid results and high reuse of existing RPG code. By service-enabling back-end applications, new solutions can be delivered quickly and relatively easily.

“Another customer is starting its fourth project aimed at delivering new functionality by reusing unchanged RPG applications. It has improved call centre productivity by 40%, and has since implemented Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) to provide 24x7 customer service. Now, with the success of its other projects so evident, the next one will integrate its back-end application with a partner’s SAP ERP system – all done with a services oriented approach, and, more importantly, without changing a single line of RPG code.”

Ian Harris, SCL’s founder and managing director, has shaped his career around the mainframe and System i evolutions of midrange hardware and has seen many changes, mostly for the better. Harris, passionate about IBM’s midrange market says: “Looksoftware is making such a big difference because its web-enabling and application integration strengths are so instantly evident. Combined with our Punchout and Exdocs customer application focus, we can deliver robust and high value solutions to our customers, very quickly.”

Frank Booty