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Rhenus ICT Services

Modernizing a Forms Based Logistics ERP application using Formspider Formspider event @ Ciber, 13-09-2012 Michiel Arentsen. Rhenus ICT Services. Introduction. Rhenus ICT Services, Amsterdam part of Rhenus Logistics, large International Logistics company (www.rhenus.com)

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Rhenus ICT Services

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  1. Modernizing a Forms Based Logistics ERP application using Formspider Formspider event @ Ciber, 13-09-2012 Michiel Arentsen Rhenus ICT Services

  2. Introduction • Rhenus ICT Services, Amsterdam • part of Rhenus Logistics, large International Logistics company (www.rhenus.com) • Provide ICT services for Dutch Rhenus companies • Network and infrastructure services / Communication (EDI) / Project management / Custom software development • Development team of 8 fte Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

  3. Current development: Oracle Designer Suite 10g R2 • Oracle Forms / Reports / Designer / Headstart / CDM Ruleframe • In-house developed Oracle Forms Logistics ERP system • Developed since 2003 • 100% Forms are Designer generated • 19 applications • 1100 forms • 350 reports • 600 users Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

  4. Current development: Oracle Apex 4.1 • Oracle Apex • Working with Apex since 2006 • Customer facing apps • Online booking • Track & Trace • Warehousing • Internal apps • Asset database • Employee forms Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

  5. Our Problem • Designer = dead (and so are Headstart / CDM Ruleframe) • Split development team: only 2 fte able to do Apex • more and more focus on customer facing / self service apps  more web development Future of Forms = Forms? • Oracle and partners say: • upgrade to 11g (Weblogic), but what about Designer shops? • integrate / embed in new technology • new development in JDeveloper/ADF (or Apex) So, just keep Forms running and rebuild in JDeveloper / ADF later? Not my strategy. • Why wait? Wait for the silver bullet? • Waiting will only make it harder later… Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

  6. Migrate Forms to … • Oracle JDeveloper / ADF • not a migration  it’s a rebuild • steep learning curve • complex environment • productivity ? • more difficult for small dev team: maintain old/new and synchronize functionality • .NET / Java: (almost) same as above • Oracle Apex • option for small forms / relatively simple crud apps • limitations (layout / web-page paradigm / no transaction layer / debugging ) • gets complicated when leaving the box (javascript/jquery/css/ajax) • Other development platforms • .. • Formspider! Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

  7. Why Formspider • Only PL/SQL (with some CSS) • Easy to learn for Forms developers (simple IDE, same application paradigm) • Simple architecture: Event – Condition – Action (ECA) / Solid web UI • Reuse current PL/SQL code! • Single development environment for all applications  more flexible dev team • Easier to train new developers • No split-up development team! • Lower costs Experiences so far • Easy to learn • Great support! • Good tutorials and demos • Great performance • Great potential Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

  8. Forms to Formspider migration Low-risk gradual parallel migration possible • deliver new functionality in Formspider • stepwise migration of current Forms functionality to Formspider and keep current Oracle Forms working on same code base • relatively easy keeping both application’s functionality in sync : same logic / same database / only screens to keep in sync Done so far • Downloaded Formspider last February and started playing / learning • Started building a demo framework application in April (not fulltime, but besides regular work) • Decision was made in July to invest more time in Formspider evaluation in order to reach final go / no-go decision in October. • Trained colleague in Formspider and rebuilt / extended framework application (Demo!) Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

  9. Demo Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

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