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

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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) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Rhenus ICT Services

© RHENUS 2012

Rhenus ICT Services Modernizing a Forms Based Logistics ERP application using Formspider

Formspider event @ Ciber, 13-09-2012

Michiel Arentsen

Page 2: Rhenus ICT Services

2 © RHENUS 2012Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

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

Page 3: Rhenus ICT Services

3 © RHENUS 2012Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

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

Page 4: Rhenus ICT Services

4 © RHENUS 2012Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

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

Page 5: Rhenus ICT Services

5 © RHENUS 2012Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

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…

Page 6: Rhenus ICT Services

6 © RHENUS 2012Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

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!

Page 7: Rhenus ICT Services

7 © RHENUS 2012Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

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

Page 8: Rhenus ICT Services

8 © RHENUS 2012Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

Forms to Formspider migrationLow-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!)

Page 9: Rhenus ICT Services

9 © RHENUS 2012Formspider Event The Netherlands 13-Sep-2012

Demo