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System Architecure >
Java Based System
100% Java Based System
| Lately, everywhere you look, retail technology
is heralding the usage of Java. Java is many things, but fundamentally
it is a practical and efficient language that, when used properly,
provides options to retailers who are otherwise limited by the
scope of their software or by their budgetary constraints. Not
all Java systems are created equal; there are many ways that Java
can be used to deliver value to the retailer. Simply investing
in the hype and implementing "Java" does not mean that your enterprise
will profit unless you know what to look for and what to avoid. |
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Java 101
Originally intended as an embedded system
in everything from toasters to automobiles, the software industry
realized that Java brought significant benefits to the problem
of connecting disparate systems. Central to this benefit is its
ability to operate across a great range of operating environments
without additional programming effort. To realize a meaningful
benefit from Java requires a change in system design.
In the past, retail software programs (POS systems) were connected
directly to the databases which stored the data. This design is called
client/server or two-tier architecture. While client/server designs
are good choices for small systems and companies, it is limited in
its ability to grow to medium or large sizes. If a company that uses
a client/server system expects to grow significantly it is likely
that the server-side platform and the workstation software would have
to be replaced.
How Java Works
Using Java, a middleware layer is designed
creating a multi-tier or n-tier architecture. This middleware
layer acts to coordinate the activity of the workstations throughout
the enterprise as they interact with the database. This allows
retailers to add a more robust database on one end or more workstations
on the other without having to replace the whole system. Since
Java is platform independent, retailers can chose the retail system
components that best meet their needs. Even though middleware
allows for greater choice in hardware, less money is invested
in computing power. That is because Java middleware holds the
"business logic" at the server-side instead of in each terminal.
Acting as the perfect manager, it only asks for what is necessary
and then stores it away, ensuring data integrity and reducing
endless cycles of slow processing time. Two-tier architecture
does not have this benefit and must continuously pass large amounts
of data to and from the database. As retail becomes more educated
in Java, retail management software companies are finding it more
difficult to delay the impending development time needed to elevate
retail into this next stage of technology efficiency. Retailers
who are looking for a live, scalable solution should bring their
demands forward. The technology that retail has been waiting for
is here now and for the future.
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Java is platform independent so retailers can chose the system
components that best meet their needs.