I like your enthusiasm alot!
Here's something else to look at as evidence of Novell's forward thinking....although it's not consumer-related (directly) it does offer some of the back office services that consumer related business will need. Sorry for the long post, I edited what I could...
Peter
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Metastorm Announces Integration of its Powerful Web-Enabled Workflow Solution, e-work 4.0, with Novell Informs 4.3
PR Newswire - January 21, 1999 14:46
SEVERNA PARK, Md., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/
Metastorm, Inc., a leading provider of business automation and Web-enabled workflow solutions, today announced the integration of version 4.0 of its leading workflow product, e- work, with InForms 4.3 now shipping from Novell, Inc. Through integration with e-work, InForms can be used in concert with e-work's powerful workflow capabilities, including Web-enabled workflow, to greatly enhance workflow processes and productivity for InForms users.
Metastorm and Novell jointly develop and market InForms and have synchronized the recent releases of both e-work and InForms. Through integration with e-work, InForms users can now utilize e-work's advanced workflow and middleware capabilities, while continuing to benefit from the investments made in InForms. Over 500,000 InForms users have developed several thousand e-forms for a wide variety of applications. These forms can now be incorporated into e-work processes, enhancing workflow with features such as:
* e-work's ability to conduct workflow over the World Wide Web;
* e-work's sophisticated database workflow architecture securely logs the details of every transaction in an industry standard database (typically Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server) for reporting and analysis purposes;
* Timer control of processes, ensuring that procedures are always carried out on time;
* Integration with third-party applications -- e-work is designed to provide tight integration with an organization's existing applications such as ERP systems, personnel and accounting systems, sales and case management programs; and,
* Role-based access and rules control of business processes.
The integration between InForms and e-work allows for the complete bi- directional flow of data between InForms and e-work. e-work also integrates with Novell GroupWise, which allows GroupWise users to have alerts delivered to their GroupWise email in-box with To Do, Watch, and Blank Forms folders. The forthcoming release of e.work will also offer integration with Novell Directory Services (NDS), allowing enterprises to manage users and roles from within their existing directory service -- a major breakthrough for enterprise-wide deployment of any business process automation program.
"The integration of InForms and e-work allows organizations to leverage e- work's dynamic workflow capabilities to create much more value for InForms users," said Avi Hoffer, chief executive officer of Metastorm. "Our goal is to deliver an open workflow platform that enables organizations to utilize their existing resources. With complete integration with e-work, InForms users can use e-work to improve access to information and conduct collaborative workflow processes over the Web."
"InForms 4.3 is our latest effort to provide a business automation product that addresses the needs of businesses to manage and share information more efficiently, " said Tom Rhoton, director of product marketing for Novell, Inc. "By integrating InForms with e-work, we offer businesses the ability to benefit from e-work's powerful workflow capabilities while allowing them to capitalize on investments already made in InForms. This combination truly maximizes the reach of workflow across the entire enterprise."
Metastorm today also announced the general availability of e-work 4.0. e- work is a breakthrough Web-enabled workflow software application that enables businesses and other organizations to easily design, deploy and manage automated business or workflow process on networked PCs and across the World Wide Web. Release 4.0 of e-work includes many feature enhancements -- Web- enabled workflow; a completely new Integration Wizard(TM) that allows easy integration with existing applications; a new Sub-Procedure concept that allows multiple activities to proceed in parallel; and Common stages that can reduce by as much as 25 percent time taken to develop e-work applications. (For more information about the latest enhancements in e-work 4.0, see Metastorm press release dated January 21, 1999.)
InForms 4.3 is the second joint product release between Novell and Metastorm. In cooperation with Novell, plans are in place for the continued advancement of InForms. These include enhanced application development and forms functionality, continued support for open standards, continued integration with GroupWise and Novell Directory Services and support for Internet/intranet Web-form application development.
About Metastorm
Metastorm is a leading provider of business automation and Web-enabled workflow solutions. Through its family of products and services, Metastorm helps government agencies, corporations, and other organizations rapidly deploy workflow solutions to optimize and reengineer business processes centered around transaction- and process-oriented operations. Under an agreement with Novell, Metastorm develops Novell InForms, the electronic forms solution for Novell networks. Metastorm also develops and markets e.work, the breakthrough Web-enabled workflow solution. Through its Federal Services division, Metastorm Elite, the company is the pre-eminent supplier of electronic forms-based solutions to over 20 U.S. Federal government agencies.
SOURCE Metastorm, Inc.
CONTACT: Chad Couser of Brodeur Porter Novelli, 202-973-2912, or
ccouser@brodeur.com; or e-mail press@metastorm.com/
More info on Novell and this company!!
metastorm.com
metastorm.com |
