Dun & Bradstreet Corp’s Dun & Bradstreet Software Co, Atlanta, Georgia, is shipping SmartStream DE, Distributed Enterprise, which now in release 4.0, has been enhanced for distributed enterprises with integrated client-server financial, manufacturing and information management applications. SmartStream DE distributes data, workflow and business processes throughout an enterprise, the company says. It runs under HP-UX, Solaris, AIX, Digital Unix, Windows NT, and has been upgraded to support Windows95 clients. It runs over IBM LAN Server, NetWare, DEC Pathworks and TCP/IP networks. SmartStream DE has a component-based structure that enables users to move to a client-server system incrementally. It is designed to enable data, workflows, reporting and query capabilities, structures, intelligent agents, transaction services, job scheduler and business processes to be created once and replicated or distributed to the servers that support users. Data can reside with associated applications on the same server, so applications don’t have to access the same central database, the company says. Enhancements include Distributed Intelligent Workflow, in which workflow is embedded in the SmartStream DE architecture and can be distributed to servers throughout an enterprise. SmartStream DE’s workflows can be configured to automate many routine activities and can launch third-party applications. Workflows can initiate electronic mail to outside vendors, customers or partners; facsimile and telephone also can be integrated. Workflows can be designed graphically in SmartStream DE using an application called Business Process Maps. Objects can be pulled using drag and drop to set off a specific chain of events for each pre-determined activity. SmartStream Builder, a tool set based on Powersoft’s PowerBuilder organisations, can generate distributed client-server applications that include all of the distributed components in the architecture.
Workflow programming interface
SmartStream Builder can integrate system extensions, workflow and electronic mail into existing applications. SmartStream Builder also enables users to change window contents without changing window structures and alter data views without changing code. SmartStream contains an integrated electronic help desk called Assistant, linking customer sites and D&B Software support. It can operate over the Internet, private and dial-up. Application programming interfaces for workflow, scheduler and electronic mail are also now included. A new Workflow programming interface enables SmartStream transactions to generate electronic mail to non-SmartStream users or to launch third party applications. A new Scheduler applications programming interface enables batch jobs to run anywhere, and enables SmartStream to interface with monitoring tools such as HP OpenView. Smartstream’s decision support tool set has been re-written for the DE release to include a distributed structure and data analysis. It also supports Pilot Software Inc’s on-line analytical processing Lightship suite. Decision support components now reside on the server rather than the client, and executables can be distributed across servers. Written in Visual Basic, it includes a new graphical user interface Navigator with customisable filtering and tailoring, a Query module with output to Excel, 1-2-3 and ASCII text; a Reporter, which has formatting options; and a Management Reporter for report templating. The SmartStream DE core applications now available include SmartStream Financials, a financial management system that includes ledger, receivables, asset management, payables, allocations and consolidations. Other applications include SmartStream Procurement and SmartStream Budget. SmartStream Financials supports multi-national sites, currencies and languages. SmartStream Manufacturing & Distribution, an Enterprise Requirements Planning system that has integrated manufacturing and distribution applications, is also now available. It includes Indented Bill of Materials, Manufacturing Requirements Planning
, Scheduling, Inventory, Order Management, Customer Management, Cost Management and Purchasing. D&B has also released SmartStream Decision Support to access and analyse financial, manufacturing, and personnel data. In the spring 1996, D&B will release SmartStream Payroll and SmartStream Benefits for SmartStream Human Resources, which supports a number of personnel functions. SmartStream DE, costing from $100,000, is priced based on modules purchased, the number of users, and network configurations.
