IBM WebSphere Commerce

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WebSphere Commerce

Developed by	IBM
Latest release	6.0 with fix pack 4 (6.0.0.4)
OS	Cross-platform
Genre	Internet application
License	Proprietary
Website	http://www-306.ibm.com/software/genservers/commerce/wcbe/index.html

IBM WebSphere Commerce is a next-generation e-commerce software solution. It is the single, unified platform which offers the ability to do business directly with consumers (B2C), with businesses (B2B), and indirectly through channel partners (indirect business models), or all of this simultaneously.

WebSphere Commerce is a customizable, scalable and highly available solution built on the Java - Java EE platform and uses open standards, such as XML, and Web services. It is IBM's electronic commerce solution, within the WebSphere middleware brand and is well suited to both small and large businesses.

1 Versions
2 Primary components of the solution
3 Operating Systems
4 Features and benefits
5 Enhancements to version 6.0
6 Solutions
7 External links

[edit] Versions

It all started back in 1996, with the product called Net.Commerce, starting with versions V1.0, V2.0, V3.1, and V3.2.

In 2001 the Net.Commerce product was renamed to WebSphere Commerce, releasing versions V4.1, V5.1, V5.4, V5.5 and V5.6 until 2004.

The last two versions are described in detail in their respective Information Centers:

In 2005 Version 5.6.1 Information Center
In 2006 Version 6.0 Information Center

See also some history described on Looking back page.

There are three editions of WebSphere Commerce. Each edition provides an increasing set of functionality.

Express: WebSphere Commerce Express
Professional: WebSphere Commerce Professional
Enterprise: WebSphere Commerce Enterprise (note: this was previously known as WebSphere Commerce Business Edition)

Since WebSphere Commerce is highly customizable, IBM provides an integrated development environment in which you can build and test your customizations which extend the business logic or change the look and feel of your website. This product is called IBM WebSphere Commerce Developer. There is also 3 separate editions of the developer product. As with other IBM products, WebSphere Commerce Developer uses IBM Rational Application Developer (RAD) as the foundation of the IDE:

WebSphere Commerce Developer: WebSphere Commerce Developer

[edit] Primary components of the solution

As with any Web application, WebSphere commerce has 3 main components:

A Database
A J2EE Application Server
A Web server

The supported databases are:

DB2 (Windows, AIX, Solaris, Linux and i5/OS) DB2 is provided with the product (except i5/OS)
Oracle
Cloudscape (for WebSphere Commerce Developer only) It is provided with the Developer product.

The only supported application server is IBM WebSphere Application Server and that is provided with the WebSphere Commerce product.

The supported Web servers are:

IBM HTTP Server. It is provided with the product (except i5/OS)
Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)
Sun One/Sun Java System Web Server

[edit] Operating Systems

The following operating systems are supported

AIX
i5/OS (AS/400)
Solaris
Windows
Linux (on xSeries, pSeries, iSeries, and zLinux))
- Red Hat Linux
- SuSE Linux

Pages detailing prerequisites, supported operating systems, databases and servers per each release:

[edit] Features and benefits

All editions of WebSphere Commerce 6 (Express, Professional and Enterprise) of IBM WebSphere Commerce Family include the following features:

Starter Stores for direct B2C and B2B business models
Multi-cultural and localization support
Order Management
Marketing and Merchandising using Marketing and Merchandising Tools
Analytics and business intelligence using either Coremetrics Cross-Channel Analytics or WebSphere Commerce Analyzer (WCA) additional software
Operational reports
Customer care
Payments using WebSphere Commerce Payments or new Payments plug-in architecture
Catalog import utility
Web-based framework tools called WebSphere Commerce Accelerator, including:
- Product Management Tools
- Store Style Editor
- Change Page Text Editor
Fast-path documentation
Open standards support - Built on accepted, industry standards like Java technology, JavaServer Pages, Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) and XML, WebSphere Commerce can be easily integrated to your existing, in-house developed middleware and systems including IBM CICS, IBM WebSphere MQ, IBM IMS products and SAP R/3.
Developer tools, standards-based, rapid application development environment that uses and extends IBM Rational Application Developer based development environment.

In addition, the V6 Professional and Enterprise versions include also the following additional features:

Gift Center for WebSphere Commerce provides retailers with a complete multichannel gift registry solution.
Sales Center for WebSphere Commerce gives call center representatives the functionality they need to service and upsell cross-channel customers, see training on IBM Sales Center customizations on IBM PartnerWorld, note: for IBM Business Partners only
Cross-channel Order Processing provides cross-channel business processes to efficiently serve customers, contact-center representatives, gift registrants, distribution channel partners and others. Interfaces integrate with external systems such as POS, kiosk, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and fulfillment systems (Multi-channel order management).
Workspaces and Attachments
E-mail Template Editor
Auctions
Sales Catalogs
Collaborative Content Management

However, only the V6 Enterprise version includes also the following features:

Contracts and Entitlements
Starter Stores for indirect business models:

All three versions of WebSphere Commerce Developer V6 (Express, Professional and Enterprise) include:

Development database (Cloudscape database) that is pre-configured to work with WebSphere Commerce and has all of the starter store archives pre-published for fast start.
Support for switching to DB2 and Oracle as the development database.
IBM Rational Application Developer providing an open, comprehensive development environment for building dynamic e-business applications and Web services specifically for WebSphere Commerce, such as for example:
- Roles based development
- WSDL design
- Schema design
- Service skeleton and proxy generation
- Interactive Service Explorer
- UDDI search and publish capability
- Local and remote WebSphere unit test
- Test case generation
- WS-I conformance testing
WebSphere Application Server V6.0 providing a premier J2EE and Web services application platform to help build, run, integrate and manage dynamic business applications.
Tools and plug-ins:
- Enterprise bean conversion tool
- JSP batch compiler
- WebSphere Commerce JSP viewer
- Optimistic Locking plug-in validating that CMP entity beans can use optimistic locking and migrating EJB projects to use optimistic locking
Starter Stores facilitating quick and easy online store modification to include those WebSphere Commerce features they want to present to their customers.
Enhanced store configuration services allowing Line-of-Business users to more quickly and easily modify the online store to include those WebSphere Commerce features they want to present to their customers with no IT involvement required.
Store Creation Wizard provides for easy creation of hosted stores. Key Capabilities include:
- Store Profile
- Styles
- Store Files Mgmt
- Store Text
- Store Logo
Extensive online help for application developers with API and command reference information, fully integrated into the development environment.

Additional features are continuously provided through Enhancements

[edit] Enhancements to version 6.0

In addition to features provided with WebSphere Commerce V6 additional new features are provided regularly by WebSphere Commerce Enhancements for version 6.0. These enhancements are delivered as installable Feature Packs, sample reference applications or documented solutions in white papers.

WebSphere Commerce enhancements at a glance:

Feature Pack 1 Customer empowerment

Enhanced Web Analytics
- Coremetrics for IBM WebSphere Commerce auto tagging utility
- Coremetrics Tag Library support for WebSphere Commerce versions,5.6 and 5.6.1
- Coremetrics reports for WebSphere Commerce
WebSphere Commerce and content management system integration with IBM WebSphere Portal 5.1.0.4
Integration to IBM Commerce Module for OmniFind Discovery Edition for enhanced search and navigation

Feature Pack 2 Customer empowerment

The New Web 2.0 Store Model
Improved Search Engine Support via Sitemap Integration
Enhanced Web Analytics
- Reports for IBM Sales Center for WebSphere Commerce
- Reports for e-mail campaigns
WebSphere Commerce and content management system integration with IBM WebSphere Portal 6.0
Contract terms and conditions

Feature Pack 2 Front-office integration

WebSphere Commerce Portal integration

Feature Pack 1 Back-office integration using SOA enhancements

Improved Service Orientation and Web services support for back-office integration, including JCA adapters for Web Services, reference applications and pre-defined Web Services for integration with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Order Management Systems (OMS)
- WebSphere Commerce and SAP system integration
- WebSphere Commerce and Sterling Customer Order Management PCA (Sterling COM PCA) integration

Feature Pack 2 Paymentech plug-in for WebSphere Commerce

Paymentech plug-in for WebSphere Commerce
Compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards

Feature Pack 3 IBM Management Center for WebSphere Commerce

See also some Further information about Enhancements:

Announcement page: IBM WebSphere Commerce Enhancements for Version 6

Version 6.0 Information Center: What's new - WebSphere Commerce Enhancements for version 6.0

Training on WebSphere Commerce 6.0 Enhancements on IBM PartnerWorld: WebSphere Commerce 6.0 Enhancements T3 - Replay Note: Requires IBM User ID and PW.

Download page: IBM WebSphere Commerce Enhancements for version 6.0 Note: Requires IBM User ID and PW.

[edit] Solutions

Automotive: Automotive Dealer Collaboration Support critical business activities including parts and inventory replenishment, warranty claims management and collaborative communications.
Electronics: Electronics Sales and Service industry solution customer-focused strategies, processes and tools designed to help increase loyalty, revenue and profit.
Government: e-Government Portals Deliver portals that provide relevant, time sensitive information and self-service transaction capabilities to citizens, businesses, suppliers and employees
Industrial: WebSphere Commerce for B2B and Channel Management Enhance B2B revenue and reach through closer, more responsive customer and partner relationships
Retail:
- WebSphere Commerce for B2C and Multi-Channel Retailing Maximize loyalty and walletshare with a rich, seamless shopping experience across sales channels.
- WebSphere Integrated Multichannel Retailing industry solution Create competitive advantage and maximize profitable revenue by seamlessly integrating sales channels and touchpoints.
Cross-industry: Strategic Sourcing and e-Procurement Reduce costs and cycle times across both direct and indirect spend categories.

[edit] External links

Categories: Electronic commerce | IBM WebSphere

IBM WebSphere Commerce

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

[edit] Versions

[edit] Primary components of the solution

[edit] Operating Systems

[edit] Features and benefits

[edit] Enhancements to version 6.0

[edit] Solutions

[edit] External links

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