Coolprofs

Clients

User friendly online ordering site for C1000 makes use of StyleAdapter

Rob Jasper Support Engineer:

“COOLProfs knew how to make the C1000 slogan ‘No gimmicks, just good value’ ring true.” ”

Assignment

To develop a presentation layer for the web based application that enables C1000 store managers to order promotional items online.

Motivation

Up till now, C1000 store managers ordered promotional items using an order form produced by a mainframe application. The laborious task of printing, sending and tracking paperwork was a time-consuming and costly affair. This led to the decision to phase out the mainframe application replacing it with a new ordering system. The chosen solution was a web application, built with AllFusion Gen, which could be started up from the Schuitema portal.

In order to provide the C1000 store managers with user friendly access to this web application, the help of COOLProfs was enlisted with their StyleAdapter product. StyleAdapter provides a very practical and easily maintainable 'template' with which to define a standard, taking into account both house style and UID (User Interface Design) norms.

Approach

Using the existing applications and the portal as a basis, COOLProfs built an initial prototype with its StyleAdapter product.

In a series of workshops with line management and the Corporate Communications department, the definitive version was finally arrived at. This version will now be used as the standard in all company communications. The independent presentation layer will be used in all new applications developed with AllFusion Gen.

The use of StyleAdapter means that the presentation layer is separate from the application. In this regard StyleAdapter fits perfectly into the general layered application architecture. Any changes in the outward appearance of the web application are now made in the presentation layer and not in the application itself. This makes it easier to maintain and modify the application. In this way, modifications are faster and have the added advantage of lower maintenance costs.

As different colour combinations are sometimes needed, COOLProfs is working on a multiple colour scheme facility in StyleAdapter. As soon as this is ready Schuitema will get the new version.

Benefits

• The presentation layer was delivered well ahead of schedule by COOLProfs, which meant Schuitema was able to extensively test the presentation layer and implement it without problems.

• By using the StyleAdapter, Schuitema can now offer sales advice using dynamic images: providing supplementary information about products and special offers is a piece of cake. Even advice on ‘how to sell the goods' can be got across using photos.

• Using StyleAdapter saved half a day in development time for each screen. This has meant a considerable saving in terms of both cost and overall time.

• The new presentation layer can be installed at the touch of a button in other applications developed using AllFusion Gen.

• The ‘look and feel' of the presentation layer was decided on in close collaboration with Corporate Communications and has now become the standard for all web applications.