KPMG to Integrate Visual Studio With Legacy Applications
KPMG, a professional services firm, has announced an initiative that will make use of Microsoft Visual Studio and Back Office 4.5 products for simplified Web-based applications interoperability. KPMG is extending its national network of Solution centers to serve as Microsoft platform development and demonstration sites for clients.
The announcement was made in conjunction with the launch of the Microsoft Visual Studio Interoperability Center, a Web-based resource offering enterprise developers access to key Microsoft technologies. With skills in a wide range of operating environments, packaged applications and middleware, KPMG’s integration professionals will use the Visual Studio to help companies transition to enterprise-wide information sharing and data warehousing.
“Many companies have enterprise data geographically dispersed on multiple platforms. The challenge becomes how best to enable the sharing of this information. As a tier one solutions integrator, KPMG has the skill set with the Visual Studio suite of development tools to enable sharing—regardless of location—and rapidly deliver application interoperability and data warehousing capabilities to our clients,” says James Monastero, partner, electronic commerce for KPMG. “The extension of the Solutions Centers underscores the value we see in Web-based application interoperability.”
KPMG’s clients will be able to have integrated Web applications that interoperate with IBM mainframes, AS/400 and Unix systems connected to Microsoft Windows NT- and Windows 2000-based servers. KPMG will take advantage of current interoperability technologies such as direct COM connectivity to IBM CICS transaction-based systems and OLE DB database drivers for DB/2, AS/400, VSAM and Oracle databases.
“Application integration has become a necessity for many organizations as they compete to provide new customer services and product offerings,” says Tom Moser, a project manager working for Westinghouse Electric Company, a KPMG client. “By using KPMG to design a secure Internet site for our extensive parts catalogue function, both our customers and our organization can reap the benefits of application interoperability. Westinghouse customers will soon have more efficient access to our products and we’ll be better equipped to fulfill their needs.”