J.D. Edwards Extends WorldSoftware Support to 2005
Responding to the continued popularity of its WorldSoftware line, J.D. Edwards & Company (Denver) has extended support of this AS/400-specific product from 2002 to 2005. JDE has also established a new WorldSoftware Organization that will focus on developing new products and tools to enable AS/400 customers to tap into emerging e-business applications and stay competitive.
A host-centric solution that provides a full range of applications to enable organizations to compete in various markets, WorldSoftware has been around since the AS/400’s inception and has approximately 4,000 customers.
| For WorldSoftware customers, the extended support and formation of a new organization is big news, especially considering the fact that there has been no new WorldSoftware tools or products released in the last 18 months. |
“We decided to extend support of WorldSoftware because of our customers,” says John Schiff, director of solutions delivery, WorldSoftware organization. “They were happy with it, but they wanted additional support as they made plans for the future.”
Effective Nov. 1, the WorldSoftware organization will focus on customer support, research, and development, in addition to sales, support, service and training. The new offerings will extend the capabilities of WorldSoftware customers by including features such as extensions for storefront offerings, B2B, B2C, WebSphere, and CRM. “We have a lot of high-end customers that want to go to storefronts, and CRM is another big thing they were looking for,” says Schiff.
Interoperability is another main feature that the WorldSoftware organization will be focusing on. “Our customers want an open choice for integration,” Schiff adds. “We’ve embraced a strategy called integration protocol infrastructure that gives customers the ability to integrate process capabilities.”
The WorldSoftware organization will offer interoperability with e-business applications such as J.D. Edwards CRM and e-procurement. In addition, the company will develop new user interfaces for WorldSoftware that will enhance the usability of the Windows and browser (Java) graphical clients.
For WorldSoftware customers, the extended support and formation of a new organization is big news, especially considering the fact that there has been no new WorldSoftware tools or products released in the last 18 months. “This is not a flash-in-the-pan organization, we are committed to bringing new tools to our AS/400 customers,” says Schiff.
To help protect their customers’ IT investment, J.D. Edwards will provide a migration path for WorldSoftware customers to move to OneWorld, its modern product line. “We’re continuing to see WorldSoftware customers move to OneWorld,” says Schiff. “A lot of customers want to stay with WorldSoftware, but when they’re ready to move, we’ll be there to help them make a seamless transition.”
Schiff was also quick to point out that 2005 is not a final deadline for ending support for WorldSoftware. “2005 is a review point, at that time we’ll take a look at the product line, get feedback from our customers, and then decide what direction to take.”
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