This report outlines various architectural options for an XML infrastructure, with an emphasis on application development in the middle tier of Web sites. It provides information about using XML data servers to store and access XML data. After reading this report, you will be able to make decisions about the type of XML data server that is best suited for your application needs.

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is an exciting development for the Internet. It is already seeing significant use as a means for exchanging data for business-to-business applications. As these XML applications continue to expand, it becomes important to determine how XML data will be stored and retrieved since these functions are necessary to support e-commerce.

In this Executive Update, we will explore two issues based on the latest survey results from Cutter Consortium: first, the percentage of surveyed companies that are using components; second, the types of component models they're using. The survey data is drawn from major companies in North America and Europe.

Until recently, the purchasing function and supply chain systems were considered corporate backwaters. How things have changed: a feature section on supply chain management strategies made it to the cover of the October issue of CIO magazine. The main thrust of the article is that we have done a wonderful job integrating the enterprise, and now it's time to do the same across the supply chain.

IT applications outsourcing of this sort is becoming increasingly popular as demand for new functionality continues to outpace IT capacity, and companies rush to expand into new markets.

Process productivity limitations, combined with IT staff shortages, are forcing companies to increasingly hire outsiders to build applications for them. The problem is, how do you know if a contractor can deliver what it promises during the courtship (aka proposal) phase?

In Parts I and II of this article ( August and September 2000 BIA), I

Data mining and statistical analysis tools vendor SPSS, Inc. has released nViZn, a software development kit (SDK) for building browser-based visual analysis applications in Java. nViZn combines excellent visual data analysis, tightly integrated with SPSS analytics.

1010data +1 212 430 6560

Sagent Technology has just announced its new enterprise information portal (EIP) -- Sagent Portal. In a nutshell, Sagent Portal combines the company's data mart/analytical platform and Centrus data integration/data enhancement products, with the Sequoia XML Portal Server, which Sagent has licensed from Sequoia Software.

Recently, I had the opportunity to discuss the Sagent Portal with the Sagent folks. Here's an overview of Sagent Portal and why I think it's important.

The emerging electronic economy has created an entirely new focus on the critical importance of managing customer relationships. Competition for customers is increasing in every major industry. New technologies are rapidly changing the realm of what is possible in customer contact, care, and insight. Customer expectations for quality, service, and value are constantly on the rise.

© 2000 by Frederick C. Van Bennekom and Mikael Blaisdell. All rights reserved.

© 2000 by Frederick C. Van Bennekom and Mikael Blaisdell. All rights reserved.

Obsession with technology often leads us to miss the obvious in our search for the inobvious. Customer relationship management (CRM) is no exception, with the data mining, Web warehousing, clickstream tracking, and channel integration solutions that are being feverishly deployed by e-businesses.

Obsession with technology often leads us to miss the obvious in our search for the inobvious. Customer relationship management (CRM) is no exception, with the data mining, Web warehousing, clickstream tracking, and channel integration solutions that are being feverishly deployed by e-businesses.

As Y2K infrastructure build-up and retooling efforts wind down, corporate America is focusing on the development of software applications that will enhance its service offerings. E-business and customer relationship management (CRM) initiatives are the two main areas of such growth. The media have cultivated the e-business sound bite but have been slow to publicize CRM.

As Y2K infrastructure build-up and retooling efforts wind down, corporate America is focusing on the development of software applications that will enhance its service offerings. E-business and customer relationship management (CRM) initiatives are the two main areas of such growth. The media have cultivated the e-business sound bite but have been slow to publicize CRM.

If you are charged with selecting or implementing a CRM solution for your organization, it is imperative that you understand the business drivers that propel this application area. Recent journal and magazine articles gloss over the CRM business drivers with sound bites such as "the age of the never satisfied customer," or "The Network Economy driver," and so on.