J2EE and web-based tools for office automation

Office Automation for the 21st Century

Business process automation is taking the corporate environments by storm. Technology components skillfully replacing manual processes work to reduce costs, increase efficient operations, and reduce those risks inherent with human process management.

Our office employs J2EE (a Java 2 platform) to build iterative and cyclic engine-driven solutions. Having had a market pare-down - as is common in today's marketplace - the company opted for reduction in operating costs and increasing shareholder confidence; enter business process automation.

J2EE Advantages

Java engine-driven processes reduce the time-consuming and laborious process of manual handling, data entry, and error prone business management. J2EE allows for uniformity across operational platforms, thereby eliminating the variety of manual assessment and handling issues which arrive when humans manage large volumes of data.

J2EE improves the error-prone validation process; often business management processes are built as much on personal preference and emotion as a strong business model. When this technology is employed and coded, the decisions are set and variation is unknown. Additionally, J2EE creates a rapid and accurate automation process, saving time and money in today's marketplace.

Best Practices

Developed by Sun Microsystems, the Java technology operates on a phenomenal premise: build a tool or system and it will manage the process across any platform without the need for additional software, firmware, or hardware. Several features make this an excellent choice - presentation tiers handle client interaction, communication protocols can range from HTML to the ever-more desirable XML.

Group Collaboration Tools

When a group requires on-the-fly, secure, and convenient collaboration, J2EE is an excellent host. Our office uses Orchestra - a web-based communication initiative and ultimate collaborative solution.

Web-based Collaboration Software Advantages

When using a web-based collaboration environment; several highly useful tools are made available to all involved. These can include whiteboard displays and file saves, instant messaging in synchrony and real-time, accessible at all times, proactive data 'pushes' to the recipients - replacing the passive 'search and grab' technology of the 1990's.

Flexibility, scalability, and accessibility are three of the most important factors when designing a communication portal for experts and participants in any business arena.

Web-based Collaboration Software Disadvantages

The inherent disadvantages to the tools we use in our environment are few. Site licenses are not available since it is managed over the Internet - thereby incurring monthly expenses. Most importantly, however, is the potential for the loss or theft of proprietary information; files left unprotected can end up in the hands of competitors and countries where damage can be placed on all parties.

Summary

The emergence of high-form technology is one of the historical markers for the Information Age. For this technology to be effective, however, one must weigh the costs - personal, financial, enterprise-wide, and societal - and bear them carefully and with intelligence.

COMMITTEES

Crossdraw knows how difficult it is to get volunteers to commit to deadlines, attend meetings, and work through group processes. Orchestra allows volunteer committees to complete their tasks quickly by making it easier for them to access accurate information upon which to base their opinions and decisions. As new members join a particular project or issue discussion area, they are presented with an easy to follow chronology of events and instantly know to which level the discussion has progressed.

MEMBERS ONLY

Orchestra allows you to set up restricted access categories that are visible only to qualified members. You choose who is granted access to the site, or who may no longer view the information posted there. You can even choose which members may add postings or initiate discussions in restricted categories, and which members have read-only access.