In the years ahead, the Web browser may be the portal to great apps.
When developers see that their applications are running in a sub-optimal environment, it's time to make a change. Fear of this process may hold some companies back, but those that take the plunge can end up with a better option. For instance, Salesforce.com and Force.com users may realize that they have problems with some of the current limitations of this platform, such as the use of proprietary code languages.
The time spent teaching developers to cope with APEX or SOQL could be saved and used to create more and better applications. Employing a new Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) environment could be easier than leaders assume, and their Force.com apps can come along.
Rather than continuing with Force.com, users can make the immediate switch to a new PaaS option such as Progress® Pacific™ and gain access to the Progress® Rollbase® rapid application development platform. The differences with Force.com are telling. For instance, Rollbase development can be performed faster by quickly uploading pre-built tables, code blocks and JavaScript. This means developers with these skills come into the project ready to act, and leaders don't have to schedule specific training sessions for these employees.
The ability to deploy the environment in a chosen location is also at issue. Cloud platforms are inherently flexible, some more so than others. For instance, Progress Pacific can not only be deployed either in-house or in the public cloud, but assets can be distributed flexibly between locations to form a hybrid deployment. Companies are realizing that not all of their resources demand one type of hosting, and specialized tools can help accommodate these requirements.
After reviewing the options and deciding to make the jump, business leaders don't have to worry about losing the work already put into app development or the data created and stored by those programs. The applications can be replicated in the new environment, taking the information along. Even page layouts will be preserved, meaning it will take remarkably little new coding to get processes up and running again.
Whether developers are moving their CRM tools or any other software designed on the Force.com platform, the resources are there for them. Seeing a new way forward but not taking it could be a mistake in today's fast-moving landscape. It's good practice to move toward the ideal state for the app environment and embrace a new platform capable of creating the software that will power the business in the years ahead. If older apps can be converted to come along, that potentially saves even more time.
An experienced content and social media marketing professional, Michelle writes frequently about the practical applications of information technology.
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