When a top customer asked MaddenCo Inc to make its
text-based software product compatible with the customer's Web ordering system,
there was never any question about complying. The real issue was whether it
would pay off and whether it could be done at a reasonable cost. The answer to
both questions has been a resounding "yes".
MaddenCo, a leading provider of software for tire dealers
headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, USA, has had a thriving business for more
than 20 years. It markets and supports the Tire Dealer System, a comprehensive
business management tool that handles every aspect of the tire-selling process.
The product, currently used by 200 dealers and wholesalers at more than 1,400
points of sale across the United States, has a large base of loyal customers in
an industry where text-based applications remain the standard.
Consequently, when one of the world's largest tire
manufacturers approached MaddenCo's president Greg Madden in 2004 and asked him
to enable his application to interface with the manufacturer's Web site, the
request came as a surprise: "We were happy, successful and comfortable in a our
text-based world ", said Madden. "And then, one of our clients asked us to
support a graphical interface- and it has been one of the smartest moves we have
made".
To get the job done, Madden Co went to GeneXus USA,
GeneXus Master Distributor in the USA. Madden had a long and successful track
record using GeneXus to build and maintain his existing text-based system, and
knew that the company could once more deliver an innovative solution.
Linking two disparate
systems
The tire manufacturer wanted to
allow each of its authorized dealers to order tires from its Web site, but have
its wholesalers, most of whom use MaddenCo's system, process the orders and
deliver tires. For this to happen, the manufacturer's website and MaddenCo's
System would have to seamlessly and transparently exchange data. The problem was
that MaddenCo's text-based application was not compatible with the tire
company's Web portal and its graphical user interface. The two systems used
different software languages, so MaddenCo needed GeneXus to find a solution to
let the disparate platforms communicate with each other.
The solution: Web
Services.
The GeneXus team developed a
series of web services based on the concept of Service Oriented Architecture
(SOA) that linked the tire manufacturer and MaddenCo applications, creating a
robust inquiry and ordering system.
"Websphere and GeneXus allowed us to implement this
solution without rewriting any of MaddenCo's current application code
whatsoever", said Dane Drotts, president of GeneXus USA. "If we had had to
change the code to link MaddenCo to the tire manufacturer, the cost in time and
money would have been enormous".
Madden agreed: "I can't express how important it is that
the solution of IBM and GeneXus allows the tire manufacturer's site to interface
directly with our existing text-based programs running on IBM AS/400", he said.
"The solution allowed us to preserve our existing investment in technology,
which is an extraordinary achievement."
More customers, new
opportunities.
MaddenCo has realized
significant benefits from the IBM and GeneXus solution. Because it now supports
a Web interface, the company has opened door to new business opportunities.
MaddenCo has already seen a rise in new business in the year since the Web
Service solution was implemented in early 2005: it has added 26 new customers
compared to 15 in the prior year. This increase is partly due to the incentives
offered by the tire manufacturer to wholesalers and dealers to install the
MaddenCo system, if they were not using it yet.
The Web Services solution offers tire wholesalers and
dealers a choice they never had before, which increases customer satisfaction.
"If a customer loves our system but wants a graphical user interface on the
front end, we can now provide it", said Madden.
Several new MaddenCo business partners, including one in
Canada and another in Australia, are already successfully connecting their Web
front ends with MaddenCo's current applications linked via the Web Services, for
customers seeking the most modern tire dealer system available. Furthermore, Web
Services allow MaddenCo to support new features with its system, such as credit
card processing.
"We were doing great with our text-based system, but we
are now positioned at an entirely different level," Madden said. "The IBM and
GeneXus solution has made our product more innovative, expanded our market and
made us more competitive. It will allow us to grow our business significantly in
the years to come"
To see the complete text of the success story published on
IBM's Web site go to:
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/success/cssdb.nsf/cs/JKIN-6MVQSB?OpenDocument&Site=software (HTML)
http://www-304.ibm.com/jct09002c/isv/marketing/industrynetworks/automotive/success/genexus_success.pdf (PDF)
GeneXus USA
http://www.genexus.com/usa
MaddenCo.
http://www.maddenco.com