Forecast via the
Web?
- The Prophecy Client software is fully web enabled. Users with web-based access have exactly the same functionality as locally based users.
- In fact, Prophecy gives you several access options. The first is to use the Prophecy Windows Client in 'local' (i.e. non-web) mode against a drive letter and path / UNC. You can see this in action by downloading the Prophecy Evaluation System.
- For web-based sales forecasting, use the Prophecy Windows Client in 'web' mode. In this mode the client transparently generates http (hyper-text transfer protocol) conversations with the Prophecy Web Server component via an intranet or the internet. This conversation is completely transparent to the user, who simply runs the Prophecy Windows Client as normal. The Prophecy Evaluation System runs in 'local' mode, but the user experience of running in 'web' mode is virtually identical.
- No other forecasting and planning software that we know of has successfully migrated to the web without compromising functionality. With Prophecy, web based users enjoy the same functionality as standard users - powerful reporting and analysis, graphs, statistical algorithms, transparent real-time fast hierarchical recalculations and 'backsolves'.
Advantages of Web Based Forecasting
- Access forecasting and planning information from anywhere in the world - all you need is an internet connection.
- Allows you to optimise performance by capitalising on the power of your server hardware - moves the heavy-duty recalculation onto the server for maximum performance.
Can I Use Prophecy With a Modem Connection?
- The short answer is 'Yes'! Prophecy runs surprisingly quickly over a modem connection due to its advanced real-time data compression algorithms and run-time memory caching.
- Of course, a faster connection enables a more satisfying Prophecy session, but a modem based Prophecy session is very workable.
What About Security?
-
The Prophecy
Server component is actually a Microsoft Internet Information Server
extension library (ISAPI dll). This means that client requests
pass through Microsoft Internet Information Server before they get to
the Prophecy Server Component.
- Therefore, before a user can access Prophecy over the web they must successfully authenticate with your web server using NTLM / Integrated Windows authentication. With correct configuration and the latest security patches installed, Microsoft Internet Information Server authentication will protect your Prophecy database as effectively as it currently protects your existing network / web site from security breaches.
- In addition, you should be aware of how Prophecy breaks database access into a series of 'stateless' http transactions between Client and Server. The data involved in these transactions is mostly raw binary and compressed data which would be meaningless to anyone able to successfully intercept packets of the transactions between client and server.
- In summary, the bottom line is that Prophecy via the web is as secure as the rest of your network. With appropriate precautions you can be extremely confident that your Prophecy data will be securely protected from intruders.
Speak to an expert now. Call :+44 (0)1494 785574
