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IFS First to Deliver Embedded Enterprise Application Search
IFS brings the benefits of "Google-like" enterprise search to business applications
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Aug. 20 /-- IFS, the global enterprise applications company, today announced the delivery of integrated enterprise application search (EAS), making it the first top-tier enterprise application vendor to embed this critical functionality within an ERP system.
EAS gives information workers access to business information through a "Google-style" search-based interface that is embedded within the enterprise application. In contrast, other enterprise application vendors and best-of-breed search tool companies are offering solutions bolted onto the outside of applications. According to IFS Chief Technology Officer Dan Matthews, this approach presents a number of drawbacks in the areas of security, usability, and cost.
"Since the enterprise application search functionality is embedded within IFS Applications, there is nothing else to buy and no additional licensing fees," Matthews said. "Furthermore, there is no costly, months-long implementation project to configure the search tool to your systems. The search functionality is already fully integrated. By integrating search functionality within IFS Applications, we avoid the main problems that plague bolt-on search appliances, allowing organizations to get the benefits much sooner."
According to Matthews, it is hard for an external system to perform effectively as a search tool as it does not fully understand the application and underlying metadata it is running within. Because it is an integrated part of IFS Applications, IFS' EAS delivers more targeted results than a generic enterprise search. For example, a user can tell the IFS Applications' EAS tool that the scope of the search should be invoices, spare parts or customers, and only the specified data will be returned.
"Security is another advantage the IFS Applications' EAS tool has over external enterprise search tools," Matthews said. "There are horror stories about enterprise searches that make files and data available to people within an organization who are just not authorized to see that data. Hypothetically, you should be able to program a bolt-on enterprise search appliance to prevent that, but it will not be as secure as an integrated search tool like IFS enterprise application search, which automatically respects existing security rules."
According to Matthews, bolt-on enterprise search tools will have a role to play when searching a broad spectrum of structured and unstructured data within a company, but they will not fill the role of an integrated search tool.
"For a number of reasons, other application vendors may be slow to market with integrated search," Matthews said. "IFS' research and development efforts are dedicated to adding value to IFS Applications. Some of our competitors market too many different applications to allow them to cost-effectively add EAS. Others offer a technology stack including middleware and naturally want to offer a search tool that can be used with a wide variety of their technologies."
"This market first is indicative of IFS' approach to technology innovation," IFS AB President and CEO Alastair Sorbie said. "Now that many of our historic rivals have been acquired by large conglomerates, IFS is one of the only independent software vendors still investing heavily in their product. We have the resources and the intent to add market-leading functionality to IFS Applications, and are agile enough to bring this functionality to market well before our larger competitors."
About IFS
IFS (OMX: IFS), the global enterprise applications company, provides solutions which enable organizations to respond quickly to market changes -- allowing resources to be used in a more agile way to achieve better business performance and competitive advantage.
IFS was founded in 1983 and now has 2,600 employees worldwide. IFS has pioneered component-based ERP software with IFS Applications, now in its seventh generation. IFS' component architecture provides solutions that are easier to implement, run and upgrade. IFS Applications is available in 54 countries in 22 languages.
IFS has over 600,000 users across seven key vertical sectors: aerospace & defense; automotive; high-tech; industrial manufacturing; process industries; construction, service & facilities management and utilities & telecom. IFS Applications provides extended ERP functionality including customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM), product lifecycle management (PLM), corporate performance management (CPM), enterprise asset management (EAM) and maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities.
More details can be found at www.ifsworld.com/.
IFS Applications is a trademark of IFS Industrial and Financial Systems. All other referenced company or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Chuck Rathmann of IFS North America, +1-262-317-7419, chuck.rathmann@ifsna.com
Web site: www.ifsworld.com/
