CA unites fragmented ebusiness systems

Computer Associates (CA) will launch an intelligent ebusiness software suite this week, departing from the company's traditional focus on systems management.

Charles Wang, CA's chief executive, unveiled the Jasmine intelligent infrastructure (ii) ecommerce platform during his opening address at CA World on Sunday. Wang highlighted Jasmine ii's neugent (neural agent) and visualisation features.

Jasmine ii is an object-based platform for developing and deploying ebusiness applications. It uses different technologies, such as databases, middleware products and email, with a single common interface. It is more than an enhancement of CA's object database management system.

Graham Brown, director of analyst Neaman Bond Associates, described Jasmine as the glue that connects front and back-end ebusiness infrastructures. He said CA is positioning itself as a provider of choice that can address the fragmented technologies and performance failures that have plagued ebusiness.

Brown added that CA needs to sell the benefits of its software and not get infatuated with the technology.

Yogesh Gupta, senior vice president at CA, said the company's major focus is building businesss-to-business exchanges and other ecommerce systems using Jasmine ii. "Users need a complete ebusiness solution on an ecommerce platform," he said.

"Websites need visualisation and dynamic personalisation, which will only be delivered if all information is integrated." Security and manageability are also crucial, he added.

As an example, Gupta demonstrated an insurance portal that used neugent technology to suggest policies for users.