Compuware helps firms avoid web bottlenecks with monitoring platform update

Compuware is updating its application performance monitoring (APM) platform to give businesses a clearer picture of where their applications are slowing down.

The company said that the Spring APM release would aim to provide better reporting and monitoring of end-user access and loading times, as well as increased focus on how cloud platforms and third-party tools are impacting performance.

Designed for enterprise applications ranging from finance and e-commerce to travel and media services, the APM platform aims to provide businesses with reports on application performance and alert administrators to possible slowdowns.

The latest version of the tool will bring a renewed focus on applications that run at what the company terms the "edge of the internet" - end users who access applications on both desktops and mobile devices.

With the addition of reporting tools for Android and iOS, as well as support for multiple browsers and platforms, the company is looking to provide more complete reports on how users are accessing applications.

Claudia Dent, vice president of product management for Compuware APM, told V3 the focus on mobile comes as the company sees many of its customers look to optimise their applications for new devices and platforms.

"Our customers are expanding into new areas. In general what we are seeing is cloud and mobile native applications are the big thing that everyone is starting to bring into operational maturity," Dent explained.

"Everyone is starting to realise that if their native application does not function well, it is a black mark on their brand."

Additionally, the company said that the Spring update will link performance tools for multiple platforms and service providers. In addition to enterprise platforms, the APM update will allow for performance measurement at the web service provider and even to a local internet service provider level.

The company hopes that the update will not only provide new information to users, but also allow firms to replace hastily-built custom systems which may be currently used to gather and analyse data on multiple platforms.

"They typically put all kinds of parts in and they try to glue it together with some custom integration that is incredibly fragile," Dent said.

"[APM] enables customers to have full visibility without having to deploy piece-part solutions."