Smart Client.
 
 
Smart Client Demo Features Toolkit Investment Home
Smart-Client. This is modern software architecture at it’s finest. Gone are the antiquated days of web-clients (browser windows or explorer based java applets), or even thin-client (terminal services, citrix etc) - systems that have remained within the general insurance industry too long. The world’s top applications are .Net, SQL, smart-client applications, including the vast majority of all new applications or applications under development, and its easy to see why investment is flowing in this direction.
 
Smart-client applications are vastly superior for two simple reasons. Flexibility and Performance.
benefits Allows local resources to be used such as memory, processing power and devices connected to the client. Provides the sort of performance which a pure Web-based application cannot achieve. Integrates with local software like Microsoft Excel or Outlook to create very powerful solutions. Combines the benefits of an Internet-based solution with the ability to access and update complex data stores. Provides central control of the software updates and deployment. Performance By using a Smart Client application, you can input data throughout the day which is then loaded into the central database when you connect to. Previously, you may have entered the data twice, or even hand filled forms. In addition, you will have up-to-date prices and product information.   Similarly, by using Smart Client, any observations made at a clients site can be input directly into the application which has a rich user interface. These are uploaded to a central server at the end of the day. This data can then be analysed and reported upon instantly.
The flexibility of smart client is tied into the way the application is constructed. It is an application that has been developed in two separate parts. This requires more development work and hence is more expensive, but it’s an investment that pays off. The first part is the application that sits on the workstation (written in .Net, the world’s most advanced programming language) and it’s this application that contains the bulk of the programming work. The other application is for the database, which sits on a server (written in Microsoft SQL 2005, the world’s latest, most advanced and feature-rich database programming language, and probably the world’s easiest to maintain). The two applications work together, but also independently.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The architecture of smart-client allows a basic workstation to operate as fast as any normal computer-installed application (like Word, or Excel). There’s no waiting, and no lag. However, the master database of all the files and information is kept on the SQL database server, so the workstation talks to the server when it needs information.
However, some information is kept (secure and encrypted) as cached information on the workstation. You see, the workstation application is smart enough to update certain information when it’s not too busy. This is where the term ‘smart-client’ was born.
 
The main flexibility benefit however comes from the very small server to workstation bandwidth that is required, and the fact that the workstation and server are independent. This is the reason that smart-client renders the legacy concept of ‘ASP’ applications completely obsolete. Historically, there have been differences in a ‘local’ and ‘ASP’ versions. That’s not the case with smart-client, as there is only ever one version. You can put the data (the physical SQL server) anywhere – your office, or perhaps your head office.
 
Smart Client - Local Server
Server accessed via VPN
Its all exactly the same. An intermediary with ten offices can have one server in the head office, and all staff at all offices will work perfectly. That’s the reason why agencyPlus is programmed to recognise the structures and permissions of each office separately (agencyPlus is a multi-broker, multi-branch, multi-activity application). A multi-office broker can be their own ASP provider!