| Data Processing has changed greatly over time. While | | | | organizations can transform and enhance their internal |
| one can track the beginnings of the modern analytical | | | | processing while integrating their interactions with |
| computer to Charles Babbage (1791-1871), we really | | | | customers and suppliers. |
| saw the beginning of modern day information | | | | The key to modern day data processing is not simply |
| systems during World War II when they were used | | | | the automation of some manual process. Today, |
| as code busters. After the war, few anticipated how | | | | business realizes that data processing, information |
| much computers would affect our lives. Early on | | | | systems, change the very processes that are used |
| even IBM thought that there would only be a handful | | | | to run the business. They not only do same things |
| of companies that would need a computer. | | | | more efficiently, the do thins differently. |
| In those days, computers were massive systems | | | | In the past an order was printed and sent to a |
| based on vacuum tubes and core memory. With the | | | | supplier. The order was received and, if the item was |
| advent of the integrated circuit, computer | | | | in stock, it was shipped. Items not in stock were |
| architectures took a giant leap forward. The | | | | placed on back order. Today with Supply chain |
| mainframe systems of the late 1980's evolved into | | | | integration, the entire supply chain is integrated into |
| Client/Server applications of the early 1990's. In | | | | one network. Warehouse management software |
| parallel, the Internet grew from a few engineer and | | | | notifies suppliers when stock levels drop and order |
| research systems to a World Wide network. It | | | | are placed. The suppliers themselves use data mining |
| wasn't until an Al Gore authored bill allowing | | | | and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) |
| commerce to be carried out over the Internet did | | | | software to predict ordering patterns and anticipate |
| things really start to change. Every business, every | | | | customer needs. |
| organization, had to carve out a space on "The Net." | | | | Even how businesses interact with their customers |
| The ubiquitous nature of The Internet made it the | | | | has changed. In the past, businesses used mass |
| perfect way for business to have a global reach | | | | marketing to appeal to the greatness number of |
| while maintaining a local presence. Soon, application | | | | possible customers. Today, we have mass |
| vendors were making Internet based applications. | | | | customization where businesses on a group basis |
| Today, solution providers are exploiting service | | | | provide customized goods and services. |
| oriented architectures and BPEL to provide more agile | | | | No, this is not your father's data processing. No |
| environments in which to do business. | | | | longer is the world of data processing a |
| Today, combining Internet access with massive, | | | | pocket-protector clad engineer's world of spinning |
| inexpensive compute power, data processing has | | | | tapes and punched cards. Today, data processing and |
| been transformed from an ancillary function of | | | | data entry affects all our lives in ever new and more |
| accounting departments to mechanisms by which | | | | exciting ways. |