Idera, parent company of global B2B software productivity brands, recently announced that it has acquired Yellowfin, the embedded data analytics and business intelligence platform for augmented business users and developers.  With this, Yellowfin joins apilayer, Embarcadero, Filestack, Froala, FusionCharts, LANSA, Sencha, UltraEdit, and Whole Tomato as a part of Idera’s Developer Tools Business. Yellowfin brings  … continue reading
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SD Times news digest: Idera acquires Yellowfin; Fastly launches Fastly Academy; Jellyfish raises $71 million in Series C

Low code tools offer drag and drop interfaces that allow employees (citizen developers) to create powerful solutions regardless of whether or not they have vast coding expertise. As a result of low code platforms, businesses can increase productivity and speed up product delivery. End-users who understand your company’s business processes can develop their own solutions, thereby reducing manual internal processes. Low code modernization is a worthy endeavor, it requires the right vision and the right partners. To get the most productivity out of low-code modernization, you must choose the right toolset that's the right fit for your needs. Hybrid Low-Code solutions
Rapidly changing market conditions and the need for continuous innovation is the new reality for businesses in today’s economy. Another reality, however, is that adapting to these through legacy application development may take longer than you think. This is because the modernization process can be tedious and sequential. As a result, many organizations find themselves in a game of catch-up as they try to meet evolving customer needs. A New Software Development Paradigm
Thankfully, low code modernization is changing the software development paradigm. Businesses do not need to follow the waterfall model in their modernization initiatives. They do not need the services of many new programming language experts. Nor do they need to invest months or years in development. Instead, low-code tools offer drag and drop interfaces that allow employees (citizen developers) to create powerful solutions regardless of whether or not they have vast coding expertise. As a result of low code platforms, businesses can increase productivity and speed up product delivery. They can relieve the workload on their IT departments. End-users who understand your company’s business processes can develop their own solutions, thereby reducing manual internal processes. For example, in a recent TechRepublic survey, 71% of the respondents who already use low code tools say they use them to automate workflows, create new applications, speed up development time, automate data collection, and reduce the burden on developers. When also asked about the benefits of using low code, the majority chose “increased productivity.”
To get the most productivity out of low-code modernization, you must first choose the low code toolset that’s the right fit for your modernization needs. You need a toolset that not only speeds up application development but simplifies even more technical processes. No matter how fully packed your toolset is, however, to unlock its full potential you must employ it effectively. This means:
1. Identifying potential low-code modernization opportunities. 2. Partnering with the right low code development platform. One with a proven track record of providing tailored strategies unique to clients’ modernization needs. How Can I Identify Low-Code Modernization Opportunities? To gain the most productivity from low-code you need to empower end-users or employees with the tools to create or improve business solutions. Most importantly, however, you need to do it without increasing your IT workload. IT must remain free to focus on more technically demanding tasks. Your job is to identify these opportunities within your business. It is also important to note that your areas of modernization are specific to your organization. No two companies have the same needs. Because modernizing certain processes worked for another organization, it doesn’t mean that approach is right for you. How Do I Find The Right Low-Code Partner? While low code modernization is a worthy endeavor, it requires the right vision and the right partners. Low-code platforms can be divided into two categories: model-based and language-based. Both platforms provide great benefits for rapid application development. Both provide a quick way to start developing applications. They provide a quick and easy starting point that you can further enhance with additional platform options. They are very different, however. After the initial application creation and quick starting point, model- and language-based low-code platforms start to differentiate themselves. Both approaches use similar theories but differ vastly in how they allow the application to be completed. Language-based Low Code
Language-based low code, allows developers to write code in a low-code solution. This is one of the most powerful application-creation processes available to developers today. It combines the benefits of low code’s quick application creation process with the benefits of traditional programming’s ability to solve complex integrations and problems. This means your developers can be more effective and efficient. To get the most productivity out of low code modernization, you need a partner that offers language-based low code application development. One who understands your business, as well as your short- and long-term goals. Your partner must take a holistic approach to software and process, and possess a proven track record of delivering a tailored strategy unique to your company. Be sure to have your partner connect you with other like-minded customers with similar needs and provide a working proof of concept as part of your evaluation. Your ideal partner will base its success on the success of your modernization project. Visual LANSA
Visual LANSA is a language-based low-code solution. In fact, one could make a case that it is the first enterprise-ready low code solution. It combines the flexibility and control of traditional programming with the benefits and concepts of low-code principles. Using the Visual LANSA platform, you can stay inside the IDE to create a solution for all your complex processes and custom integration needs. A developer can learn one language and start creating enterprise applications at speed with low code. Increased Flexibility
Using the programming language inside the IDE gives LANSA greater flexibility. The same programming language can be used for server-side and client-side applications and objects. In traditional coding, a developer may use PHP as the server-side language and a combination of Javascript and HTML/CSS for the client-side. Similarly, In model-based low-code, a developer might create the client-side portion in the low-code IDE. Then, they would have to code a separate, external connector depending on how complex the data retrieval is. With Visual LANSA, however, they code the entire application in one IDE using one language. Visual LANSA really is a single, one language platform for creating any application. It doesn’t matter whether you’re deploying to mobile, the web, a server, or locally. Increased Productivity
Visual LANSA increases the speed of the application-creation process over traditional coding. It automatically creates lines of code simply by having you answer a few questions. Your answers to those questions let Visual LANSA  automatically create a server module or reusable part any other application can reference. So not only do your developers have to write less code, but they can create programs, functions, and modules that can be reused in other applications. Visual LANSA even uses the same process to create entire enterprise frameworks and web applications. It really is that simple, you answer a few questions, and the platform creates your structure and layout for you. By using Visual LANSA, your developers can write up to 10x fewer lines of code compared to traditional coding. Moreover, they retain the ability to code complex solutions if they need them. That is something other low-code platforms simply cannot do. Future Proof
As web technology changes and new, more efficient programming languages come into use, Visual LANSA applications will remain unaffected. Visual LANSA separates the coding language from the underlying technology that runs the applications. In essence, Visual LANSA can easily keep up with web technology without ever having an impact on your developers. The code for how a Visual LANSA application runs on the web can change, but the underlying code that executes the processes and logic remains unaffected. This design model ensures that Visual LANSA is future-proof and eases any fears that Visual LANSA applications will be outdated years down the road. Visual LANSA can be a cloud-based solution, but you can also install it on-premises. It doesn’t matter if it is on a Windows server or IBM i. In fact, Visual LANSA is the only low-code solution that can be installed locally on an IBM i. With the flexibility to install Visual LANSA in-house and run applications locally, you never have to worry about losing cloud service should a platform fold or stop being supported. Visual LANSA ensures that your applications will run well into the future without worry. aXes
aXes is another unique LANSA solution that converts 5250 applications to web pages on the fly. No programming skills are required, and you certainly don’t need access to the source code. You simply install aXes on the IBM i, and your employees have secure access to their 5250 applications from any web-enabled device, including phones and tablets. What’s more, your end users generally don’t need to install anything on their devices. The work is all done on the IBM i.  aXes is a simple but powerful solution for accelerating your IBM i digital transformation. One of the benefits of leveraging aXes is the luxury of scaling. If you need to add mobile capabilities to your IBM i applications, you can do just that and add other functionalities as time allows. Let’s look at a quick illustration of the evolution from 5250 green screens to a web-enabled UI with aXes. Here’s a basic green screen
And here’s the same screen, albeit web-enabled with aXes. Using aXes functionalities, this took minutes to convert. Rapid Application Modernization Process (RAMP)
RAMP is an incremental modernization approach that implements the best of refacing existing applications and new development. By consolidating existing functionality with new capabilities inside RAMP’s application framework, you get to have the applications you want without having to throw everything away. Here, modernization is performed in stages, you can introduce new functionality incrementally without serious impact to business operations, and the user interface becomes consistent across all of the applications. This solution is an application framework deployable as a Windows desktop or web browser application. The framework allows you to assemble applications from components built with RPG, Visual LANSA, Visual C#, .NET, HTML pages, and many more into a single application. You can even add in your aXes applications. This flexibility makes RAMP the perfect tool for combining applications created for short-term needs with applications created or being created for long-term goals. RAMP allows users to sign into a single application and access all the apps they need to work remotely successfully. But this is not just a solution for our current situation. Combining commonly used applications into one framework is a great way to increase employee efficiency and productivity. What did LANSA Present At COMMON POWERUp 2021? The two LANSA presentations during this year’s COMMON POWERUp 2021 virtual conference were by LANSA’s Andrew Vaiciunas and  Grant Cooper. The presentations aimed to empower developers with over a dozen approaches to modernizing your IBM i applications. From user interface enhancements to including low code development on the IBM i. Are You Ready To Increase Productivity? Low-code modernization in itself is powerful. However, to maximize productivity, you need the two steps listed in this article. 1. Identifying potential low-code modernization opportunities, and
2. Partnering with the right low code development platform. One with a proven track record of providing tailored strategies unique to clients’ modernization needs. With LANSA’s modernization solutions, you can maximize time, be increasingly productive, and stay a step ahead of your competition. Ready to get started maximizing your productivity through low-code? Contact us!

How To Get The Most Productivity Out Of Low-Code Modernization

The media talks about the Fourth Industrial Revolution (also known as Industry 4.0) and the technologies driving it, such as AI (artificial intelligence), ML (machine learning), and Big Data. The majority of enterprises today still use outdated IT systems and legacy applications. The risk of being outdone by the competition is very real, especially for companies operating in free and actively developing markets. There are many solutions designed to make innovations easy to implement and accessible even for small and medium-sized businesses. It seems that in the enterprise IT world of today, digital transformation is on everyone’s mind. The media talks about the Fourth Industrial Revolution (also known as Industry 4.0) all the time. They are busy highlighting the business benefits of enterprise system modernization and the technologies driving it, such as AI (artificial intelligence), ML (machine learning), and Big Data. Even though the benefits of digital transformation are very real and very achievable, Industry 4.0 is just beginning to unfold. The majority of enterprises today still use outdated IT systems and legacy applications. In this environment, businesses of all sizes are feeling increased pressure to kick-start their digital transformations as soon as possible. Why can’t enterprises neglect digital transformation? Modernization itself is not a bad idea. On the contrary, there are many reasons why businesses should be jumping on the digital transformation bandwagon. Here are some of the most important ones:
Risk of Being Left Behind
As the market adopts innovations that allow businesses to be more productive and cost-efficient, those that fail to keep up have already noticed the signs of underperformance. This is especially true when it comes to measuring their metrics and KPIs. The risk of being outdone by the competition is very real, especially for companies operating in free and actively developing markets. Increasing Maintenance Costs
Maintenance costs are another big reason pushing enterprises into digital transformation. Outdated systems are normally more expensive to maintain compared to new tools. As a result, these expenses tend to increase over the years as providers discontinue the support for solutions reaching the end of their life cycles. Productivity Issues and Inability to Implement New Tech 
As businesses accumulate more and more data measuring the performance of Industry 4.0 solutions, the gap between different generations of enterprise tools becomes increasingly obvious. Using legacy systems is one of the main barriers to achieving the level of productivity and cost-efficiency required for a company to be successful in 2021. This is because legacy systems make it difficult to implement new business-empowering technologies. In a nutshell, neglecting digital transformation gets increasingly pricey for enterprises. Moreover, business leaders can no longer avoid or postpone it. The cold reality is that they have no choice but to modernize legacy systems and implement new tools to remain cost-effective. And this is when the problems and challenges arise. When does digital transformation become a problem? The issues businesses are facing when trying to implement digital transformation solutions can vary. Essentially they always revolve around cost-efficiency and business productivity indicators. Estimated Costs of IT Modernization Are Too High 
When it comes to implementing digitization projects, business leaders tend to underestimate the actual costs and complexity of innovation. Depending on the size and field of an enterprise, modernizing old solutions can be expensive. Many companies can’t afford or are unwilling to allocate millions to update their IT infrastructures. Unfortunately, this mindset persists even though the money spent generates a high ROI. Implementing New Tools Takes Too Long
Many businesses typically underestimate the amount of time and effort required to implement new tools and solutions. It can take months or even years to complete an enterprise modernization project. Considering multiple risks of a full-blown digitization, some business leaders lean towards postponing or limiting changes. Business Benefits are not Guaranteed
Enterprise IT systems are very complex. Implementing new solutions requires careful planning. It involves taking different components and various levels of business operations into account. Due to that, companies are never immune to failure. Done incorrectly, there is always the potential lack of measurable benefits or new business problems after “modernizing.” 
What is the Right Way to Approach Digital Transformation? Luckily, these problems are not insurmountable. They can be overcome by learning from others’ experiences, approaching digital transformation with a proper attitude, and applying the right tools. There are many solutions designed to make innovations easy to implement and accessible even for small and medium-sized businesses. Let’s look at a few key recommendations on how to achieve quick and measurable results without a massive budget. Use Low-Code Platforms for Development and Deployment
Using low-code platforms such as Visual LANSA to develop and deliver new enterprise applications is one way to significantly reduce the time and resources required to transform. Another way is to modernize and moving old apps to the cloud. Compared to traditional application development, low-code greatly minimizes hand-coding in multiple languages. It also maximizes code re-use, reduces risk, and eliminates the need to find elusive and costly full-stack developers. Empower Your Current Staff with Better Development Tools
 IT departments in today’s business environment can struggle to keep up with multiplying business needs. This is because they don’t have enough staff and resources at their disposal. Hiring more software developers and engineers is the most obvious solution to this problem, but it also comes with a slate of other challenges. With the number of development languages, technologies, and frameworks spiraling out of control, qualified developers are hard to find. They are also expensive to hire and often lack understanding of what your business actually needs. The alternative to hiring more staff is to provide your current employees with better development instruments. The LANSA platform offers the tools and solutions you need to turn your current IT staff into full-stack experts with minimal training. Keep Your Enterprise Applications Simple
The more complex your enterprise tools, the higher your business risks. This is you should keep your solutions simple. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, considering the need to support different devices, form factors, browsers, server platforms, and operating systems. LANSA shields developers from having to worry about how to deploy their projects across multiple architectures or platforms. As a result, they can focus on building applications that will deliver real value to your business. As an example, LANSA supports the migration of applications between any hybrid-mix of Cloud and on-premise Windows, Linux, or IBM platforms with little or no code modification. Utilize the Data
Finally, the ability to organize, control and use data is one of the key components of digitization project success. It is important to make sure that your system is able to collect and analyze data effectively. You also need to be able to transfer the data across platforms without delays. LANSA’s low-code platform allows you to extend data from any database on any platform to your web, mobile, and desktop applications. You can also use web services and APIs to support data flowing through existing back-office systems and business processes. To give an example, with LANSA’s Business Rules Engine tool, you can externally define system-wide business logic in a single repository. You can achieve this without coding rules at the application or database level. The Data Services Layer by LANSA then enforces these centrally defined rules and data constraints throughout all LANSA-developed applications, regardless of what platform they are deployed on. How can I turbocharge the digital transformation at my organization? It is not unusual for business leaders who are facing the need to modernize IT systems to feel overwhelmed and powerless, not having enough resources for digital transformation efforts, and uncertain about potential risks. LANSA Hybrid Low-Code solutions are fast to deploy and easy to maintain delivering outstanding value for any application development project. Ready to get started? A piece written by: By Anton Trukhanov

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Achieve low-code productivity while maintaining control of coding
AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)– #IBMi –LANSA, a provider of low-code application development platform tools, today announced the release of Visual LANSA V15+ with new features to develop progressive web applications (PWAs), combining the efficiency of low-code with the versatility of traditional coding. Visual LANSA V15+ is the company’s flagship offering targeting low-code and IBMi development. PWAs offer a seamless experience across any platform that uses a standards-compliant browser, including mobile and desktop devices. They are typically built with common web technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, often requiring significant coding for the service worker and manifest that controls PWA behavior. Visual LANSA V15+ allows users to build PWAs with an intuitive drag-and-drop UI, leveraging standards like Google Material Design, which are built into the designer. In addition, Visual LANSA V15+ automatically creates the PWA service worker and manifest so a developer doesn’t have to be concerned with how an app will interface with a device. This release continues the platform’s commitment to provide the most cost-effective low-code offering in the market that addresses both app development and maintenance. Additional Visual LANSA 15+ features include:
User-defined PWA capabilities: Using cache storage on the browser, drag-and-drop application resources can be saved and used in the app for improved performance and a better user experience; developers can select Cache First or Network First to set their caching strategy. Customizable routing framework: Speeds application performance by organizing routes and links, and ensures requested resources are routed to the right cache storage; end users can continue to interact with the apps rather than seeing a page spinner while they wait for content. UX improvements: Within the IDE, help developers organize routes, create views with routing, and organize all cache resources; combine a low-code wizard approach with developer-friendly flexibility to deeply customize code. “Unlike other low-code platforms that still require manual coding of different PWA components, Visual LANSA V15+ uses low-code features to eliminate these tedious and time-consuming tasks. This allows developers to focus on creating solutions instead of spending time on coding functionality and helps businesses realize high ROI from their low-code investments,” said Craig Trautman, General Manager of LANSA. “With this new ability to easily create PWAs, Visual LANSA V15+ strengthens its position as the most powerful enterprise low-code app builder available.”
Join LANSA on Wed., Jan. 27 at 10:00 am CST for a live webinar to learn more about PWAs and the business cases for using them. Register here. To learn more about Visual LANSA V15+, visit the LANSA blog or download the whitepaper . About LANSA
LANSA is the original low-code, high-productivity software development platform for mobile, web, and desktop applications. Visual LANSA’s unique low-code development platform, system integration, and digital transformation technologies reduce hand-coding, support multiple languages, and empower development teams to build applications up to 10x faster. More than 8,000 organizations in 65 countries use LANSA’s platform to develop, maintain, and integrate their business applications, ensuring a consistent look and feel with minimal coding. Customers include JPMorgan Chase, Kawasaki, TruGreen, Vistar, and Walt Disney, among others. LANSA is a division of Idera, Inc. To learn more, visit https://www.lansa.com/ . Contacts

Visual LANSA V15+ Unveils New Features to Accelerate, Simplify the Creation of Progressive Web Applications in Low-Code Environments

Achieve low-code productivity while maintaining control of coding
January 19, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
AUSTIN, Texas--( BUSINESS WIRE )--LANSA, a provider of low-code application development platform tools, today announced the release of Visual LANSA V15+ with new features to develop progressive web applications (PWAs), combining the efficiency of low-code with the versatility of traditional coding. Visual LANSA V15+ is the company’s flagship offering targeting low-code and IBMi development. PWAs offer a seamless experience across any platform that uses a standards-compliant browser, including mobile and desktop devices. They are typically built with common web technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, often requiring significant coding for the service worker and manifest that controls PWA behavior. Visual LANSA V15+ allows users to build PWAs with an intuitive drag-and-drop UI, leveraging standards like Google Material Design, which are built into the designer. In addition, Visual LANSA V15+ automatically creates the PWA service worker and manifest so a developer doesn’t have to be concerned with how an app will interface with a device. This release continues the platform’s commitment to provide the most cost-effective low-code offering in the market that addresses both app development and maintenance. Additional Visual LANSA 15+ features include:
User-defined PWA capabilities: Using cache storage on the browser, drag-and-drop application resources can be saved and used in the app for improved performance and a better user experience; developers can select Cache First or Network First to set their caching strategy. Customizable routing framework: Speeds application performance by organizing routes and links, and ensures requested resources are routed to the right cache storage; end users can continue to interact with the apps rather than seeing a page spinner while they wait for content. UX improvements: Within the IDE, help developers organize routes, create views with routing, and organize all cache resources; combine a low-code wizard approach with developer-friendly flexibility to deeply customize code. “Unlike other low-code platforms that still require manual coding of different PWA components, Visual LANSA V15+ uses low-code features to eliminate these tedious and time-consuming tasks. This allows developers to focus on creating solutions instead of spending time on coding functionality and helps businesses realize high ROI from their low-code investments,” said Craig Trautman, General Manager of LANSA. “With this new ability to easily create PWAs, Visual LANSA V15+ strengthens its position as the most powerful enterprise low-code app builder available.”
Join LANSA on Wed., Jan. 27 at 10:00 am CST for a live webinar to learn more about PWAs and the business cases for using them. Register here. To learn more about Visual LANSA V15+, visit the LANSA blog or download the whitepaper . About LANSA
LANSA is the original low-code, high-productivity software development platform for mobile, web, and desktop applications. Visual LANSA’s unique low-code development platform, system integration, and digital transformation technologies reduce hand-coding, support multiple languages, and empower development teams to build applications up to 10x faster. More than 8,000 organizations in 65 countries use LANSA’s platform to develop, maintain, and integrate their business applications, ensuring a consistent look and feel with minimal coding. Customers include JPMorgan Chase, Kawasaki, TruGreen, Vistar, and Walt Disney, among others. LANSA is a division of Idera, Inc. To learn more, visit https://www.lansa.com/ . Contacts

Venzee lets suppliers host their product data and media, making it available to their retailers via multiple channels that improve current workflow. Venzee's API provides access to that data, enabling developers to automate the e-commerce supply chain through the creation of apps and services.

Venzee

Vancouver , BC> -- June 20 , 2018 -- Venzee and LANSA are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive partnership agreement to bring together LANSA 's Product Information Management solutions with Venzee 's data distribution capabilities .

Venzee Technologies Partners With PIM Provider LANSA
Venzee Technologies Partners with Product Information Management (PIM) provider, LANSA.

BLUE Software is a provider of Label and Artwork Management solutions for marketing, retail, consumer brand, and life sciences companies. BLUE's SaaS label and artwork management applications simplify the label and packaging process through automated workflow templates, online proofing tools, and digital asset management.

BLUE Software

The integration of BLUE Software and LANSA systems provides joint customers a cohesive view of their product information and facilitates the management of change in a product 's lifecycle .

BLUE Software and LANSA Partner to Accelerate Distribution of Accurate Digital Content

Label Insight, previously known as FoodEssentials, is a cloud-based product data engine committed to helping brands and retailers unlock the value of their product data. The company translates basic product information into smart attributes, such as nutrients and allergens, providing brands and retailers with a deep understanding of their product set.On May 17th, 2021, Label Insight was acquired by NielsonIQ. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Label Insight

The partnership also makes participation in the SmartLabel initiative fast and easy for LANSA customers , as their product information can be automatically mapped to SmartLabel pages via Label Insight 's SmartSPEC solution .

Label Insight and LANSA Partner to Deliver Complete View of Product Data.

1WorldSync offers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) network that enables brands to securely and continuously share critical product data with a community of retailers, operators and distributors across industries, including consumer goods, foodservice, electronics and healthcare.

1WorldSync

SA2 Worldsync provides data management services including global data synchronization, product information management, and electronic data interchange. It is based in Cologne, Germany.

SA2 Worldsync

New Model Venture Capital

Mitem

BAE Systems

Lyons Consulting Group

Global Capacity

ConferencePlus

Baan

Unattributed VC

Acquired

LANSA provides application development, modernization and integration tools and ebusiness solutions for iSeries, Windows and Linux.

Name	Work History	Title	Status
Martin Fincham	New Model Venture Capital, Mitem, and BAE Systems	Chief Executive Officer	Former
John Nannenhorn	Lyons Consulting Group, Global Capacity, ConferencePlus, Baan, and SAP	Chief Financial Officer	Former

Name	Martin Fincham	John Nannenhorn
Work History	New Model Venture Capital, Mitem, and BAE Systems	Lyons Consulting Group, Global Capacity, ConferencePlus, Baan, and SAP
Title	Chief Executive Officer	Chief Financial Officer
Status	Former	Former

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