The Technology Approach
FloSuite’s product architecture and functional specification incorporate 30 years of customer input from top tier professional services organisations, and business applications development experience across a multinational corporate and public sector client base.
Since the launch of early Microsoft.NET beta releases, this expertise has been focused on designing an innovative product built from the ground up on .NET that enables business analysts to develop and easily evolve composite applications.
In simple terms, this means that FloSuite’s sophisticated data modelling and User Interface (UI) design capabilities encompass far more than automated data collection and integration.
FloSuite enables users to build complex-process centric products that encompass functions and features from multiple external applications and FloSuite itself. This is achieved without stepping outside the product framework to develop bespoke code.
Service Oriented Architecture
FloSuite leverages a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), integral to which is the product’s modular architecture and use of Web Service technology throughout.
Microsoft.NET
FloSuite is a 'true' Microsoft.NET application that has been co-developed with some of the world’s largest legal and professional services organisations. It leverages .NET, SOAP, XML and other emerging standards to provide a powerful, agile and extensible framework.
Product Composition
The FloSuite product comprises three core elements:
1: FloDesigner
FloDesigner is the modelling environment, where business analysts can graphically define: process workflows (which are automatically converted into XML-based workflow definition files), complex organisational structures, database structures, forms and integrations. FloDesigner’s process definitions are submitted to the FloServer workflow engine for activation and execution.
Sample functions of FloDesigner:
- Graphically design processes centric applications using MS Visio without having to step outside the framework for sophisticated requirements
- Build composite business applications that utilise existing system data and functions
- Define data attributes and data structures using visual tools
- Graphically map organisational structures
- Create actions that drive processes in third party systems
- Link template documents and forms to active content
- Set conditions and branches for process workflows
- Utilise existing standard plug-ins to leading document, contact and financial management systems
Additionally, FloDesigner includes an integration environment that allows users to create Data Comunication Components (DCCs) that provide interfaces to third party data sources using a simple Wizard-based tool. This enables users to integrate popular mail, document management, contact management and financial systems using its graphical interface.
There is also a Developer Toolkit to allow software developers to create their own DCCs using a DCC Wizard via an automated DCC registration capability.
2: FloServer
FloServer is the workflow/run-time engine that controls the execution of processes and retrieval of data.
Sample functions of FloServer:
- Assigns tasks and process actions
- Manages process milestones
- Drives legacy system automation processes
- Creates documents and records process actions
- Manages user profiles and access rights
- Registers Data Communication Components as data providers and consumers
3: FloClient
FloClient is the workflow client which manages security and user access to application functionality. It controls user access to FloServer’s capabilities via a Web interface, dependant upon defined application access rights. It offers the ability to interact with FloSuite applications via Web client, SharePoint, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office, or whatever other methods are convenient for your user profile. FloSuite’s server can also expose its developed applications as Web Services.
Configuration options for FloClient are controlled using FloAdmin, a Microsoft Management Console-based interface for administrators.
Sample functions of FloClient:
Control and manage user access on the basis of:
- User profiles, groups, roles and relationships
- Organisational hierarchies, departments and their relationships to users, roles and competencies
- Team-based task allocations and target group-based business workflows
FloClient provides:
- User-defined views and reports for filtered action lists and management information
- Internal ‘global data’ for structures/information that does not exist in current external systems, but is required to run the desired application (negates any need to ‘step outside’ the framework)
- ‘Detachable’ Web Parts for action and process lists to support third party portal integration
- Ability for forms to be invoked and utilised outside the client to support flexible UI design and interaction