Technology

Business Component Architecture Overview

Vizola has over several years developed an architecture for rapidly building objected-oriented business solutions, which we have named BCA. 
In essence this consists of tooling developed in VB, including an Object Definition Editor (ODE) and a few core ActiveX server components which together provide a default set of handlers for user-defined objects.
Supported solutions to date have been web applications for flexibility and ease of deployment, but we do have the capability to auto-create VB forms applications from object definitions should the need arise.
Check out this Cash-Flow Estimator application example ( 380k)

BCA Custom Handlers

The range and scope of existing object defintions gives an indication of the maturity of the architecture. Some key modules that have been implemented in customer environments include:

• Contact address books (including call logging and searching)
  This set of objects provides a structured repository for all contacts in customer, supplier, prospect and company categories linked for easy selection, e.g. billing and delivery points.
• Sales order system
  Allows entering and progressing of orders, based on sales items stored in per customer catalogue, associated with BOMs for semi-automated purchasing based on material requirements. Despatches and invoicing system
• Purchase order system
  Includes a raw materials parts database with definable UOM etc. and supplier linkages.Closely linked into goods inwards handling and stock control.
• Shop floor data collection
  Includes batch and serialised unit building utilising barcode printing and wanding.

Road Map

BCA continues to evolve, growing ever more capable and flexible in its core default handlers on one hand, and with a ever-expanding repertoire of standard business objects with plug-in custom functionality on the other.

We plan to migrate much of the code to .NET in the next year from its current VB6/SQL2000, and are now seeking partners to exploit the system and co-operate in its further development.