News
Commerce Server 2000: Stripped Down Name, Beefed Up Functionality
- By Scott Bekker
- September 25, 2000
Commerce
Server 2000, the clipped down name of the Microsoft Corp. product formerly
known as Site Server 3.0, Commerce Edition, is making its public debut with the
release of Enterprise 2000.
The latest
iteration of Redmond’s e-commerce server is arriving on the scene with more
than just a shortened name, it also packed full of new capabilities that are
expected to ease and quicken the deployment of e-commerce sites and markets.
Microsoft took
a more business-friendly approach with its latest release. This time, focusing
more on the sell-side of e-commerce, Commerce Server 2000 contains more tightly
integrated components, improved decision support and site management tools, and
has expanded its built-in applications.
Choosing to
integrate ISV technologies into Commerce Server 2000, such as Knosys
ProClarity, Microsoft is offering a more complete package. It chose
technologies that extend Commerce Server’s capabilities in areas such as
application hosting, data center hosting, Web design, systems integration, and
data analysis.
But besides
just adding functionality that stems from ISV input, Microsoft improved on the
core of Commerce Server. Users will find things such as a business desk that
allows managers to remotely access their business via the Web, a profile and
targeting system, and a campaign manager.
On the business
analytics side, Commerce Server 2000 made big strides. The latest release
includes a scalable data warehouse – based on SQL Server – that pulls all site
and legacy data into a central repository. Once in the repository the data can
be analyzed with the included data mining tools.
Since
Microsoft’s big focus is on its .NET venture and XML, Commerce Server 2000
comes with off-the-shelf integration with the BizTalk server. Microsoft hopes
this and its Commerce Server Site Packager feature will help businesses deliver
more efficient e-commerce sites in less time. –Alicia
Costanza
For
Microsoft’s overview on Commerce Server 2000, see www.microsoft.com/commerceserver.
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.