Interoperability and flexibility

Due to an overall lack of interoperability and portability among SaaS vendor, users and software developers incur risks through vendor lock-in, lack of pricing competition and changes in terms and conditions. However with its Microsoft .NET based platform and integration with widely recognized MS technologies such as Windows Server and SQL Server, Cyscom platform subscribers are largely removed from such risks. Subscribers can select to host the platform themselves or to choose from a list of Cyscom  partners that will host and manage the platform.

Development  environment

The platform provides a virtual development environment by giving users the option of having a separate and isolated Development Site (Sandbox) attached to each ‘Live’ SaaS application site. Subscribers can utilize the Development Site to customize and test new functionality (new objects, properties, workflow, reports) and changes before upgrading the Live Production Site. With the 2 sites fully synchronizable on a single click, users and developers can experiment and extend the functionality of their applications without risk.

Database modeling and customization   

Click and point UI tools for modeling your application database are designed to make it easy to create new objects and property fields including string, reference (single and multiple types), number, dates, currency, quantity, boolean, and more. You can add navigation, logic, permissions, workflow rules, approvals, caption settings, validation, search criteria, reporting, auditing and RSS feeds with just a few clicks using standard asp.net controls.

Implement real time workflows and approvals

Every business, down to the department level, wants a tailored work flow and approval process that automates every day activities, reduces bottlenecks and human error.  With no programming requirements, a user follows a simple wizard to set up workflow rules and criteria by selecting objects, properties and values from drop down lists.   After rules are set up, a user can decide to create actions that are triggered when criteria are met, for example record field  and logic updates, alerts, email notifications and task assignments, both to system users and external contacts. 

Customizing the user interface

Users customize both the content delivery and style of how information is displayed on web pages. Using simple drag and drop, users can select from a library of 20 + ready web parts that can be added to a page and render data in various formats such as an item list, item editor, item viewer, item search and more. Users can also introduce their own customized UI by substituting the default web part visual design template that controls how content is displayed on the page. Using a rich text editor or HTML, a customized template can be created and re-used wherever is required.

Programming cloud logic

When your business processes need to execute logic based actions, calculate and roll up data fields, enforce workflow rules that are logic related, the development platform provides a framework that allows creating custom logic using C# , Java programming language and Microsoft .NET Framework. In order to isolate untested application changes, a separate  SaaS application (i.e. sandbox)  is made available to users that serve as a virtual development environment for executing code changes and outright experimentation from the production environment or repository where the application is running live.

Analytics and Reporting   

With built-in reporting and customizable dashboards that users can set up and manage by themselves, data becomes highly actionable, with more accurate decision making. Reports and charts are highly editable by allowing a user to download the application repository and database and utilize standards tools such as MS Visual Studio to modify and upload the reports back to the development site for testing before upgrading the live site.

Granular security and access rights

At the user level, site administrator can easily manage permissions by assigning users to pre-built roles or obtain more granularity by restricting access by pages, objects, properties within objects and down to individual item records. At the application site level, SaaS applications run on separate sites (as opposed to a single, shared application site for all subscribers), thereby providing a better and more secure partitioning of site data.