It was 10 years ago last spring that IBM introduced WebSphere Application Server. Since then, WebSphere has continued to evolve into a true middleware platform in order to meet changing customer needs. Whether WebSphere was the result of evolution or the driver of a revolution, it led a number of companies into new lines of business centered around the Internet.

One IBM Business Partner that has helped propel the technology into what it is today is a company called Prolifics (http://www.prolifics.com/). Founded 30 years ago, Prolifics claims to be the largest independent systems integrator specializing in IBM technologies. The solid relationship Prolifics has built with IBM over the past three decades is one of the keys to its longevity.

IBM has selected Prolifics as one of only three WebSphere service providers to be retained to service its own key customers. To date, Prolifics--an IBM Beacon Award winner in 2008--has serviced over 1,000 WebSphere engagements. It also has experienced significant success in terms of growth in both revenue and staff year over year, the company reports.

A look back over the years at the relationship between Prolifics and WebSphere reveals a commitment by one of IBM's leading Business Partners to high standards and to making good use of IBM's world-renowned technology on behalf of its customers.

Prolifics-WebSphere Relationship

•  Early 2000:  IBM and Prolifics establish a strategic relationship leveraging Prolifics' value network-its large global customer base, consulting asset, and enabling technologies.  Prolifics went to market with its ISV technology, Panther for IBM WebSphere, designed to modernize legacy systems and build WebSphere applications.

•  November 2000:  The IBM WebSphere Services Division retained Prolifics, as one of only five partners. Prolifics was ranked a Level 4 & 5 WebSphere partner-IBM's highest on its technical expertise scale. Today, Prolifics is one of only three worldwide WebSphere Service Providers retained by IBM. Prolifics is utilized to solve some of IBM's most challenging customer problems, providing expert assistance around WebSphere Application Server, MQ, Portal and Business Integration. Prolifics' certified consultants are placed on assignments to conduct WebLogic to WebSphere migrations, architectural assessments, training, mentoring, development, deployment, and administration.

•  Mid 2002:  Prolifics and IBM begin working together on BEA Winback opportunities. This involved uncovering existing BEA accounts and approaching these customers with the IBM client teams. Prolifics provides pre-sales strategy, technology enablers, as well as technical expertise throughout the entire sales process. Prolifics trained and enabled the IBM WebSphere Winback team over previous years.

•  2006:  Prolifics is one of the first to distinguish itself with IBM's "Ready-for-SOA" certification. In fact, as of January 2007, there are only 10 integrators that have this distinction. The certification indicates that Prolifics has selected IBM certified skills that help customers before, during, and after their SOA implementations. These include specific skills in SOA Foundation products as well as in SOA strategy, architecture, analysis, design, integration, modeling, assembly, development and management.

•  2006 Finalist IBM Beacon Award for Best SOA Solution:  Prolifics is a finalist for the IBM Best WebSphere Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) Solution in recognition for the Pep Boy's "Shopper's Express" Web services internal application project. This Award recognizes a WebSphere solution that is componentized, interoperable, modular, scalable, and effectively realizes the promise of SOA while delivering significant business value. The Shopper's Express application is now built upon a service-oriented architecture and utilizes Web Services as a way to decouple and integrate disparate systems. Built upon WebSphere, the agnostic architecture can utilize any front-end application but leverage all existing business processes and assets therefore increasing development productivity, scalability, and interoperability. The new network is now used as a trading network and greatly improves sourcing products between stores, warehouses, and business partners while increasing revenue.

•  2007 Winner IBM IMPACT SOA Process Solution Award:  Southside Electric Cooperative's SOA Solution was nominated for IBM's IMPACT SOA Process Solution Award and won. The solution was an innovative Message Broker implementation that enabled Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) to integrate its mobile workforce, call center and office real time. As per IBM, "Impact Awards go to solutions that solve traditional problems in nontraditional ways and that will be drivers in tomorrow's new markets."
You can read more about it in the referenced press release: http://www.prolifics.com/Collateral/Documents/English-US/press-releases/pr_prolifics_icty_nj.pdf and case study: http://www.prolifics.com/Collateral/Documents/English-US/case-studies/cs_SEC.pdf.

•  2007 Finalist IBM Beacon Award for Best SOA Solution:  Southside Electric Cooperative's Message Broker implementation was also named a finalist for Best WebSphere SOA Solution in the IBM Beacon Awards. As a finalist, Prolifics was one of  only three selected from among more than 650 nominations. Read more about it in this case study: http://www.prolifics.com/Collateral/Documents/English-US/case-studies/cs_SEC.pdf.  

•  2008 Winner IBM Beacon Award for Outstanding SOA Solution:  NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene SOA won the Outstanding SOA Solution. The winning solution migrated end-of-life and outdated products to WebSphere, increased volume and performance, and opened up extensibility for current systems and future growth. Read more about it in this case study: http://www.prolifics.com/Collateral/Documents/English-US/case-studies/cs_NYCDOMH.pdf.