eQuorum Uses DataDirect JDBC Driver to Reach More Customers

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Goal:

Support as many databases as possible without having to recode their product to each database.

Why they embed DataDirect:

The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver suite allows them to support multiple databases without having to establish multiple business and support relationships that add to development overhead.

Business benefits:

Supporting more databases means eQuorum can support more potential customers. By standardizing on DataDirect drivers, eQuorum saves time and money in their development and QA processes.

Technical benefits:

DataDirect Connect for JDBC gives eQuorum the advantage of SQL leveling functionality that eases the pain of having to support so many relational database platforms.

eQuorum Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, provides Web-based engineering document management systems to some of the biggest names in business, including Boeing, BP Chemical, Cooper Cameron, GM, US Army and Air Force, US Treasury, and Weyerhauser. eQuorum's flagship engineering document management product, ImageSite, gives these customers the ability to print and manage engineering drawings, technical documents, and office documents instantly, from a web browser.

According to Frank Fortson, President and CEO of eQuorum, his R&D team found an inherent problem in wanting to offer their customers support for a long list of relational database platforms. They wanted to support as many databases as possible, but they were concerned about having to recode their product to support each different database. Database vendors offer only limited "open standard" support for JDBC. Supporting multiple database versions using the database vendor JDBC drivers still encourages coding that is proprietary to that database. What they needed was a third-party vendor or solution that could help them support multiple databases more easily. And the database driver should provide maximum performance, as many of eQuorum's ImageSite installations each manage millions of documents, being accessed by thousands of users.

The eQuorum R&D team initially looked at an open source JDBC offering. However, they quickly found that it didn't support most databases, nor did it offer advanced feature support, such as distributed transactions. Even more importantly, Fortson was concerned about the lack of reliable maintainability. He wasn't willing to bet the success of ImageSite on technology that is not supported by an organized, long term, development team. He needed to rely on the JDBC provider to keep up with the latest advances in data access and database vendor enhancements.

In choosing DataDirect Connect for JDBC, eQuorum was able to take advantage of SQL leveling functionality that eases the pain of having to support so many relational database platforms. The fact that eQuorum developers and support representatives can access a live technical support representative on the telephone gives them the faith that their choice is backed by a company that understands the needs of software companies. And finally, says Fortson, "We were able to feel confident about our choice with DataDirect because the company has been a leader for a long time. We trust them."

In joining the almost 300 software vendors that embed and distribute DataDirect drivers and providers, eQuorum enjoys the broadest spectrum of database and database version support. They have learned that not all JDBC drivers are created equal. And best of all, their development teams can focus on their core ImageSite technology, allowing them to build and deliver top-notch products to their impressive customer base.