S3CO Root WMS was designed and written with five basic architectural principles:

• Integrate easily with any existing business system using open standards
• Allow for scalability
• Centralize administration
• Eliminate the need for client upgrades
• Develop in Java and JDBC for open system connectivity, extensibility, portability, and lower TCO (total cost of ownership)

Architecture

S3CO Root WMS Logical Architecture (Click Caption to Enlarge)

Root WMS was designed to conform with the latest enterprise architectures. Root WMS is an n-tier application supporting open web application standards, service-oriented architectures (SOA), open database connectivity, and open analytics. Root WMS's server-centric design facilitates the most flexible, yet simplified implementation available.

Root WMS is a J2EE Java web application written with JavaServer Faces (JSF), so Root WMS can conform to your environment. Root WMS performs equally well on Microsoft Windows, Linux, Solaris, or any other Java-enabled platform -- allowing you to maximize the benefit of your existing hardware investments. Additionally, since Root WMS is written in Java and supports JDBC open database connectivity, it will also leverage your existing database infrastructure. [read more]

Infrastructure

S3CO Root WMS is a J2EE web application with independent system, integration, and database functionality.  All system components can run on dedicated servers for scale and fault-tolerance or they can just as easily run on the same server for simplicity and cost-effectiveness. 

Since Root WMS is a web application, it does not require robust, end-user processing machinery.  Users can interact with the system on any browser-enabled hardware, instead of high-powered systems with multiple configurations and system requirements.

Integration / Data Feeds

Root WMS supports standardized enterprise integration strategies. Root WMS supports XML SOAP web services, ETL (extract, transform, and load), and a user-configurable .CSV (comma-delimited) interface protocol for easy data communication between S3CO Root WMS and your existing management systems.

Database

Root WMS implements Java JDBC open database connectivity, so Root WMS can support any JDBC-enabled database management system (DBMS).  Initial Root WMS development was done on the open source DBMSs PostgreSQL and MySQL, but future versions will support Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and DB2.

Automation / Barcode Scanning / Wireless Printing / Material Handling

• Root WMS supports any browser-enabled platform including desktop PCs, Pocket PCs, Palm PCs, Linux / UNIX, Macintosh, etc. 
• Root WMS supports any barcode scanning technology capable of populating browser text. 
• Root WMS utilizes network enabled barcode printer using LPD/LPR, IPP, FTP, TFTP, Telnet, HTTP, or S3CO's proprietary printing mechanism.
• S3CO Root WMS facilitates the use of any material handling equipment.

Total Cost of Ownership

S3CO Root WMS's support of open source software (both the management server and database) and the reduced hardware requirements that come with their use force the total cost of ownership curve down. Now your investment will be in the components that generate the value add (handheld terminals, printers, wireless networking, and WMS software) instead of proprietary server and database client licenses.