Integration of VirtueMart with Open ERP

OpenERP

OpenERP formerly known as TinyERP is an open source integrated Enterprise Resource Planning software. It is manufactured by OpenERP S.A. It is on par with lot of commercial software systems available in the market.  It can manage clients, quotes, invoices, warehousing, procurements and various other things that are helpful even for small companies.

In all there are more than 700 modules available. You can start with a few modules at start and then add others later on depending upon the business requirements. The standard modules of OpenERP includes-

Sales management, Purchasing, CRM, Project management, Warehouse management system Manufacturing, Accounting, Point of sale, Asset management, Human Resource Management

A general ERP structure is as shown below

 

VirtueMart

VirtueMart is an open source e-commerce solution used together with a Content Management System (CMS) called Joomla. VirtueMart is written in PHP and it requires MySQL database environment for storage.

VirtueMart offers a lot of features. It supports an unlimited number of products and categories. As VirtueMart is an open source e-commerce solution all the application code is openly visible in PHP. This allows developers to view, update or customize the operation of shopping cart.

 Integration of VirtueMart with Open ERP

The Joomla Open ERP interface allows you to integrate VirtueMart with Open ERP. Basically this interface provides synchronization with VirtueMart. Users can order on the website and the orders will be automatically imported in Open ERP. You can export products, product categories, account taxes, stock level and create links between categories of product, taxes and languages. If a product has an image attached, it will send the image to Joomla website.

In short, it allows you to reorganize and automate the sales process from ordering of products online to the delivery and the invoicing.

At Avion Technology we have strong team of website designers, developers, analysts and strategists create websites that will contribute to achievement of business goals. We have expert developers in Joomla who can help you to integrate Joomla with Open ERP, ultimately helping you to manage your processes efficiently in turn leading to economic growth of the company.

References-

1) http://ktree.com/openerp.html

2)  http://www.onestopjoomla.com/extensions/crm-erp/joomla-tiny-erp-interface/

3) http://www.openerp.com/

4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VirtueMart

Joomla SalesForce Integration

What is SalesForce?

SalesForce is CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software which allows companies to focus on its customers as well as their budget at the same time.

It provides a complete view of your customers shared in real time with support from both management and marketing teams. It allows you to keep track of CRM database and close more deals. Salesforce CRM supports integration with well known tools like Microsoft Office and Outlook. It also provides fast, easy access online, offline or through mobile devices. Salesforce provides effective opportunity management and forecasting analytics tools. It offers unique analytics and invaluable access to small, medium and big picture with a single click. It helps executives to take big decisions based on the appropriate data.

What Is Joomla?

Joomla is free and open source content management system (CMS) which allows you to build Web sites and powerful online applications. Joomla is written in PHP uses OOP (Object Oriented Programming) techniques and software design patterns. I t stores data in a MySQL database and include features such as RSS feeds, page caching, blogs, polls, search and support for language internationalization.

Joomla SalesForce Integration

There are various components available in Joomla which allows you to integrate Joomla with SalesForce .These components are as follows-

1) JoomForce

JoomForce is the Joomla and Salesforce CRM integration component. It allows you to capture your Lead or Contact in a simple manner. You have to just click on Synchronize button in Joomla to get all your SalesForce Leads or Contact Fields into your website and form is populated automatically.  Whatever the data or form filled up by customers in your website are directly inserted into SalesForce CRM.

Front End Features List-

Lead Form, Contact Form, Dynamic Display, Captcha Security

Back-End Features List-

Global Settings, Leads Fields Page, Contact Fields Page, Synchronization, Field Edit, Field Ordering, Preview

Multi-Language Support-

It supports Multilanguage as it is integrated with JoomFish component.

Lead Capturing-

Lead form in the front end allows you to capture your leads from the website to the SalesForce CRM. The leads submitted using this form in your website will be automatically updated in your SalesForce CRM leads module.

Contact Capturing-

Contact form in the front end allows you to capture your contacts from the website to SalesForce CRM. The contacts submitted using this form in your website will be automatically updated in your SalesForce CRM contact module.

2 ) RsForm Pro

It allows you to create RSFormPro forms including using custom Salesforce fields and send all captured information to Salesforce. Notifications can be sent by e-mail to administrators and to users, and each notification can be highly customized.

3) Leads Capture for Salesforce (JLeadsCapture)

Leads Capture plugin allows you to capture data (Name,Email) into Leads in Sales Force CRM when a contact information are submitted through Joomla  contact form. It is very easy to setup.

At Avion technology we have strong team of website designers, developers, analysts and strategists create web sites that will contribute to achievement of business goals. We have developers who are expert in Joomla which will help you to integrate Joomla with SalesForce, ultimately helping you to manage your customers in turn leading to economic growth of the company.

References-

1)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joomla

2) http://www.salesforce.com/in/crm/what-is-crm.jsp

3) http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/clients-a-communities/crm-bridges/13933

4) http://www.jextn.com/joomla-salesforce-integration-extension-download

5) http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/contacts-and-feedback/forms/4964

Advantages Of Android

As discussed in earlier blogs Android is an operating system based on Linux with a Java programming interface. It is an operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. It permits developers to write managed code in the Java language, managing the device by means of Google-developed Java libraries. There are number of other advantages of Android and you can read a few below.

Advantages of Android

• The biggest advantage of Android is that it is an open source, integrated software platform.  Companies can release updates and revisions which users can download on their own.

• The Android SDK (Software Development Kit) allows you to create your own apps. SDK includes a comprehensive set of development tools like debugger, libraries, handset emulator, sample code, documentation and tutorials. So if you get hands on an SDK, you can develop applications on your own for Android.

• Android uses the standardized and open programming language Java. The emulator of the Android platform has a modern design and is easy to use.

• The installation of whole environment to develop Android applications is possible on every operating system.

• Android offers a relational database which is SQLite for data storage purposes. Android also has an integrated web browser which allows a PC like usage.

• Association with Google has made it more powerful with Google Maps and Google Voice Apps.

• Android allows developers to design applications for users based on their preferences. This provides the ability for users to have unique experiences tailored specifically for them. This is possible as Android OS is customizable.

• There are numerous partners involved in Android which has led developers to create a standardized way of developing applications for users without botheration of the platform. This has also helped in defining documentation, procedures and application sharing.

• As Android is an open platform it always tend to be far less expensive than other than conventional products. This has notified users about the decrease in cost as compared to other handhelds operating systems like Windows Mobile, Apple iOS and so on.

• Android has encouraged innovation among the developers to innovate new applications from time to time for sustaining in competitive market.

• Android does not differentiate between the phone’s core applications and third-party applications. They can all be built to have equal access to a phone’s capabilities providing users with a broad spectrum of applications and services.

• Android has a low barrier to entry. There are less expensive licensing fees or development tools. It can be possible to develop applications without spending a dime.

• Android applications can be distributed in number of ways, unlike other mobile OS platform. Android Market is a third-party application store where you can browse and download apps published by third-party developers, hosted on Android Market. There are several other third-party application stores. You can also create your own distribution channels.

• There are more than 300,000 Apps available for Android in the market. This itself proves that popularity of Android is increasing among the people in the world.

• The Android platform is the best mobile platform for inter-application and inter-process architectures.

These are the few advantages of Android. We can call this phenomenon “convergence” in the field of communication. This phenomenon doesn’t only pertain to technology; it can also pertain to other things.

Market Share of Android

According to latest report from Canalys (http://www.canalys.com/newsroom/smart-phones-overtake-client-pcs-2011#) Android is the top smartphone operating system in 2011. The details are as shown below-

 References-

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_%28operating_system%29
2. http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/46936
3. http://ask.enquiro.com/2007/what-are-the-benefits-of-googles-opensocial-and-android/
4. http://www.scribd.com/tanujg_16/d/55478935/3-Section-1-2-General-problem-statement

 

Features of Android

There are several features of Android mobile operating system. We can say it is a monster. Android operating system is customizable, extensible and versatile. 

The most vital aspect that affects the success of any mobile operating system (OS) is advance features and Android OS is offering great features. These features are spreading the magic among Android developers/programmers as well as Android based hand-held users-

The top user-centric features of Android are as follows-

1. Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation- It offers turn-by-turn navigation. It works like a GPS unit which informs you when your next turn was coming up.
2. Apps are try-before-you-buy- Android apps are try before you buy. That is user can try the applications before purchasing them.
3. Removable Battery- Almost all of the Android devices have a removable battery. You can buy your own replacement battery and change it easily.
4. Android is far more open than any other OS- Android allows apps interact with it on a core level.
5. Most devices have expandable storage – With SD card support you can keep adding to phone’s storage abilities. It will help you to make room for your music and movies.
6. Flash Support – Android OS support Flash. By this you have access to full web.
7. Endless Sharing Options- Android will identify any app capable of sharing something and make it available to you.
8. More widgets than you can handle – It allows lots of customization and placement of loads of widgets.
9. A built-in Data Usage Monitor- These do what you would expect. Overall data is monitored, as is the data requested by each individual app, making it easy for you to see if a particular app is hogging all of your data. Also the total percentage of your data is being consumed by web surfing.

These are far from only few features found in Android. There are several other features of Android which makes it most popular platform in the market.

Android Market

Android Market is the online software store developed by Google for Android devices. An application program (“app”) called “Market” is preinstalled on most Android devices and allows users to browse and download apps published by third-party developers, hosted on Android Market.

Recent Releases

• 2.3 Gingerbread  
• 3.0 Honeycomb
• 3.1 Honeycomb
• 3.2 Honeycomb
• 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

References:-

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_%28operating_system%29

2. http://www.businessinsider.com/killer-android-features-2011-10#

3. http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-cool-revised-features-android-40-icecream-sandwich/

Android Development

What is Android?

Android is an operating system based on Linux with a Java programming interface. It is an operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers.  It is developed by Open Handset Alliance (OHA) which is led by Google. That is it is officially guided by OHA. In reality Google leads the project.

OHA is a consortium (association) of several companies to develop open standards for mobile devices. Member companies include Google, HTC, Sony, Dell, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, T-Mobile, Nvidia, and Wind River Systems.  These are only few members of all the total members of OHA.

Initially Android Inc. was founded in United States by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears and Chris White in the year 2003. Later on in the year 2005 Google acquired Android Inc. This acquisition made Android Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Google Inc.

Android was built from the ground up with the explicit goal to be the first open, complete, and free platform created specifically for mobile devices.

Android has been available as open source since October 2008. Google opened the entire source code under an Apache License. With the Apache License, vendors are free to add proprietary extensions without submitting those back to the open source community.

The Android Platform

With Android’s breadth of capabilities, it would be easy to confuse it with a desktop operating system. Android is a layered environment built upon a foundation of the Linux kernel, and it includes rich functions. The UI subsystem includes:

• Windows
• Views
• Widgets for displaying common elements such as edit boxes, lists, and drop-down lists

Android includes an embeddable browser built upon WebKit, the same open source browser engine powering the iPhone’s Mobile Safari browser.

Android boasts a healthy array of connectivity options, including WiFi, Bluetooth, and wireless data over a cellular connection (for example, GPRS, EDGE, and 3G). A popular technique in Android applications is to link to Google Maps to display an address directly within an application. Support for location-based services (such as GPS) and accelerometers is also available in the Android software stack, though not all Android devices are equipped with the required hardware. There is also camera support.

Historically, two areas where mobile applications have struggled to keep pace with their desktop counterparts are graphics/media, and data storage methods. Android addresses the graphics challenge with built-in support for 2-D and 3-D graphics, including the OpenGL library. The data-storage burden is eased because the Android platform includes the popular open source SQLite database. Figure below shows a simplified view of the Android software layers.

 

 

Application architecture

 Android runs atop a Linux kernel. Android applications are written in the Java programming language, and they run within a virtual machine (VM). It is important to note that the VM is not a JVM as you might expect, but is the Dalvik Virtual Machine, an open source technology. Each Android application runs within an instance of the Dalvik VM, which in turn resides within a Linux-kernel managed process, as shown below.

 

 

References:-

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_%28operating_system%29

2. http://www.vogella.de/articles/Android/article.html#overview

3. http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/opensource/library/os-android-devel

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Handset_Alliance#cite_note-0

Liquid Web Design -Build it right and it will work on any container

One of the major challenges in web design is the need to make web pages that look good on a variety of -

• browsers (Netscape, Internet Explorer, AOL, Web TV, Opera, Chrome etc.)
• platforms(Mac or Windows)
• screen resolutions(usually 800 x 600 or 1024 x 768 pixels)
• user preferences(window size, text size, color .etc)
• hand held devices
• no. of other variables

What you see is rarely what you get across all the blend of factors listed above. Hence, you must design your web pages with flexibility in mind. Some questions to ask:

• What will happen if the font you use isn’t installed on the user’s computer?
• What will happen if the default font size on the user’s computer is larger or smaller than the font you’re looking at?(this is one of the biggest Mac/PC differences)
• What will happen if a user has a different screen resolution from the one you’re using?
• What if a user doesn’t have the right plugin or has a very slow modem, has an old browser, or is otherwise “technology-impaired”?

The approach that will consider the above factors is Liquid Web Page Design. It is also called as Fluid/Flexible/Responsive web design.

What is Liquid Design?

The term “liquid” implies that a website should flow smoothly into whatever space it is given. If you use a high resolution monitor, this may mean that you need to resize your browser a little, which most people in that situation do. If you have a low resolution monitor, you will still see the information; it will just be a little more compact. Simply it can be said that the page flows easily to fit its “container”-the specific combination of browser, platform, screen resolution and user preferences and also looks good in all combinations.

The goal of liquid page design is not to find a way to make your page look the same across platforms, but to make it look excellent across platforms. Liquid design means that the web site adapts itself to the available space, the same way water takes the shape of the glass it is in.

A liquid design is one, like Wikipedia, where the design moves to flow content into the whole screen, or a portion of the screen, no matter what the size of the browser window. This layout type has gained mass popularity because it is the ultimate way of allowing the total opposite of a fixed layout where the content will simply take whatever space is available to it.

 Almost every new client these days wants a mobile version of their website. It’s practically crucial- one design for the BlackBerry, another for the iPhone, the iPad, netbook, Kindle — and all screen resolutions must be compatible, too.  Liquid web design approach suggests that the design and development should respond to the user’s behavior and environment based on screen size, platform and orientation.

 The practice consists of a mix of flexible grids and layouts, images and an intelligent use of CSS media queries. As the user switches from their laptop to iPad, the website should automatically switch to accommodate for resolution, image size and scripting abilities. In other words, the website should have the technology to automatically respond to the user’s preferences. This would eliminate the need for a different design and development phase for each new gadget in the market.

Is liquid design adequate for any web site?

In order to make a decision whether liquid design is suitable for a web site, factors such as type of content, structure, amount of information must be taken in consideration. Liquid design is ideal for sites with a lot of information. The flexibility of such sites increases readability.

Liquid design is entirely new way of thinking about design.

 

 

 

Empower Your Business Website Development With Joomla

This article is explored by Avion Technology. Amit,the author,explained Joomla advantages for web development.

Every business, whether large or small needs a website to reach global target market and of course having a website on the world wide web allows you to advertise your products and services all across the globe within less time span. A good business website not just attracts users but also turn a one-time visitor into a regular customer. Website development is a difficult and time consuming task and can also become very expensive at times.

To empower your business website development and save the high expense, the best way is to use the most powerful and easy to maintain website design software tool Joomla. Although this program is an open source code and does not require any price charge for using it, yet, businesses often complain that their website is not customized as per their demands and business requirements. This is where the work of an expert Joomla development company comes into the limelight.

Joomla cms experts from a reputed Joomla development company use Joomla CMS to develop both, simple and complex, business and standard websites. Along with that, they also assist you with Joomla Customization services needed by your organization and develop customized Joomla cms websites with necessary Joomla extensions. Hire Joomla developers to get professional services at reasonable prices.

Choosing Joomla for your business website not just empowers your website development but also gets you a website that is unique, user friendly, extremely attractive and easy to access and update and eventually you will become a pro at it and your target market will be happy and satisfied to find a site that is developed keeping them in mind!

Avion Technology, Inc.
Web design and development