How Oracle MAF & Oracle Mobile Cloud can Accelerate Mobile App Development

A RapidValue Solutions Whitepaper

02A Whitepaper by RapidValue Solutions - January 2015

ContentsExecutive Summary................................................................................................................

Oracle Mobile Application Framework (MAF):

The Complete Development Framework from Oracle Mobile Suite...............................................

How to Mobilize Your Oracle ERP Modules using eQuipMeTM Oracle Mobile Framework...............

Primary Components....................................................................................................

Key Benefits of eQuipMeTM Oracle Mobile Framework.....................................................

eQuipMeTM Oracle Mobile Application Suite.....................................................................

The Next Leap : Oracle Mobile Cloud Service (MCS)..................................................................

Siphon the Complex Backend Requirements and Functionalities using Oracle MCS............

Simplify Enterprise Integration using Oracle MCS Connectors........................................

Simplified Security and Identity Management Services...................................................

Mobile Application Accelerator (MAX) Power to Develop Mobile Apps for Functional Users...

Conclusion: The Way Ahead....................................................................................................

About RapidValue...................................................................................................................

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Executive Summary

Oracle Mobile Application Framework (MAF):The Complete Development Framework from Oracle Mobile Suite

Mobile application development is getting competitive with lots of new products and platforms. What makes it more competitive is that the client stresses on aggressive timelines. Most of the customers expect their mobile application to come live in weeks rather than months, as they know that delay of each day means their competitor will be catching up. Therefore, the customers would prefer a rapid mobile application development, which, at same time, do not compromise on security and features. And hence, the mobile solution vendors and developers are looking for ways to accelerate the mobile application design and development to meet the aggressive timelines. This paper explains how Oracle MAF and Oracle Mobile Cloud Service, the two latest Oracle technologies, help in accelerating mobile application development. It focuses on how RapidValue has implemented mobile applications using the Oracle Mobile Application Framework (MAF).

03A Whitepaper by RapidValue Solutions - January 2015

When it comes to mobilizing enterprise systems, there are several factors or challenges that need to be addressed. Mobile development technologies, existing enterprise security, leveraging existing skills, BYOD, integration concerns and performance are few to mention. Addressing all these, using different pieces make the entire mobile solution framework difficult. This is where the Oracle Mobile Suite provides an end-to-end platform for enterprise mobility.

Oracle MAF is Oracles hybrid mobile application development framework that can be used to develop both iOS and Android apps with a single source code. MAF is Oracles strategic mobile application development platform.

MAF uses the standard based technologies like HTML5, CSS3, Java and JavaScript for application development. Java forms the core of business logic. Thus, it is easier for the developers to adapt to Oracle MAF using the existing skill set.

Oracle MAF has a MVC framework and uses declarative components for User Interface development. This increases the developers productivity. Oracles MAF assists in accessing device features like camera, contacts, GPS etc. using inbuilt Cordova Plugin. MAF is available as a plugin for both JDeveloper 12.1.3 and Eclipse IDEs. MAF also supports development of applications that can work in offline mode. Using local SQLite database, the mobile app can work in offline mode by accessing data from the encrypted local database. Another feature of Offline functionality is ability to store user credentials in SQLite database in encrypted manner in order to enable offline authentication to enterprise applications.

How to Mobilize Your Oracle ERP Modules using eQuipMe Oracle Mobile Framework RapidValues eQuipMeTM Oracle Mobile Framework comprises over 200 Pre-Built modules, Built-in connectors, and over 30 Pre-built mobile applications developed, using Oracle MAF, Native and Cross-platform technologies.

eQuipMeTM mobile applications includes seeded and custom Oracle APIs for specific mobile application functionality. The Oracle Integration Repository or Integrated SOA gateway is used for publishing the Oracle EBS PL/SQL packages and generating the web services for external communication. The eQuipMeTM connectors forms the core of the integration initiation from Oracle EBS to mobile.

Primary Components

Pre-built eQuipMeTM Oracle Connectors

Oracle Mobile Integration Components

04A Whitepaper by RapidValue Solutions - January 2015

Native Mobile App

OAM Service

Oracle IdentityManagement (OIM)

Oracle ConnectorsOracle Mobile Integration &

Security Suite Mobile Applications

SOAP

ERP

DATABASE

HTTP/ SOAP/ REST

Cross-Platform Mobile App

OracleService Bus

BAM

Business Rules

BPEL

Adapters

Human Tasks

Oracle DirectoryServices (OID)

Oracle Mobile

&SocialServer

Oracle MAF

Field Service

Order Management

Expense Management

Procurement

HRMS

Approvals

Inventory

HRMS

Field Service

Order Management

Procurement

Expense Management

Inventory

Approvals

Oracle FMW and SOA is the integration technology middleware, recommended by Oracle for robust integration with third-party systems and mobile devices. Mobile applications communicate with enterprise systems using web-services. One of the major advantages of using Oracle Mobile Platform is that it enables to extend backend data to a preferred format for communication with mobile applications using standard FMW technologies. Oracle SOA Suite and OSB components can be used for generating webservices from enterprise systems and creating RESTful APIs which is more mobile friendly. The SOA suite also enables web service orchestration for complex web services and multi-system integration. The OSB is a powerful tool for service mediation and transformation.

TM

Seamless Integration - With pre-built components and in-built connectors, ready framework enables rapid mobile enablement of your Oracle backend systems.

Quicker Time to Market - Reduces the development life cycle by using pre-built components for individual modules and modularized designs. This enables your business to market quickly and helps to gain a competitive advantage.

Protects Current Enterprise Technologies - Extends current enterprise security policies and leverages existing Java/HTML/JS skill sets using Oracle Mobile Suite.

Multi-Device Accessibility - The mobile app, to access data from your ERPs, can be built using any of the technology options Mobile Web, Native application, Hybrid application or Oracle MAF. Therefore, the staff gets access to remote data on any of the devices.

Lower TCO - Achieve reduced TCO by having lower procurement, implementation and operational cost. Choose your preferred mobile platform technology, implement mobile security and MDM/MAM functionality from the same solution provider.

Customized Solution - Your ERP modules and mobile application can be customized as per your business requirements, without the need to make any changes to your core enterprise systems.

Key Benefits of eQuipMeTM Oracle Mobile Framework

05A Whitepaper by RapidValue Solutions - January 2015

Oracle Mobile Security Components

Oracle Mobile Security components help the organizations to enable Mobile application security and also leverage the enterprise security strategy without making changes in existing security infrastructure. Oracle Access Manager (OAM) components and Oracle Identity manager (OIM) provides mechanism for extending the corporate role based authentications, authorizations and security policies to mobile applications. OIM can be used to integrate with Active Directory and Single Sign On (SSO), if an enterprise wishes to do so. Also, most of the enterprises want to isolate the corporate infrastructure from outside and Oracle API gateway provides a DMZ which controls how corporate systems and applications are exposed outside to mobile and cloud. In addition, the Oracle Mobile Development framework provides feature-wise and user role based security.

eQuipMeTM Mobile Applications

The mobile applications are developed using Oracle Mobile Application Framework (MAF) Cross-platform technology for running in iOS and Android mobiles The mobile applications are completely modularized and can be integrated with Oracle ERP (Oracle E-Business Suite, JDE, People soft ); as well as legacy systems. The modularized design helps in re-usability of the components for faster development. One major advantage is that the mobile applications can be customized to fit in the enhancements.

Some of the mobile applications built by RapidValue using the Oracle Mobile Platform are: