The Client

Advanstar is a worldwide business information company serving specialized markets with high-quality information resources and integrated marketing solutions. Advanstar has 105 top business publications, 87 tradeshows and conferences, and a wide range of direct marketing, database and reference products and services. Advanstar also offers Internet products that complement and build on Advanstar's existing publications, tradeshows and marketing services products.

The Business Challenge

The overall business challenge was to build and launch vertical exchanges for online interactions and commerce by building a user base from the subscriber data of the organizations various trade publications. Hive4.com was designed as an environment that provides the tools necessary for individual buyers and sellers in specific niche markets to meet and build successful online commerce relationships. McFadyen Solutions was chosen to work on all Dynamo Application Server and Dynamo Personalization Server development issues. McFadyen Solutions was also chosen to manage the database integration, build the actual applications (storefronts, shopping carts, etc.), user profiles (user login, logout, registration, passwords), XML integration, and final integration of applications with the Dynamo Application Server.

The Return on Investment

Hive4.com fulfilled the promise of becoming a B2B web community / verticals exchange where retailers and buyers meet manufacturers and suppliers. The Hive4.com community is thriving and growing targeted marketing to the trade publication subscriber base. The four vertical exchanges are Telecom Hive (hive4telecom.com), Fashion Hive (magiconline.com), Hospitality Hive (hive4hospitality.com), and Industry Hive. These hives provide market places, private storefronts buying areas, and messaging centers.

Technology

• Dynamo - DAS, DPS (all 4.5.1)
• O/S - Solaris 7.0
• Hardware - Sun Ultra 2 Sparc ("3" Multiprocessor Machines)
• Other Software - Toplink
• Web Server - IPlanet 4.0
• Database - Oracle 8i
• Deployment - 5 Dynamo JVMs running on 6 Ultra 2 Processors (3 Servers with 2 CPUs each)
• Content Management System ("Ontology") - Ontology was a knowledge-base hierarchy where higher level nodes are divided deep and further, implementing the "Inheritance" property of the object oriented methodology to data. The ontology application is all in-house development primarily for Advanstar but can be extended for any B2C vertical.
• Version Control - MS Visual Source Safe