What is a mashup?
A Mashup is a web-based application that combines two or more different sources of content into a single view. A well constructed Mashup creates a unified end-user experience where the user isn’t even aware that data and visual elements come from multiple sources. One popular example is Google and just-about-anything-you-can-think-of. A Mashup can create a list and supporting maps to all the hotels in Hollywood frequented by the likes of Paris Hilton and J-Lo, or display all the local Wi-Fi cafes in your area.
What are business mashups and how are they different from other types of mashups?
Mashups come in three general flavors: consumer mashups, data mashups and business mashups.
Consumer mashups combine visual and data elements from two or more sources. They usually solve some small problem such as finding the shortest distance to a destination by plotting the route on a map.
Data mashups are used to combine multiple data sources into a single source. For example, you might want to combine all of your RSS feeds into a single Mashup.
Business mashups solve business problems which are typically process-driven. Business Mashups allow you to combine visual and data elements from multiple sources within a process-driven framework. Unlike consumer or data Mashups, Business Mashups keep the state of your process in progress and provide the data and visual elements you need when you need them.
How can business mashups help me?
Can you think of some small applications that would help drive new business or make your operations more effective? Don’t you wish there was a way you could build these applications yourself, without having to wait for or rely on IT? That’s exactly the purpose of Business Mashup. They allow you to create automated processes, tie these processes in with multiple back-end or in-the-cloud-based systems while providing the unified experience we’ve all come to expect from Mashups.
How do I build a mashup?
Serena takes the mystery out of building and publishing Mashups with Serena Business Mashups. It has all the tools you need. You can build a visual model of your process and connect it to various back-end and in-the-cloud-based systems. The next step is to ‘publish’ your Mashup to a Mashup Server or behind your own firewall, or you can publish to a Mashup Server in the cloud by subscribing to Serena’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering.
What does it mean to ‘publish a business mashup to the cloud’?
'In the cloud' has come to mean any service or application hosted on a web server that you don’t control, but to which you have access. For example, Google Apps like Google docs (spreadsheet and word processing) are based in the cloud. The term originated from the myriad PowerPoint presentations representing the internet by a graphic or picture of a cloud. When you publish a Business Mashup to the cloud, it means you’ll be using Serena’s hosted service to provide the infrastructure necessary to run your Mashup application.
How can I get started?
For a limited time you can see what it’s like to create mashups on your own—just sign up for our FREE Serena Business Mashup (public beta) test drive. You’ll see how Serena Business Mashups enable you to build apps in hours, not days or weeks. Sign up now to get access to the hosted test drive and learn how to start designing your Mashups right away.
How can I find mashups similar to the ones I want to build?
Great question. It’s likely that others have similar problems to solve, ideas to exchange, Mashups to share and advice to give. Serena is building the Serena Mashup Exchange, and soon you’ll be able to go this virtual marketplace where you can swap ideas, download Mashups to use in their entirety or as starting points, and get expert advice on building Mashups. Everyone who downloads and uses Serena Mashup Composer will have access to the Mashup Exchange.
How much does it cost to build mashups?
Nothing! You can design any number of Mashups you want using Serena Mashup Composer. You only pay when you publish and start using the Mashup. So contact your rep and ask to test drive Serena Mashup Composer today.
What is Serena Mashup Exchange and when will it be available?
Serena Mashup Exchange is a virtual community and new marketplace for business people and their partners to connect around building Mashups. There you can find packaged Mashups, template work-flows and professional service offerings. Serena Mashup Exchange will be available in early 2008. |
