WebSphere Commerce

WebSphere Commerce also known as WCS (WebSphere Commerce Suite) is a software platform framework for e-commerce, including marketing, sales, customer and order processing functionality in a tailorable, integrated package. It is a single, unified platform which offers the ability to do business directly with consumers (B2C), with businesses (B2B), indirectly through channel partners (indirect business models), or all of these simultaneously. WebSphere Commerce is a customizable, scalable and high availability solution built on the Java - Java EE platform using open standards, such as XML, and Web services. Formerly a product of IBM, the product was sold to HCL Technologies in July 2019.[1]

WebSphere Commerce
Developer(s)HCL Technologies (formerly IBM)
Stable release
9.0 with fix pack 1 (9.0.1.8) / 11/26/2014
Operating systemCross-platform
TypeInternet application
LicenseProprietary
WebsiteOfficial website

WebSphere Commerce is sometimes referred to as WCS, however this abbreviation was originally used as a reference to the platform when it was named WebSphere Commerce Suite. Use of the abbreviation continued with users and solution implementers after the platform was renamed to WebSphere Commerce with the announcement of WebSphere Commerce V5.4.

Versions

1. The first version of the platform was introduced in 1996,[2] during the emergence of e-commerce with a product called Net.Commerce (V1.0 and subsequently V2.0, V3.1, and V3.2) that was first deployed to sell event ticket and merchandise for the 1996 Olympic Games. In 2001 Net.Commerce was renamed to WebSphere Commerce Suite, releasing versions V4.1 and V5.1. In 2002 WebSphere Commerce V5.4 was released, followed by V5.5 in 2003, V5.6 in 2004 and V5.6.1 in 2005. The latest major release versions are:

  • In 2006 Version 6.0 [3]
  • In 2009 Version 7.0 [4]
  • In 2015 Version 8.0 [5]
  • In 2018 Version 9.0 [6]

There are three editions of WebSphere Commerce software. Each edition provides an increasing set of functionality in comparison:[7]

  • Express[8] (note: with the announcement of Version 8.0 the platform variants offered were simplified to Professional and Enterprise editions only.)
  • Professional[9]
  • Enterprise[10] (note: Enterprise edition was previously known as Business Edition prior to Version 6.0)

WebSphere Commerce is designed as a highly customizable solution and IBM provides an integrated development environment that is used to build and test customizations including changing the design of storefronts, extending business logic, and creating new business logic to meet business requirements. The developer platform used for customizing and implementing the solution is called IBM WebSphere Commerce Developer for which there are also 3 editions that pair with their runtime environments (i.e. WebSphere Commerce Developer Express, WebSphere Commerce Developer Professional, and WebSphere Commerce Developer Enterprise).[11]

As with other customizable IBM products, WebSphere Commerce Developer toolkit runs within IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software (RAD) as the foundation of Java IDE, and RAD extends Eclipse environment with visual and other development features.[12]

A specific WebSphere Commerce version uses a specific version of RAD, for example:

  • WebSphere Commerce Developer V6 is based on RAD V6.
  • WebSphere Commerce Developer V7 is based on either IBM Rational Software Architect (RSA) or RAD V7.5
  • WebSphere Commerce Developer V8 is based on either RSA or RAD V9.5

Migration

Migrating to a new version of WebSphere Commerce is done by WebSphere Commerce Migration Wizard, an interactive wizard that guides the user through each phase of the migration process, performing various tasks.[13]

Primary components of the solution

As with most Web applications, WebSphere Commerce has 3 main components:

  • A database
  • An application server
  • A web server

Databases which are supported with WebSphere Commerce V7 are:[14]

  • IBM DB2 on various platforms (i.e. Windows, AIX, Solaris, Linux, IBM i), provided with the product
  • Oracle
  • Apache Derby (for developer only, not supported in WCS v9), provided with the WebSphere Commerce Developer product.

Application server which is supported with WebSphere Commerce is IBM WebSphere Application Server, is also provided with the product.

Supported Web servers are:

Operating Systems

The following operating systems are supported for WebSphere Commerce V7:[15]

WebSphere Commerce Developer V7 supported operating systems:[16]

WebSphere Commerce Developer v9 not limited to Windows. However, Accelerator, Org Admin Console and WCS Admin Console still require Internet Explorer. Rational Application Developer will now run natively on IOS and Linux environments. https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSZLC2_9.0.0/com.ibm.commerce.install.doc/refs/rigdevprereqclh.htm

Enhancements (new features)

Additional features are continuously provided through Enhancements using agile methods on a quarterly basis. This continuous deployment model puts new features and enhancements in the hands of WebSphere Commerce customers quicker and with less disruption to ongoing business operations.

Some of the WebSphere Commerce V8 Enhancements include the following and are described in detail in IBM knowledge center.

  • Apple Pay on the Web integration
  • IBM Watson Content Hub integration
  • IBM Tealeaf Customer Experience on Cloud integration
  • IBM Dynamic Pricing Integration
  • IBM Universal Behavior Exchange (UBX) audience support
  • Intelligent sequencing and featured product image
  • Promotions enhancements
  • Tax Enhancements

Prior to version 8 Additional features were released through Feature Packs on an annual or semi-annual basis. These enhancements were delivered as installable packages, sample reference applications or documented solutions.

WebSphere Commerce Feature Packs include new features (so called enhancements). These enhancements add some new functionality or features to the base product. Feature Pack differs from a fix pack, which is a set of correction fixes to the base code. Fix Packs and Feature Packs within a certain release are cumulative.[17]

A Feature Pack contains multiple features that are installed as one package, and can be enabled individually. A feature provides a functional extension to the existing base product functionality.

WebSphere Commerce V7 enhancements at a glance

WebSphere Commerce V7.0 Feature Pack 8.0 is cumulative, and it consolidates capabilities of Feature Pack 7.0, 6.0, 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0 and 1.0 in addition to some new capabilities.

WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 8:

  • Starter store enhancements for both B2B direct and consumer direct business models
  • Expanded REST API services
  • Enhanced WebSphere Commerce search capabilities
  • Business user tool enhancements

WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 7:

  • IBM Commerce Composer for WebSphere Commerce
  • Responsive web design
  • Integration with IBM Marketing Cloud

WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 6:

  • Dynamic merchandising
  • Business user tools improvements
  • Store preview
  • Data Load utility enhancements
  • WebSphere Commerce search enhancement

WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 5:

  • Order management enhancements
  • Commerce enhancements (Aurora starter store, Coshopping, Page Layout tool, integrated search and enhanced business user tooling)
  • Complete order life cycle coverage and Sterling integration

WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 4:

  • Starter stores optimized for mobile devices
  • Facebook integration allows shoppers to click and share
  • Programming model enhancements

WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 3:

  • Tighter analytics, configurator, and order management integration
  • Precision marketing triggers
  • Integrated search solution enhancements
  • SEO enhancements
  • Enhanced business user tools
  • Customer benefits

WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 2:

  • Product Subscription
  • Search
  • Social bridging
  • Co-shopping
  • Service provider[18]
  • Pricing
  • Analytics
  • Foundational leadership[19]

WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 1:

  • Foundation
  • Management Center
  • Starter store enhancements
  • Social Commerce
  • Remote widgets[20]
  • Digital wallet
  • IBM Gift Center for the Madisons starter store

See also these pages for some Further information:

WebSphere Commerce V6 enhancements at a glance

Customer empowerment (Feature Pack 1, Feature Pack 2 and Feature Pack 5)

WebSphere Commerce V6 Feature Pack 1

  • Coremetrics for IBM WebSphere Commerce auto tagging utility (i.e. enhanced Web analytics)
  • Coremetrics Tag Library support for WebSphere Commerce versions 5.6 and 5.6.1
  • Coremetrics reports for WebSphere Commerce
  • WebSphere Commerce and content management system integration with WebSphere Portal 5.1.0.4
  • Enhanced search and navigation by integrating to IBM OmniFind Discovery Edition

WebSphere Commerce V6 Feature Pack 2

  • WebSphere Commerce Web 2.0 store solution (note: replaced by Feature Pack 5 Madisons store solution)
  • WebSphere Commerce integration with sitemaps
  • Reports for IBM Sales Center for WebSphere Commerce[21]
  • Reports for e-mail campaigns
  • WebSphere Commerce and content management system integration with WebSphere Portal 6.0
  • Contract terms and conditions

WebSphere Commerce V6 Feature Pack 5

  • Madisons store

Web 2.0 starter store with a streamlined purchasing process (note: this starter store replaces the Feature Pack 2 Web 2.0 store).

  • Buy Online, Pickup In-Store

Cross-channel support by using Distributed Order Management (DOM) solution integration.[22][23]

Front-office integration (Feature Pack 2)

  • WebSphere Commerce Portal integration

IBM Management Center for WebSphere Commerce (Feature Pack 3, 3.0.1, and 4)

  • IBM Management Center for WebSphere Commerce business user tool

Back-office integration using SOA enhancements (Feature Pack 1)

  • Improved Service Orientation and Web services support for back-office integration, including JCA adapters for Web Services, reference applications and pre-defined Web Services for integration with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Order Management Systems (OMS)
    • WebSphere Commerce and SAP system integration
    • WebSphere Commerce and Sterling Customer Order Management PCA (Sterling COM PCA) integration

Paymentech plug-in for WebSphere Commerce (Feature Pack 2)

  • Paymentech plug-in for WebSphere Commerce
  • Compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards

Solutions

IBM Watson Commerce offers a number of digital commerce and marketing solutions [24] and has numerous partners, which are building further customizations [25][26][27] [28]

Notes
  1. Kovar, Joseph F. (2019-07-02). "Deal Done: Can HCL Technologies Revive IBM's Legacy Software?". CRN. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
  2. IBM Archives 1996, IBM. Accessed on 2010-06-10.
  3. WebSphere Commerce Knowledge Center v6, IBM. Accessed on 2010-06-10.
  4. WebSphere Commerce InfoCenter v7, IBM. Accessed on 2010-06-10.
  5. "IBM Knowledge Center". www.ibm.com. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  6. "IBM Knowledge Center".
  7. Compare editions, IBM. Accessed on 2010-06-10.
  8. WebSphere Commerce Express, IBM. Accessed on 2010-06-10.
  9. WebSphere Commerce Professional, IBM. Accessed on 2010-06-10.
  10. WebSphere Commerce Enterprise, IBM. Accessed on 2010-06-10.
  11. WebSphere Commerce Developer Editions, IBM. Accessed on 2010-06-10.
  12. Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software, IBM. Accessed on 2010-06-10.
  13. WebSphere Commerce Migration Wizard, IBM. Accessed on 2010-08-14.
  14. WebSphere Commerce Version 7 software requirements, IBM. Accessed on 2010-08-28.
  15. Operating system prerequisites for installing WebSphere Commerce, IBM. Accessed on 2011-10-29.
  16. WebSphere Commerce Developer hardware, software, and network prerequisites, IBM. Accessed on 2011-10-29.
  17. Fix Packs for WebSphere Commerce products, IBM. Accessed on 2010-07-31.
  18. Web services and WebSphere Commerce, IBM. Accessed on 2012-05-27.
  19. Highlights of WebSphere Commerce Version 7, IBM. Accessed on 2012-05-27.
  20. Remote widgets, IBM. Accessed on 2012-05-27.
  21. IBM Sales Center for WebSphere Commerce, IBM. Accessed on 2010-06-10.
  22. Cross-Channel Commerce, IBM. Accessed on 2012-05-27.
  23. Distributed Order Management (DOM) integration, IBM. Accessed on 2012-05-27.
  24. IBM WebSphere Commerce product line, IBM. Accessed on 2010-07-31.
  25. WebSphere Commerce Leadership Summit 2009, IBM. Accessed on 2010-07-31.
  26. WebSphere Commerce Leadership Summit 2010, IBM. Accessed on 2010-07-31.
  27. Smarter Commerce Global Summit 2011, IBM. Accessed on 2011-10-29.
  28. IBM Smarter Commerce Global Summit 2012 Madrid, IBM. Accessed on 2012-05-27.
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