Meta Rules: Best Approach to Client-side Form Logic
Like Dynamics CRM, MobileAccess is based on the most modern architecture available today using: web services, metadata, and declarative XML. Dynamics CRM also uses procedural programming in the form of JavaScript for executing client-side form logic. This technology is both powerful and well-known to a broad base of developers. However, the challenge with using procedural code on mobile devices is the inherent complexity and resource demands quickly overwhelm the limited processor capabilities. The result is sub-par performance and a compromised user experience. For this reason, MobileAccess includes Meta Rules technology for defining client-side logic on forms which provides a complete end-to-end declarative approach. This approach is superior in the following ways:
Performance – Declarative logic offers significant performance improvement over procedural logic on mobile devices. The first approach provides a linear scaling of resources as more logic is added; while procedural logic represents an exponential increase in resource utilization as more logic is added. On today’s modern PC desktops and laptops, this resource demand goes unnoticed. On the limited CPU and memory of a mobile device however–the choice of approach becomes immediately apparent to the user experience.
Security and Stability – As the primary means of communication for many mobile professionals, the converged capabilities with phone, email, and data applications on smartphones makes them a valuable, albeit critical tool that must be dependable. Any malformed, invalid or even rogue JavaScript can adversely affect mobile device stability and security and therefore user experience and productivity. MobileAccess Meta Rules provide walled-garden protection of the mobile CRM form logic equivalents–protecting the device and avoiding compromised user experiences.
Development Skills and Costs – Procedural JavaScript logic requires programming skills. The need for specialized skills typically means expensive personnel or professional programming services. Our declarative Meta Rules are easier to work with in practice and provide the power and flexibility of procedural code without the added complexity or trade-off in user experience. Meta Rules include functions for data type conversions, validation checking, string manipulation, and mathematical functions as well as special device-specific functions that may all be used to provide the desired user experience.
Relevance – A further added benefit of utilizing Meta Rules has little to do with technology. Typically, most CRM projects start with requirements gathering as to how the CRM system should work to define the customer’s unique business workflow. Unfortunately there is usually little consideration for the unique requirements of the mobile professional from users in the office. By having an optimized technology available for mobile client-side logic, further consideration may be appropriately applied to the specific mobile use case on an as needed basis.
In summary, the typical approach of using procedural programming to address client-side logic is clearly inadequate and requires a new approach. MobileAccess overcomes this issue with it’s Meta Rules capabilities to enable a comprehensive CRM mobility solution without compromise or complexity.