The basic idea of the real-time enterprise is to become quicker. A business which wants to become a real-time enterprise has to acquire three main abilities: - Internal and external data is integrated quickly and in real time in a well-organized company data pool, - Analyses of information in the company data pool can be obtained in real time, across function boundaries and at the touch of a button, - The number of working steps performed in batch mode is shifting dramatically in favor of immediate completion in real time. The issue of communications - or real-time communications - plays a special role here. Studies have shown that processing times sometimes double when necessary communication events are handled in batch mode in the business process and not in real time. In other words, when an activity cannot be completed and lies around for days because an urgently needed partner cannot be contacted. The necessity of acquiring these three abilities has implications for the process-related, technical and organizational aspects of a business that are dealt with in detail in this book.

Speed as a factor for success Our modern industrial society lives life in the fast lane. The catchwords “faster”, “shorter”, “more powerful” reflect what we experience in almost all aspects of our lives. Whether at home or at work, we are constantly on the move and in a rush. In our private lives we find rapid exchange of inf- mation most entertaining and we are fascinated by the wide range of inf- mation that pours in on us from all around the world, mainly via the new media. It gives us the feeling of being a part of the action everywhere and all the time. Seldom are we aware that the only reason this flood of inf- mation, often referred to as “overstimulation”, does not lead to overkill is that we manage to organize our time effectively. There are many parallels to this in the business world. Here too, a great deal of time pressure is exerted from outside; goals are set ever higher and deadlines become tighter. In other words, demands on our time demand faster reaction. Crucial information travels around the globe – across all time zones – in a matter of seconds. In fact, instead of CET or CEST, it would make sense to have a single time zone for the worldwide network called GST for Global Simultaneous Time. In business more so than in p- vate life, we are almost constantly online.

Successful management teams can identify the cost and return derived from the implementation of new technology, and they can properly apply the technology toward gaining a competitive advantage. IT and business managers alike need a resource that enables them to prepare for future operating conditions, identify beneficial solutions, and use high technology to achieve organizational goals. The Real-Time Enterprise analyzes the forward-looking implementation of IT within a business, focusing on how careful planning can improve efficiency while reducing costs. The book includes case studies that emphasize how the most profitable uses of technology are now the real-time response to customer requirements, and the accumulation of knowledge about markets and business partners. Divided into four parts, the text begins by explaining how advanced information technology is a moving target, and why companies that want to benefit from it must set priorities and move quickly. Part II covers many recent developments in IT and its implementation, including smart dust and straight through processing (STP). Part III is made up of case studies that address specific application areas, including credit institutions, treasury operations, risk management, and approaches to replace office automation. The book concludes by exploring a series of prerequisites made necessary by advanced applications. The Real-Time Enterprise provides a perspective on the deployment of strategic information technology, covering guidelines, advanced applications, and practical examples. It delivers a much-needed upgrade of knowledge and skills for IT professionals seeking to progress beyond traditional implementations.

This book is organized and laid out to provide information in quickly understandable chapters and in sections within chapters. Each chapter stands on its own and provides a usable body of information on an aspect of the real-time enterprise. Chapters includes diagrams, tables, and lists to illustrate and summarize key points and real-world case studies and executive interviews to provide further insight into the subject matter presented in the chapter. Readers of this book will: Gain a clear picture of how organizations can profit from use of real-time operations Appreciate the theory, technology, and business practices that underpin the real-time enterprise Learn a pragmatic and efficient approach for developing real-time systems in their own organizations The author, Michael Hugos, is the chief information officer of Network Services Company, a $7 billion dollar distribution organization. He has over 20 years experience in applying technology to meet business challenges and he holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. His discussion of the real-time enterprise is a blend of both theoretical and practical perspectives based on his years of applying real-time concepts to actual business situations. He is also the author of Essentials of Supply Chain Management.

Launch effective real-time communications to win in today's always-on world Gone are the days when you could plan out your marketing and public relations programs well in advance and release them on your timetable. "Real time" means news breaks over minutes, not days. It means companies develop (or refine) products or services instantly, based on feedback from customers or events in the marketplace. And it's when businesses see an opportunity and are the first to act on it. In this eye-opening follow-up to The New Rules of Marketing and PR, a BusinessWeek bestseller, David Meerman Scott reveals the proven, practical steps to take your business into the real-time era. Find out how to act and react flexibly as events occur, position your brand in the always-on world of the Web, and avoid embarrassing mistakes and missteps. Real-Time Marketing and PR will also enable you to: Develop a business culture that encourages speed over sloth Read buying signals as people interact with your online information Crowdsource product development, naming, and even marketing materials such as online videos Engage reporters to shape stories as they are being written Command premium prices by delivering products at speed Deploy technology to listen in on millions of online discussions and instantly engage with customers and buyers Scale and media buying power are no longer a decisive advantage. What counts today is speed and agility. While your competitors scramble to adjust, you can seize the initiative, open new channels, and grow your brand. Master Real-Time Marketing and PR today and become the first to act, the first to respond, and the first to win!

A practical guide to help you tackle different real-time data processing and analytics problems using the best tools for each scenario About This Book Learn about the various challenges in real-time data processing and use the right tools to overcome them This book covers popular tools and frameworks such as Spark, Flink, and Apache Storm to solve all your distributed processing problems A practical guide filled with examples, tips, and tricks to help you perform efficient Big Data processing in real-time Who This Book Is For If you are a Java developer who would like to be equipped with all the tools required to devise an end-to-end practical solution on real-time data streaming, then this book is for you. Basic knowledge of real-time processing would be helpful, and knowing the fundamentals of Maven, Shell, and Eclipse would be great. What You Will Learn Get an introduction to the established real-time stack Understand the key integration of all the components Get a thorough understanding of the basic building blocks for real-time solution designing Garnish the search and visualization aspects for your real-time solution Get conceptually and practically acquainted with real-time analytics Be well equipped to apply the knowledge and create your own solutions In Detail With the rise of Big Data, there is an increasing need to process large amounts of data continuously, with a shorter turnaround time. Real-time data processing involves continuous input, processing and output of data, with the condition that the time required for processing is as short as possible. This book covers the majority of the existing and evolving open source technology stack for real-time processing and analytics. You will get to know about all the real-time solution aspects, from the source to the presentation to persistence. Through this practical book, you'll be equipped with a clear understanding of how to solve challenges on your own. We'll cover topics such as how to set up components, basic executions, integrations, advanced use cases, alerts, and monitoring. You'll be exposed to the popular tools used in real-time processing today such as Apache Spark, Apache Flink, and Storm. Finally, you will put your knowledge to practical use by implementing all of the techniques in the form of a practical, real-world use case. By the end of this book, you will have a solid understanding of all the aspects of real-time data processing and analytics, and will know how to deploy the solutions in production environments in the best possible manner. Style and Approach In this practical guide to real-time analytics, each chapter begins with a basic high-level concept of the topic, followed by a practical, hands-on implementation of each concept, where you can see the working and execution of it. The book is written in a DIY style, with plenty of practical use cases, well-explained code examples, and relevant screenshots and diagrams.

The presence and use of real-time systems is becoming increasingly common. Examples of such systems range from nuclear reactors, to automotive controllers, and also entertainment software such as games and graphics animation. The growing importance of rea.