Puma pounces on Java web technology

Sportswear company updates its online applications

Sportswear company Puma is redeveloping its Puma Village application to take advantage of Java technology.

The company is using IBM's WebSphere Application Server running on an iSeries system, and is working with services provider Morpheus who will supply software development and training throughout the project.

Puma Village enables Puma's network of football clubs, including Everton and Fulham, to enquire about stock levels and order supplies over the web.

'We had a good solution in place, running a whole trading and information website, but it was not very transportable, the code not really reusable and developers tended to specialise in a specific part,' said John Sturch, IT Manager at Puma UK.

The updated Puma village is still being developed, and the project is due to be completed at the end of July, says Sturch.

The change is a big process but the company says it is worth the effort as much of the code will be reusable, making it simpler to transfer it to other Puma web sites around the world.