Integration with Zimbra
Introduction
The idea behind this integration is to extend the functionality of the ERP/CRM tools in ADempiere to push messages for users to ZIMBRA via the SMTP connector? Also to synchronize (or unify?) individual and shared calendars between the systems. Such an integration would enable users to interact with the application, approve transactions all via e-mail.
A second level of integration would be to expose the CRM and customer accounts and contacts between the systems to be accessible via Zimbra including account status, arrears etc... This could be achievable using a zimlet.
Integration for Single Sign On via a unified LDAP directory would be necessary. At the moment Zimbra uses a modified version of the OpenLDAP for SSO.
Zimbra groupware application is the MS Exhange/Lotus notes killer application. The functional benefits for integration with ADempiere are huge and open up new opportunities for spreading ADempiere. It would revolutionize the CRM functions and the usability of the application as well as offer a function similar to the 'Duet' Outlook integration that SAP offers for its SAP ECC 6.0.
Technical breakdown:
Functional requirements:
- E-mail centralised on Zimbra (Adempiere conifgured to use Zimbra as mail server)
- Single Sign on (Can Adempiere and Zimbra be modified to use CAS?)
- Calendar/task synchronisation, via iCAL
- Shared documents (using the Alfresco integration)
- Pushing all types of messages (email/contacts/meetings/tasks/workflow authorisation) to mobile phones via funambol connector.
- Creating a zimlet (or many zimlets) to expose ADempiere functions via the Zimbra Web UI ,and making it a 'central information system' for end users. Zimlets are similar to portlets and are created using a connector to the WSDL and the UI element definitions.
- Zimbra is already integrated with Asterisk for telephony, and the use of zimlets to expose the CRM functions will give ADempiere a CRM cal centre solution functionally superior to Centric but with the bonus of being part of a complete ERP solution.
Approach
- More of the ADempiere functionality has to be WSDL enabled' in order to create zimlets for integration.
- Unify the LDAP directory servers for SSO
- iCal synchronisation??? I don't know how this could be done.
--hayder 16:51, 17 June 2007 (EDT)
