NonStop Systems Introduction

Introduction
NonStop Systems Introduction—527825-001
1-5
The Zero Latency Enterprise
However, in this case, as the clerk enters the customers credit card number into the
company’s credit card system, a message is returned indicating that the purchase is
$5.00 over the customer’s credit limit. The clerk, being unaware of the customer’s
history with the company, must reject the customer’s credit card. Again, the result is
an unhappy customer who deserved much better treatment.
In a zero latency enterprise environment, the credit card processing application would
have access to the customer’s previous transactions. Based on these transactions,
software in the ZLE system could return a recommendation that the customer’s credit
limit be extended.
Figure 1-1 on page 1-5 and Figure 1-2 on page 1-6 graphically illustrate how a zero
latency enterprise system eliminates information latency in a business. Figure 1-1
shows a conceptual example of a large business before the implementation of a ZLE
system. Notice that the business has many different operational systems. Each
operational system may have its own applications and databases, and may even be
located at geographically distant locations, all communicating over a network. The
network may work reasonably well in ultimately getting information where it is needed,
but the problem is the latency, or delay, involved getting it there.
Figure 1-1. Communication Between Business Systems
Point-of-sale
(Chicago)
Point-of-sale
(San Francisco)
Web Site
Gift Registry
Call Center
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