Smart Client applications look and perform just like standard Microsoft Office Applications.  They provide a rich User Interface that is very familiar to working professionals, vs. the well-known functional and usability deficiencies of Browser-based applications.  While it is possible to mimic a Microsoft Office application experience inside a Browser, get out your checkbook!   Smart Client applications  provide a high fidelity end-user experience by taking full advantage of all that the Microsoft® Windows® platform and the Internet has to offer.

Smart Client applications are installed on the End Users' PC, which allows the application to fully utilize the hardware and software resources available to each local PC  i.e. the CPU, graphics processor, memory (RAM) and disk storage.  A dual-CPU Server and Standard MS SQL Server 2005/8 can easily support hundreds of concurrent End Users.  Smart Client application performance is the same for 100 Users as it is for 10,000 Users: fast and responsive.  PCA makes use of advanced data caching algorithms to enable high application performance with virtually any size database.  Application performance is the same for databases with megabytes, gigabytes, or terabytes or data.

Smart Clients connect to a centralized SQL Server database with centralized application security.  All PCA-designed Smart Client applications employ a multi-tier, role-based security model that provides Admin ability to assign business roles and configure role-specific application- and data-level access privileges.  Application security privileges can be modified at any time — all users who are members of a Role automatically inherit updated privileges. Learn more about Smart Client Security

Because Smart Client applications are installed on the PC, they can connect directly with local devices e.g. VOIP, bar-code and RFID readers, scanners, etc., as well as software resources available to that PC, including exchanging data with MS Excel, MS Word and MS Outlook applications.

Smart Clients can connect directly with any data resources or web services available on the Internet e.g. Google Earth, D&B database (any data source that is IP-addressable).

One of the key benefits of Smart Client applications is they can be used off-line, when a connection to the Internet is unavailable. When re-connected, Smart Clients automatically synchronize all off-line changes with the central SQL Server database, completely transparent to the End User. Smart Client applications work exceptionally well, connected or not.

PCA Smart Client applications are hosting environment independent — the SQL Server database can be located anywhere... on your network behind a firewall, or a 3rd-party Application Hosting Provider (ASP).  Through our business relationship with RackSpace, PCA offers "one-stop" application Hosting, Maintenance and Support services, which can oftentimes provide a more cost-effective approach. Learn more about Smart Client Deployment Options 

Smart Client installations and maintenance updates are completely automated, intelligent, and seamless to End Users: with no I/T support required.  There is no need to manage different versions of the Smart Client application — everyone automatically gets the latest version with the most current set of data.  The PCA Smart Client "Mobilizer" automates application installation and updates, so traditional headaches and expenses associated with maintaining distributed business applications go away.