In the last issue (#8 - Oct), I had an article about my first impressions of Alpha's Web Application Server (WAS).  This month, I want to elaborate, as well as give some more real-world applications (thanks to those of you that have contributed ideas).

First of all, I'll repeat (because this product warrants it!) my comment from last month - this is just too cool! As Jim Chapman pointed out, this will give us the ability to use the Web as our own personal store front!  So, what can we do with the WAS?

•	Online Store - List the products for sale on your company's public web site with the ability to place an order.
•	Part Prices - Let customers check prices; if the price schedule is determined by the customer's location or other factor, you could design a routine to show the customer their prices, discount, etc.
•	Order Status - Allow customers to check the status of an order that goes through several stages; you could also show prices and availability of parts.  Also, because you could have the customer's name and password in your database, when they log in using those values, you could run a routine that would show them information specifically for them, such as special discounts.
•	Pre-Registration - This could include registering for an event; allow potential members to submit inquiries (after which you can follow up with more info that might entice them to join).
•	Appointments - Let customers find out if a rental item (video, car, tool) is available; let them check for available appointments (dental, repair, personal grooming), and even make a reservation for a given time slot.
•	Family Tree - You could put a data-entry form on the Internet so your relatives could enter their family information.  The data they entered would go directly into your database, and would be immediately available to anyone else in the family.
•	Charity Auction - You could have volunteers solicit donations from local merchants, and enter them as they receive them.  This would help eliminate calling on the same merchant twice, and make compiling the information much easier.
•	Survey, Opinion Poll - Get opinions from club members or other groups, and display the "real time" results.
•	Team Scores - Have the referee or coaches submit the scores of each game.  Then the standings could be calculated and displayed for everyone.  This could include many events, such as bridge or chess games, gymnastics, races.
•	Memberships - Keep club information up-to-date, and allow new members to submit membership applications.
•	Company Intranet - Allow traveling sales staff to enter and review orders from remote locations such as a customer's office or their hotel room.

Keep in mind that many of these inquiries are currently handled on the phone.  Just think how more efficient a business could be if they didn't have their personnel spending so much time on the phone!

I really believe that the WAS is going to have many more applications than shown above.  If you can think of one, please go to WAS Applications (which, as you might have guessed, has been set up using the Web Application Server!) and submit your suggestions.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]