Modern days bring us some new and unique challenges never seen before. Around us there are more and more IoT devices as well as mobile, cloud-powered and other always-connected devices as already discussed in previous articles on our blog. As a result, customer expectations are rising day-by-day and data volumes that are needed to be processed are rising quickly. Technology companies will have to handle more and more data in real-time and find new technological solutions to handle such data increases and continue to provide high availability of their systems. It is critical for companies to recognize these and similar future challenges and to prepare for them. Failing to do so will mean losing their market advantages, quick technological obsolescence and consequently losing their customers. Such companies may never be given another opportunity. Because of that fact, it is of critical importance to prepare for such challenges now.
Oracle recognized modern challenges years ago and started to develop products that can help you solve your current and future demands and give you competitive edge on the market, helping you to always be on the winner’s side. Oracle developed a new modern technology solution – Oracle Coherence and Oracle ECE.
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Introducing Oracle Coherence
Oracle Coherence is an innovative Java-based solution that is based on a distributed data grid principle as shown on the diagram.
One of Coherence’s big advantages is its in-memory nature meaning that all frequently used data are cached in-memory which allows lightning fast access to such data. Your data are also not stored and processed only on one machine but distributed across many nodes. To address communication challenges in such a distributed environment, Oracle uses an asynchronous custom IP-based protocol (TCMP). Your data are stored in node caches (multiple cache types and their combinations are supported). Main goals of Oracle Coherence are to provide Flexible Scaling, High Performance and High Reliability for applications and middleware. Based on Coherence technology Oracle developed their state-of-the-art charging product – Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management (Oracle BRM) Elastic Charging Engine (ECE).
Building on top of Oracle Coherence – Oracle Elastic Charging Engine
Oracle BRM is one of industry-leading systems for revenue and billing management for years already. Recently it was greatly enhanced with a new charging engine – Oracle Elastic Charging Engine (ECE). Oracle ECE is built on Oracle Coherence, and that brings us many of Coherence’s advantages and specialties to Oracle BRM. As a result of this, Oracle BRM charging system becomes very fast, scalable and fail-safe.
Elastic bands can stretch – and so does Elastic Charging Engine (ECE) as its name implies. Oracle ECE scaling abilities in combination with its in-memory nature means high charging performance that is capable of processing thousands of requests per second with low latencies, which is of utmost importance in many cases.
There are no limits in use cases where Oracle ECE charging engine powered Oracle BRM can be used. It supports many use cases out-of-the box already with endless customization capabilities to really suit almost all possible products, networks, services, payment types…
For example, Oracle BRM is used widely by telecommunication operators around the globe. They recognized its vast configuration and customization options to offer their customers best services at an affordable price while also maintaining their profitability and service capacity utilization at the optimum level. BRM supported by ECE further expands applicability of BRM for such purposes. Companies, also operating in other fields of activity, are starting to recognize many benefits that BRM and ECE can provide to them. More and more electricity distribution companies, airline companies, parking providers and others are starting to explore Oracle BRM and Oracle ECE, because they realize that they miss out on many untapped opportunities that could allow them to raise their profitability while actually offering more to their customers, because they can tailor their services to them better.
Conclusion about Oracle ECE
Are you using a solution that meets your requirements today? But is it truly fail-safe, scalable and ready for the future? Are you really seizing all opportunities to offer your customers better service? You must recognize that meeting your present requirements may not be enough tomorrow anymore. Oracle ECE based on Oracle Coherence is fail-safe and allows you to add additional nodes, reconfigure them etc. when such requirements arise. Oracle BRM and Oracle ECE also give you almost unlimited configuration options.
Tridens, as a Gold Oracle partner, is ready to advise you how to best solve your current requirements while being ready for all future challenges and make the most out of your potential. We can help you implement modern technologies in your solutions that will give you competitive edge and help you win on the ever-changing and increasingly challenging market.
