WebSphere Commerce also known as WCS is a software platform framework for e-commerce, including marketing, sales, customer and order processing functionality in a tailorable, integrated package. It is a single, unified platform which offers the ability to do business directly with consumers, with businesses, indirectly through channel partners, or all of these simultaneously. WebSphere Commerce is a customizable, scalable and high availability solution built on the Java - Java EE platform using open standards, such as XML, and Web services. Formerly a product of IBM, the product was sold to HCL Technologies in July 2019. WebSphere Commerce is sometimes referred to as WCS, however this abbreviation was originally used as a reference to the platform when it was named WebSphere Commerce Suite. Use of the abbreviation continued with users and solution implementers after the platform was renamed to WebSphere Commerce with the announcement of WebSphere Commerce V5.4.
Versions
1. The first version of the platform was introduced in 1996, during the emergence of e-commerce with a product called Net.Commerce that was first deployed to sell event ticket and merchandise for the 1996 Olympic Games. In 2001 Net.Commerce was renamed to WebSphere Commerce Suite, releasing versions V4.1 and V5.1. In 2002 WebSphere Commerce V5.4 was released, followed by V5.5 in 2003, V5.6 in 2004 and V5.6.1 in 2005. The latest major release versions are:
In 2006 Version 6.0
In 2009 Version 7.0
In 2015 Version 8.0
In 2018 Version 9.0
There are three editions of WebSphere Commerce software. Each edition provides an increasing set of functionality in comparison:
Express
Professional
Enterprise
WebSphere Commerce is designed as a highly customizable solution and IBM provides an integrated development environment that is used to build and test customizations including changing the design of storefronts, extending business logic, and creating new business logic to meet business requirements. The developer platform used for customizing and implementing the solution is called IBM WebSphere Commerce Developer for which there are also 3 editions that pair with their runtime environments. As with other customizable IBM products, WebSphere Commerce Developer toolkit runs within IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software as the foundation of Java IDE, and RAD extends Eclipse environment with visual and other development features. A specific WebSphere Commerce version uses a specific version of RAD, for example:
WebSphere Commerce Developer V6 is based on RAD V6.
WebSphere Commerce Developer V8 is based on either RSA or RAD V9.5
Migration
Migrating to a new version of WebSphere Commerce is done by WebSphere Commerce Migration Wizard, an interactive wizard that guides the user through each phase of the migration process, performing various tasks.
Primary components of the solution
As with most Web applications, WebSphere Commerce has 3 main components:
A database
An application server
A web server
Databases which are supported with WebSphere Commerce V7 are:
IBM DB2 on various platforms, provided with the product
Apache Derby, provided with the WebSphere Commerce Developer product.
Application server which is supported with WebSphere Commerce is IBM WebSphere Application Server, is also provided with the product. Supported Web servers are:
WebSphere Commerce Developer v9 not limited to Windows. However, Accelerator, Org Admin Console and WCS Admin Console still require Internet Explorer. Rational Application Developer will now run natively on IOS and Linux environments. https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSZLC2_9.0.0/com.ibm.commerce.install.doc/refs/rigdevprereqclh.htm
Additional features are continuously provided through Enhancements using agile methods on a quarterly basis. This continuous deployment model puts new features and enhancements in the hands of WebSphere Commerce customers quicker and with less disruption to ongoing business operations. Some of the WebSphere Commerce V8 Enhancements include the following and are described in detail in .
IBM Tealeaf Customer Experience on Cloud integration
IBM Dynamic Pricing Integration
IBM Universal Behavior Exchange audience support
Intelligent sequencing and featured product image
Promotions enhancements
Tax Enhancements
Prior to version 8 Additional features were released through Feature Packs on an annual or semi-annual basis. These enhancements were delivered as installable packages, sample reference applications or documented solutions. WebSphere Commerce Feature Packs include new features. These enhancements add some new functionality or features to the base product. Feature Pack differs from a fix pack, which is a set of correction fixes to the base code. Fix Packs and Feature Packs within a certain release are cumulative. A Feature Pack contains multiple features that are installed as one package, and can be enabled individually. A feature provides a functional extension to the existing base product functionality.
WebSphere Commerce V7 enhancements at a glance
WebSphere Commerce V7.0 Feature Pack 8.0 is cumulative, and it consolidates capabilities of Feature Pack 7.0, 6.0, 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0 and 1.0 in addition to some new capabilities. WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 8:
Starter store enhancements for both B2B direct and consumer direct business models
Improved Service Orientation and Web services support for back-office integration, including JCA adapters for Web Services, reference applications and pre-defined Web Services for integration with Enterprise Resource Planning and Order Management Systems
* WebSphere Commerce and SAP system integration
* WebSphere Commerce and Sterling Customer Order Management PCA integration
