Pros and Cons of OnBase Unity Client Versus Web Client

Before personalizing OnBase's software for San Jose State, it is important to understand the two main clients that OnBase offers: web and Unity. They both allow the same powerful searching, editing, and managing tools; however, they do have their pros and cons. We, the project owner and the team members, need to understand their capabilities and their use cases for the MSCS department office before we can customize the software.

Web Client

The web client is the first we need to discuss because it is the most practical. It can be used cross-browser and cross-platform. Since it is easily accessible, faculty and students will actually use it. Nowadays, no one wants to go through the hassle of downloading and installing more programs than necessary on their devices. More and more technology is going web-based because it is fast and accessible.



Although the accessibility is great, OnBase definitely did not please with the user interface of its web client. The web page examples in OnBase's training videos were outdated looking. They looked like web pages from a decade ago. This outdated user interface may hinder the training process for students and faculty. Hopefully OnBase has updated its web client's design since it filmed these training videos.

Summary

Pros:

1. Students and faculty can easily access the website. 
2. It is easy to deploy. 
3. It allows customizable portal views of content. 
4. It can extend documents and e-forms to those without OnBase accounts. 

Cons:

1. Web clients require internet access. 
2. It is not aesthetically appealing. 

Unity Client

The desktop version of OnBase is the Unity client. As its name suggests, it offers unity between OnBase's data management software and Microsoft Office products' look and feel. This is definitely my favorite of the two clients because it is beautifully designed--thanks to Microsoft I would like to add.

This combination of software will provide great assistance to school administrators. Administrators not only manage their data, but they also need to be able to edit when necessary. The familiar look-and-feel of Microsoft Office products will definitely make training a breeze since administrators probably already use these tools when creating their forms. When students make small mistakes, administrators can quickly notify the students through email and make the small changes themselves without downloading the documents.

Summary
Pros:

1. The Unity client definitely beats the web client in design with the sleek, familiar and friendly interface. 
2. There are many training documents available online for the Unity client from other universities. E.g. http://www.indiana.edu/~onbase/UnityManual.pdf
3. OnBase supports ClickOnce technology for easy installation.
4. Users can easily customize the desktop client and enhance their experience. 

Cons:

1. The desktop client requires installation.
2. It does not allow access to users without OnBase accounts.

Conclusion

Honestly, I think it is a good idea for us to customize both the web client and the Unity client. They can be used in different situations. The administrators would definitely appreciate having Unity because it is slicker and familiar. The students and faculty will appreciate the web-based client because they only need it for viewing and submission purposes.

One problem with this university is its large scale purchases of software and technology that its faculty do not use.

"Pushed by its ambitious president, San Jose State is spending $28 million on high-tech communications systems worthy of a campus of the future -- but an investigation by this newspaper shows the project was crafted largely in secret, purchased without competitive bids and adorned with pricey gadgets that many professors may not even use."

Katy Murphy

This is extracted from an article that was written after the school sealed the deal on a $28 million dollar contract for phones with cameras that the faculty do not even use. Most of the faculty cover their cameras up or do not even know how to use the technology. Events like these make me wonder if our purchase of OnBase is worth it. Therefore, we really need to understand the workflow of the MSCS office and implement a system that will be efficient and regularly used.



References
https://www.onbase.com/en/product/onbase/access/client-interfaces#.Vh81sPlVhBc
http://www.mercurynews.com/education/ci_26666181/san-jose-states-costly-high-tech-upgrade-cisco

Images
https://wiki.carleton.edu/download/attachments/23891680/OnBaseUnity.PNG?version=1&modificationDate=1421102822000&api=v2
https://www.ohio.edu/docimage/Training/ThinClient/courses/WS-0020/course_elements/OnBase/content/webclient_desktop.jpg