The semantics of product data

The Inforbix approach assumes that the engineer does not know what is needed. Most engineers working on a new design only have a hint or some related information about the assembly, the other components in the system, and the previous designs stored on the engineering department’s server. The Inforbix system allows the user to follow a system of links and semantic references that allow the engineer to discover data and information to help solve a specific problem or complete a task.

Finding connected pieces

“Our customers are diving into product-related information,” Shilovitsky said. “However, the data and information are scattered between networks, files, applications and other sources. One of the most interesting use cases for us is to find connected pieces. Our users want to consume product data as a whole, when it comes to decision-making.”

Shilovitsky continued, “The cost savings are important, but the big payoff, our customers tell us, is the elimination of duplicate effort and reduction of the time for the engineering design process itself.”

In traditional search, semantic technology has been applied to improve indexing, facilitate faceted search and support specialized processes for e-discovery and business intelligence. Inforbix is pushing semantics, context and relationships into a content space that often must resort to inefficient, error-prone manual processes.

Inforbix's  technology appears to deliver bottom line payoffs that few search and content processing vendors can match. Accountants and attorneys understand the upside of a system that can reduce duplication, speed engineering processes and provide a tool for getting insights into inventory, suppliers and quality.