intra-mart

Implementing intra-mart typically follows a structured phases-based methodology designed for enterprise-grade deployments. The process begins with 'Discovery and Planning', where business requirements are mapped and success metrics are defined—a phase that usually involves stakeholders from finance, operations, and IT. This is followed by 'System Design and Environment Setup', where technical teams use the 'IM-Juggling' tool to configure the specific modules and middleware (such as Resin or Tomcat) needed. The 'Development' phase utilizes the platform's low-code tools like IM-BloomMaker and IM-LogicDesigner to build screens and business logic. For complex integrations, the development might include custom Java/JavaScript coding. A rigorous 'Testing and QA' phase follows, ensuring all workflows and security permissions function as intended. Finally, 'Deployment' involves releasing the application to users, often accompanied by training sessions. While simple workflows can be live in weeks, full enterprise-wide DPA transformations generally take 6 to 12 months, depending on the complexity of legacy system integrations.

Customization is one of intra-mart's core strengths, offering three distinct levels of flexibility. At the 'No-Code' level, users can use IM-LogicDesigner and IM-FormaDesigner to build basic business logic and forms without any programming. At the 'Low-Code' level, IM-BloomMaker allows for sophisticated UI/UX customization using a graphical browser-based designer. For 'Pro-Code' requirements, intra-mart is built on an open-source framework, meaning developers have access to the underlying Java and JavaScript APIs. They can write custom server-side scripts or Java classes to handle extremely specialized business rules or complex third-party system integrations. Furthermore, the platform supports 'Shared Application' architectures where different business units can have entirely customized portal views, menu structures, and localized language settings while operating on the same central infrastructure. The 'Accel Series' of applications also provides open-source code for most modules, allowing users to modify the standard application logic to meet their specific corporate needs.

Beyond the initial license or subscription fee, customers should budget for several potential additional costs. For on-premise deployments, these include hardware/infrastructure costs and the necessary third-party middleware (like a Web Application Server or RDBMS such as Oracle or SQL Server) if not using the bundled options. Professional services for implementation, consulting, and project management are common, as most large-scale deployments are managed by intra-mart's certified partners. Training and certification for internal IT staff through NTT DATA INTRAMART's educational services also involve fees. For cloud users on 'Accel-Mart', while many infrastructure costs are bundled, exceeding standard data storage or API call limits may incur extra charges. There may also be costs for premium support tiers beyond the standard technical support included with the license. Maintenance fees for on-premise licenses are typically 15-20% of the initial license cost per year, covering product updates and support portal access.

intra-mart offers a comprehensive training ecosystem designed for different user personas. For developers, 'Developer Training' courses cover the foundational architecture of the Accel Platform, focusing on script-based and Java-based development models. Specialized courses are available for 'IM-BloomMaker' (UI design), 'IM-LogicDesigner' (logic construction), and 'IM-Workflow' (process design). For business analysts, 'BPM Training' focuses on process modeling and monitoring using BPMN standards. Training is delivered through multiple channels, including live webinars, in-person classroom sessions at training centers (in Japan, China, and Vietnam), and a vast library of on-demand documentation and video tutorials available through the 'Developer Portal'. The company also runs a certification program, allowing individuals and partners to become 'Certified intra-mart Professionals', which serves as a benchmark for implementation quality and technical expertise globally.

intra-mart employs a multi-layered security posture designed to meet the rigorous demands of global enterprises. At the application level, the 'IM-SecureBlocker' module acts as a specialized web application firewall, screening input parameters to protect against common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). Access control is handled through a sophisticated authorization and authentication engine, supporting LDAP for directory services and OAuth 2.0 for secure connection to cloud services and mail servers. The platform's 'Shared Application' model provides strong tenant isolation, ensuring that data from one 'login group' is strictly separated from others. For cloud deployments via 'Accel-Mart', the infrastructure is hosted in top-tier data centers (such as AWS) that maintain ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI-DSS certifications. Additionally, the platform provides comprehensive audit trails and logging for all user activities and system changes, supporting compliance with internal governance and international regulations like GDPR and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX).

The platform follows a predictable and frequent update cadence, typically releasing major updates in the 'Spring' and 'Autumn' of each year. These releases include new platform features, performance enhancements, and security patches. For instance, recent '2023 Spring' and '2024 Autumn' updates introduced significant enhancements to mobile accessibility, generative AI capabilities (IM-Copilot), and developer productivity tools. Updates are managed through the 'IM-Juggling' configuration tool, which allows administrators to select and apply specific module updates to their environment. The company maintains a clear support policy, providing mainstream support for several years for each major version, ensuring long-term stability for enterprise customers. Important security patches or critical bug fixes are released as 'Minor' updates or patches outside the major biannual cycle. Detailed release notes and migration guides are provided for every update through the support portal to help IT teams plan and execute upgrades with minimal disruption.

Under intra-mart's standard terms, customers retain full ownership of all data processed and stored within the platform. The platform is designed with 'data portability' in mind; users can extract their business data and transaction logs through the built-in 'ViewCreator' or 'Data Export' functions in standard formats such as CSV or XML. For more complex data migrations, the 'IM-LogicDesigner' can be used to build custom ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes that push data to external data warehouses or other enterprise systems. In cloud deployments (Accel-Mart), the service agreement explicitly states the customer's rights to their data and the procedures for data retrieval upon contract termination. This ensuring that organizations are never locked into the platform and can maintain their data sovereignty in compliance with regional laws like GDPR, which grants users specific rights over their personal data and its portability.

intra-mart is engineered for massive horizontal and vertical scaling, supporting some of the largest corporate infrastructures in the world. The architecture supports 'distributed system' configurations where load balancers (supporting session maintenance and health checks) distribute traffic across multiple Web and Application servers (Resin, Apache, etc.). For high-volume data processing, the platform integrates with scalable NoSQL databases like Apache Cassandra (for IM-Box) and Solr (for full-text search) alongside traditional RDBMS. Its 'Login Group' architecture also allows for organizational scaling, where a single instance can support tens of thousands of users across multiple independent global subsidiaries. In the cloud, 'Accel-Mart' leverages the auto-scaling capabilities of modern cloud providers to automatically adjust resources based on real-time demand. This ensured performance remains consistent even as an organization grows from a few hundred users to an enterprise-wide deployment with millions of annual process instances.

intra-mart's terms and conditions are tailored for the enterprise market. Contracts for on-premise licenses are typically perpetual with an optional annual maintenance agreement for support and updates. Cloud subscriptions (Accel-Mart) are usually offered on one-year or three-year terms with annual billing. Renewal processes are generally straightforward, with notices sent several months in advance. Cancellation terms require a specified notice period (typically 30 to 90 days). Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for cloud services typically guarantee 99.9% availability. The contract also defines the scope of usage, usually based on the number of 'WAR file' deployments or 'Login Groups' allowed. It includes standard clauses regarding intellectual property (where the platform remains NTT DATA's IP, but the customer owns their custom-built applications and data) and liability. Customers are encouraged to review the specific 'Product Support Policy' which details version lifecycle and support levels to ensure alignment with their long-term IT strategies.

intra-mart provides extensive support for global compliance standards, making it a preferred choice for highly regulated industries like finance and healthcare. The platform itself is designed to support GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) strategies by providing end-to-end process transparency and automated audit trails. For data privacy, it includes features to help organizations comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), such as data encryption at rest and in transit, and granular access controls. The parent company, NTT DATA, and the cloud infrastructure providers used for Accel-Mart (like AWS) maintain a wide array of certifications, including ISO 27001 (Information Security Management), ISO 20000 (IT Service Management), and SOC 1/SOC 2 Type II reports. Additionally, specialized modules like 'Accel Archiver' support ISO-compliant document management and internal control functions, ensuring that business processes remain compliant with both corporate policies and external legal requirements such as HIPAA or PCI-DSS where applicable.