Progress Software Corporation today announced availability of new data connectivity and application capabilities as part of its Progress Pacific application platform-as-a-service (aPaaS), furthering its strategy to give anyone the ability to quickly create, evolve and customize connected business applications on demand. They include: 

· Data Connectivity: The new Progress DataDirect Cloud serviceenables applications to easily integrate data from popular SaaS, relational database, Big Data, social, CRM and ERP systems. The connection management service allows applications to be built in less time by using a single standards-based interface to execute SQL queries against a wide range of cloud data sources. 
· Application Development: New integrated business process management (BPM) and business rules management system (BRMS) capabilities dramatically simplify application customization usingProgress OpenEdge 11.3 development software. Flexible processes, rules and workflows can be easily configured to meet business requirements while greatly accelerating productivity. In addition, an improved Progress Rollbaseinfrastructure ensures an enhanced user experience for standards-based business applications created with innovative drag-and-drop tools using any web browser. Progress Rollbase is one of the industry’s most innovative rapid development platforms. 
Cal German, president and CEO at DMSi Software, the leading business management solution for building materials distribution, said, “After evaluating a number of platforms, including SalesForce.com, SAP and Acumatica, we’ve chosen Progress Pacific to help us build and deploy innovative applications for our customers. In particular, the drag and drop features and robust workflow and triggers in Progress Rollbase will enable us to quickly deliver highly customizable solutions that meet our customers’ complex business processes.” 
John Goodson, chief product officer at Progress Software, said, “Customer and partner response to the Progress Pacific launch in June has been extremely positive and we are now delivering on our vision. It’s clear that the move to aPaaS is gaining momentum as time-to-market and data capabilities in new apps are key requirements for developers and end users. Pacific addresses these needs with rich data, visual design and open deployment capabilities in a single platform.”