Serena Software has launched a new Business Mashup designed specifically for the application release process. This is the first Business Mashup to provide an automated way for application developers, IT operations, and business users to communicate and collaborate with each other during the release process. Now, with Serena Application Release Manager (ARM), there is closed-loop coordination between all the stakeholders to ensure that more applications are released on schedule and with no surprises.

Jeremy Burton, CEO, Serena, said, "The new Application Release Manager Mashup will help to standardise and automate Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) processes in the enterprise regardless of whether systems live in the mainframe or distributed world. And there’s a lot more to come in this space."

Serena Application Release Manager combines Web 2.0-based workflow capabilities with ChangeMan ZMF, an advanced Software Change and Configuration Management (SCCM) application for the mainframe, to provide an efficient way to manage the application release process, from initial change requests through final deployment into the production environment.

As with any Serena Business Mashup, the Application Release Manager includes a visual process designer with out-of-the-box process templates that can be easily customised to suit individual needs. As a result, all of the project stakeholders can coordinate their activities, including application developers, IT operations teams, and even business users, who traditionally had no visibility into mainframe applications.

The power to track and approve projects over a Web-enabled mobile device means participants can keep tabs on the process from anywhere at anytime, reducing the risk of having to roll back a critical release.