Ostendo Affordable Cloud Solution

Ostendo Continuum is an Affordable ERP System that gives you the choice of Cloud or On-premise Deployment.

Cloud or Server Deployment — The Flexibility Your Business Needs

Ostendo Continuum ERP gives you the freedom to choose how you run your system: fully in the cloud, on your own server, or through a cloud-based terminal services environment. Whichever option you choose, you get the same powerful functionality and the same reliable performance.

Cloud Deployment — Simple, Direct, and Accessible

With the cloud option, your Ostendo database is securely hosted online. There’s no need for a dedicated cloud server or Terminal Services. Users simply install the Ostendo application on their computers and connect directly to the database over the internet.

You can even use Ostendo's cloud capabilities while installed on your internal server to allow remote staff to log in from anywhere—no Terminal Services required.

Although cloud-hosted, Ostendo is not web-based. This delivers the speed, stability, and rich capability of a desktop ERP system, with the convenience of cloud access.

Client–Server Deployment — Your Environment, Your Control

Prefer to run your own infrastructure? Ostendo can be installed on an on-premise server or on a cloud server using Terminal Services. This option is ideal for businesses that want tighter control over their IT environment or already have robust server infrastructure in place.

Ostendo runs on the Firebird SQL relational database—an industry-strength platform able to scale seamlessly to 100+ users.

Both deployment options allow full database backups and the ability to maintain separate copies of your data for testing, training, and development.

Low Cost of Ownership — A Smarter Investment

Unlike SaaS ERP systems, Ostendo Continuum is not subscription-based. Licences are purchased outright, delivering long-term value and dramatically reducing ongoing costs. The only recurring fee is a low-cost annual licence renewal that covers updates and upgrades.

Licensing is based on concurrent users, not named users. That means you only pay for the number of users logged in at the same time—often requiring fewer licences and offering significant savings compared to traditional SaaS ERP pricing models.

The result?

A much lower total cost of ownership than web-based SaaS ERP systems, making Ostendo one of the most affordable full-function ERP options for small to large businesses.

Payback on Investment — Real Value, Real Results

Ostendo Continuum delivers exceptional functionality for its price point—arguably the best value ERP system available in Australia and New Zealand. When implemented correctly and supported by sound business processes, it pays for itself many times over through improved control, reduced errors, and greater operational efficiency.

Built on modern technology, Ostendo includes an Enterprise Mobility App that supports remote data capture, field service, compliance, and real-time information flow. Its versatility allows it to meet diverse business requirements across manufacturing, jobbing, service, logistics, warehousing, and more—all within a single integrated system.

 

Performance Benchmarking Across Local Ostendo Environments

As Ostendo continues to evolve across multiple platforms and technologies, understanding how each environment impacts system speed and scalability has become increasingly important. To provide clear insight into real-world performance, we conducted a controlled benchmarking study comparing database interaction speeds across different Ostendo versions and Firebird database engines.

This article summarises the benchmarking setup, testing methodology, and key outcomes—highlighting where the most significant performance improvements are achieved.

Test Environment Overview

All benchmarking was performed in a standalone local environment to remove external factors such as network latency, remote hosting variance, or cloud-based delays. This ensured that the only variables influencing performance were Ostendo update level and Firebird engine version.

Three identical database copies were created to provide a like-for-like comparison:

  • Database 1: Update 242 running on Firebird 2.5
  • Database 2: Update 243 running on Firebird 2.5
  • Database 3: Update 243 running on Firebird 5

Testing Methodology

To measure raw database interaction performance, a purpose-built script was developed to simulate heavy transactional activity. Each database was subjected to two phases of testing:

1. Single-Session Test

A single session executed a scripted process that:

  • Inserted
  • Updated
  • Deleted

500,000 records into a dynamically generated table.

This baseline test measured isolated performance without concurrency.

2. Multi-Session Load Test

The same script was executed simultaneously across four sessions, generating:

  • 2 million concurrent transactions

This phase assessed how each environment handled load, contention, and transactional throughput.

Controlled Execution

To maintain consistent conditions:

  • The test workstation was rebooted between each benchmark, ensuring clean memory and engine state.
  • The scripts, data structure, and execution steps were identical across all environments.

Test Results

While specific numerical results may vary depending on hardware and operating conditions, the overall trend across all benchmarks was clear and consistent.

Key Findings

1. Update 243 + Firebird 5 Is Significantly Faster

Across both the single-session and multi-session tests, Update 243 running on Firebird 5 demonstrated a substantial performance advantage, outperforming:

  • Update 242 on Firebird 2.5
  • Update 243 on Firebird 2.5

The improvement was especially noticeable under high-concurrency workloads.

2. Architectural Improvements in Update 243 Drive Better Performance

One of the major reasons for the performance jump between Update 242 and Update 243 is a significant architectural change in database connectivity.

Previously:

  • Ostendo relied on a dedicated Firebird-specific connection object, which limited optimisation and flexibility.

Now in Update 243:

  • A modern, generic connection component is used across environments.
  • This delivers:
    • Faster data operations
    • Improved scalability
    • Greater adaptability for future technologies

This shift in connection architecture not only improves speed but also reduces technical constraints for ongoing development.

Conclusion

The benchmarking results confirm that upgrading to Update 243 with Firebird 5 provides a clear and measurable performance advantage—particularly for businesses running large datasets or high-volume transactional workloads.

With enhanced database connectivity and improved handling of concurrent activity, Update 243 positions Ostendo for faster, more scalable operations across modern deployment environments.