Cache Anything and Speed Up Load Times

Michael Garrity — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 17:05:00 GMT

One of the most common methods that webmasters use to speed up their sites is to cache content (such as HTML pages, JavaScript, images or CSS) to reduce bandwidth and server load and speed up delivery.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of content that can’t be cached, and when websites need to utilize that it can be problematic for performance and user experience. CloudFlare, a provider of cloud-based services to help secure and accelerate websites, is looking to alleviate this problem for its users by “caching the uncacheable” through a new Web optimization software called Railgun.

CloudFlare users are already at an advantage, because the service will not only cache content, but also deliver it to users from its various datacenters around the world. However, according to the company’s blog, “only about 66% of content is cacheable,” meaning the remaining 34 percent has to be recovered from the server of origin. That is why the company developed Railgun, which can cache dynamically generated and/or personalized Web pages using a scheme that reduces bandwidth and speeds up the loading process.

Railgun starts the acceleration process for non-cached pages by speeding up the downloading of the initial HTML, which must happen before the rest of a page can even begin downloading.

Primarily, though, Railgun is able to send Web pages across the ‘Net much more quickly because it will compress them to an astonishingly smaller version, which it’s able to do by looking at changes on a page “from download to download.” It will reduce the pages to just 0.65 percent of their original size to ensure that they travel faster from the origin server to the user’s screen, no matter where they are.

This new service is currently only available for CloudFlare Business and Enterprise customers as a part of their service packages.

Retailer Reveals In-Store & Digital Synergy

Amberly Dressler — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:19:00 GMT

In 2012, the term “omnichannel” became more than a buzzword, as big-name retailers made significant investments in streamlining the consumer buying experience across all channels.

During this holiday season, for example, Limelight Networks reported that 20-25 percent more consumers planned to research and/or purchase holiday gifts on their Internet-connected mobile devices this year compared to last year. A plethora of other reports also indicates that consumers research products online before buying in store. These trends all lead to the need for retailers to provide a consistent, relevant and intuitive experience across all channels.

Companies like Cache, a specialty chain of women’s apparel stores, recognize this need. Recently the retailer introduced a new mobile app, powered by mobile and multichannel technology company Usablenet, built to give consumers more real-time functionality and engagement in-store.

The company reports that its new mobile app is a strong step in the direction of driving even further synergies between the in-store and digital channels. The app differentiates Cache from its competitors by focusing on the in-store experience. It includes:

-Geo-location capabilities and targeted messaging/offers based on where the consumer is in proximity to a Cache store.

-In-store mobile barcode scanning that allows consumers to receive ratings, reviews, and other info about a product immediately. This is about enhancing the in-store experience by making it easy for shoppers to research products in the store.

-Push notifications (thanks to a partnership with Xtify) that deliver relevant information based on what Cache knows about the customer's preferences. Using specific knowledge about the behaviors the customer is using in the app to drive specific, targeted interactions.

“We are excited to partner with Usablenet given its experience in retail and its strategic perspective on mobile,” said Kevin Metz, Vice President of e-commerce at Cache. “We believe their platform supports a positive shopping experience via mobile app, and ensures that the app has a tactile and current feel. Usablenet aligns perfectly with our goals to make our constantly changing collections readily available on mobile and to drive sales by connecting with our customers through relevant push notifications and special deals.”

'Net Features : Cache

Cache Anything and Speed Up Load Times

Retailer Reveals In-Store & Digital Synergy