Independent Computer Services has received an award for developing a Web-based PHP application that allows service technicians in the field to enter customer requests into the system to be tracked — previously the system was largely paper-based.

The award was given by Zend, the company behind PHP, as part of its PHP Innovation Challenge.

From IT Jungle:

[Company Web developer Charles] Abbott’s experience with creating the Maintenance Contract Workflow has benefited ICS, too. The company, which is moving the application from Linux to i5/OS, plans to use the framework as a basis to build more internal business processes, and it also gave ICS the confidence to move forward with modernizing its green-screen diesel engine and parts applications with PHP.

For Abbott, the experience has given him confidence in his own abilities and a newfound respect for System i’s capability to run PHP. “When I was first introduced to the box, I was a little scared of it,” he says. “After I got used to it, I really enjoyed it. I think it’s a great fit. I believe PHP can be used to write good business logic.”