A large environmental clean-up organization was losing track of its costs as it pertained to specific areas of an environmetal job. The company with over seven locations lacked a consistent method of managing sales, job costs and was finding it difficult tracking the profitability of a particular job or cost center.
The environmental company had the following challenges:
Sharing information among its multiple facilities in a timely fashion
Providing timely, accurate and consistent job costing information to the corporate office so that profit analysis could be performed.
Providing information to their clients on the schedule, progress and cost estimates of future work.
Solution
*Working with the client, we devised a job cost methodology that would be embodied throughout the organization. We created mechanisms via the application that would give customers certain access rights, and "online views" to our newly created web-based solution, which provided their client's updated information on their specific projects(s). Furthermore, we built the application based on a central database; we based architecture so that there would be one entry point into the application thereby giving the corporate office instant information regarding their jobs throughout the country.
Via the new application provided, the clientlearned of jobs that were no longer in the company's best financial interest. They also were able to fully analyze "Cost Groups" concern so that further action could be taken. Their client's expressed satisfaction for having the ability to review the status of their jobs in an on-line fashion without having to wait for updated reports or experience the difficulty when coordinating meetings.
Technology
Microsoft .NET Platform, SQL Server 2000
ANNOUNCMENTS
Business Objects Partnership
Aptude a leading provider of Information Technology Consulting and Solutions, today announced it has joined the Business Objects Solutions Provider Partner Program for software and service providers. As a new channel partner, Aptude will significantly enhance its value proposition to customers by offering Business Intelligence (BI) software solutions from Business Objects.
Welcome Back Kaushal!!!
We're sure glad to have Kaushal back! Kaushal a senior level weblogic developer has been with us for almost 3 years. He went to India for a few months to help support our Hyderabad office and has recently come back to the states.
Case 2 Remote Network Security
Challenge
A network security software company desired a remote scanning and penetration testing application that would be compatible on wireless and LAN internet and/or network connections. This company wanted to be one of the first to market and sell such a product.
Solution
*Working with the client's network security team, Aptude designed and created a network scanning and penetration testing application for the Pocket PC and HPC platforms.
The client has been successful in selling and marketing a hand-held solution. The Pocket PC Magazine for Best Product of 2002 nominated the product as a finalist.
Technology
Embedded Visual C++, CE.Net
Case 3 Transportation/
Intermodal
Challenge
A steamship equipment depot management facility which stores and repairs equipment for some of the largest steamship companies in the world had the following challenges:
Sharing information among its multiple facilities.
Providing customers with timely and credible repair estimates.
Providing timely and accurate information to their customers regarding their equipment.
Providing customers with an interface that would allow them to view equipment activity, approve repairs and create bookings.
Providing customers data that can be integrated into their own systems and applications.
Solution
*Working together with our client, Aptude built a robust data warehouse application that allowed the Depot's customers the ability to access the new enterprise system via a secure internet connection. Gate Activity (Storage) was captured in real time using a hand-held device with images that updated a live database ia a 802.11 b connection. Repair estimates were also generated on the hand-held unit as intermodal equipment came into the depot. The repair estimates were also sent to the database via an 802.11 connection. Once the repair was stored in the database, a scheduled job would electronically notify the depot's client that a repair estimate was created for a particular unit and an approval or disapproval action was needed. The depot's client has the password authority to view the repair estimate and the images related to the repair, then approve or disapprove the repair estimate. The new hand-held/repair piece can potentially save days in the repair estimating process!! Futhermore, the new application sends hourly data feeds to its customers in the format they require. This is truly a business-to-business application that has increased labor efficiencies, provided immediacy and increased customer satisfaction.
Profit Improvement Benefits
Repair estimates that are more credible, accurate and timely lead to more repair approvals which led to higher sales. Reducing labor resources via the hand-held, online reports and business to business transactions reduces our client's expenses.
Technology
Microsoft .NET Platform, SQL Server 2000, SQL Server CE, WIN CE 3.0, Embedded Visual C++.
Case 4 Airport Construction
Challenge A major international airport was constructing a new 900,000 square foot terminal.This 600 million dollar construction project was managed on an application that Solution Through Understanding and its sister company, Aptude created.Through initial design and requirement analysis it was determined that an enterprise wide application that supported every detail of airport construction management was to be included with this system. One of our most challenging tasks was to integrate data among disparate systems.
Solution
*Working with the client, we built a robust Oracle based data warehouse and intranet application that supports contractors, city employees, architects, Department of Aviation employees and a number of other individuals who at any time desire information from this application. With thoughtful design and planning this application has blossomed. Utilizing a three-tiered architecture and object oriented design methodologies, it has become relatively easy to add or enhance modules. In addition, careful attention wa paid to database design and data mart considerations so that meaningful and strategic data mining could occur regardless of a user's technical expertise. Today, a central repository houses all of the airport construction information.
A major construction project that was completed on time and within budget. Improved management decision making via the one integrated database.
Technology
Oracle9i, PLSQ, JAVA, JSP
Case 5 Web/Mobile
Yellow Page
Challenge
Earthcomber asked Aptude to create a Mobile Yellow Page solution. They wanted a web and mobile application that would link customers to vendors via their web site.
The Environmental Company had the following challenges:
Sharing information among its multiple facilities in a timely fashion
Providing timely, accurate and consistent job costing information to the corporate office so that profit analysis could be performed.
Providing information to their client's on the schedule, progress and cost estimates of future work.
Solution
*Aptude developed a web based, Palm OS based Mobile Yellow Pages solution. This application enables businesses to list their services on the web economically and make these listings be available for users with Mobile Phones; Palm OS based hand-helds while on the road.
Businesses can get high visibility and greater reach at low cost. Consumers can locate he business location that offers their interest while on the road.