DataEast calls
on newlook to modernize telecom solution
Background
DataEast has
been providing
outsourced
software
solutions
and services
to the Telecommunications
Industry
since 1971.
DataEast
customers
like Granite
State Telephone,
Richmond
NetWorx,
and Franklin
Telephone
rely on DataEast’s
telecommunications
expertise
for their
billing systems
requirements.
Challenge
The IBM iSeries applications collect billing
data from multiple sources to produce customized
billings for thousands of end customers. Irving
Ladue, General Manager, attributes DataEast’s
success to "working closely with our
customers to provide them with personalized telecommunications
solutions."
Irving believes DataEast’s future growth
requires more sophisticated solutions and a new
image to successfully recruit new small-to-medium
sized telecommunication providers. "Our
solutions are functionally strong and our customization
services allow our customers to work the way they
need to. The challenge we faced was to improve
the image of our product to our customers."
"We
wanted to
provide our
customers
with the
more sophisticated
look and
feel they’ve
become accustomed
to through
their personal
computers.
We also wanted
to make our
product easier
to learn
and use while
improving
the process
flow for
our customers."
"Finally, we wanted to improve the initial
image we portrayed to prospective new clients
when demonstrating our products."
Solution
DataEast
began researching
modernization
alternatives
for their
robust iSeries
applications.
looksoftware
provided
a live web-cast
of newlook’s
capabilities.
Irving said,
"We were
able to quickly
see newlook
working with
our applications. looksoftware
showed us
the results
and each
step required
to reface
our applications
and integrate
them with
other applications.
After comparing the newlook product
to the others, it was clear that newlook
was the easiest to learn and could provide fast,
sophisticated results."
DataEast needed to quickly master newlook’s
capabilities so the first implementation step
was 5 days' training and consulting at DataEast’s
offices in New Hampshire. After 3 days of product
training, the last 2 days focused on commencing
the project to reface the financials applications.
Irving said, "Two weeks after the training
we had refaced AP, GL, Inv, PR, PO and Work Orders,
totalling 1188 display files and 2483 record formats.
We are very pleased with the newlook
training, support and the product itself."
DataEast is a typical example of a successful
iSeries solution provider that has used newlook
to leverage its existing iSeries application investments
to rapidly make its solutions more competitive.
Weeks after getting started with newlook,
DataEast has commenced marketing its rejuvenated
solutions to new customers.
Benefits
Irving summarized,
"newlook
allows DataEast
to continue
to use the
IBM iSeries
platform
and tools
we're
comfortable
with, while
competing
effectively
with other
platforms.
newlook is
a practical
business
solution
that lets
iSeries customers
and solution
developers
offer the
benefits
of new technologies
without incurring
the costs
and risks
associated
with rewriting
or retooling."
Should DataEast decide to offer its solutions
as an Application Service Provider (ASP), the
same newlook tools can provide
personalization and browser based thin client
support. All the re-facing and application integration
functionality is supported and requires no change
when deploying within an intranet or across the
web.
A summary of newlook
features
- Improve productivity, reuseability and flexibility
with Smart Client support
- Minimize maintenance and improve business
responsiveness using newlook's
dynamic architecture and rules-based approach
- Reduce user learning and implementation time
frames
with newlook's out-of-the-box
capabilities and intuitive design features
- Reduce complexity and risk without changing
existing applications
- Optimize business user productivity with newlook's
desktop integration
- Support refacing and new UI requirements using
drag and drop designer
- Utilize flexible scripting support with point
and click
macros, Java and VB scripting
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