Our Catalyst Business Systems Engine received great coverage in Business Day this morning with the publishing of a rather punchy commentary by Craig Byren, our MD. Read the article here: Business Day.
Prize-giving for top UCT information systems undergraduate project: winners scoop coveted ViaData Shield and earn the opportunity to represent UCT at the national Microsoft Imagine Cup
29 October 2009 – The “unEarthed” team at the University of Cape Town has been awarded the annual ViaData Shield, a floating trophy for “Best Systems Development Project”. This project is a requirement for the third year Information Systems degree, and the shield considered a prestigious award for young IS graduates.
Their winning submission was an advanced Business Management System for local design firm, Mielie Handcrafted Products, which turns reclaimed materials into functional works of art. From left to right: Kopo Masome, Prof. Jean Paul Van Belle (Head of Department - Information Systems), Amaanullah Parker, Jeandre De Klerk, Craig Byren (ViaData MD), Nicole Butcher, Kim Westcott and Prof. Derek Smith (Department of Information Systems) ViaData is a proudly innovative software development company that is leading the systems development world with its “business systems engine” approach to enterprise software development. It has sponsored the Award for Excellence for 18 years now. The team that wins the award is recognized by an engraving on the shield, together with a cash prize. “The project is a really big deal for these students. It not only contributes a large portion of their year mark, but is also vital for them to learn to work together as a team when designing and implementing complex software. This is what they’ll face when they enter the working environment, above and beyond their academic skills,” says Craig Byren, MD of ViaData. “We have always been impressed how the students throw themselves into this project, with some of them putting in over 2,000 hours of effort. The standard is exceptional, and they should be very proud of their achievement.” To do well in the project, students have to learn real-world skills that will stand them in good stead for their professional lives: requirements definition, project management and team work, as well as intellectual skills in technical programming and documentation. Finally, there are the people skills they will need: presentation of their solution, and establishing the training requirements. In previous years, several of the student teams went on to post-graduate studies, with ViaData mentoring their projects, providing support, insights, guidance and sometimes even a place for the project team to work. “Some of these post-graduates have won further awards, and participated in international competitions – or even launched a business based on the project work they did at varsity. We find this incredibly rewarding, because the growth and success of our local technology industry is based on this advanced study and hard work,” adds Byren. “The award (and getting your name on the shield) is held in high regard, and is something all of the Information Systems students strive to achieve. Competition is fierce and often fractions of a mark separate the first few groups,” says Prof. Derek Smith of the Department of Information Systems. “When the award is presented we get a chance to say a few words to the students. Normally we talk about issues currently facing the business that they will enter. It’s a tough business, but there is a desperate need for good people with very solid training – without these graduates, our ability to develop innovations that impact on modern business systems, like ViaData’s business systems engine, will not flourish. Congratulations to Nicole Butcher, Jeandre de Klerk, Kopo Masome, Amaanullah Parker and Kim Westcott for their winning project, and all the students that worked so hard for the prize,” concludes Byren.
Here at ViaData we need people who have what it takes to become extraordinary Business Analysts.
In fact, we’re looking for ViaData Alchemysts*.
(* - An Alchemyst? We have an amazing Business Systems Engine we call Catalyst, but for it to make SysDev magic it needs extraordinary Business Analysts - we like to think of them as Alchemysts.)
Do you have what it takes to become a ViaData Business Systems Alchemyst? If you’re interested in joining the ViaData team, tackle these four tasks and let us have your answers.
Write a 1,000 word discussion on the pro’s and con’s of a Data-based approach vs a Process-based approach to Systems Development.
Develop a data model to represent a car hire business. If you make assumptions, state them in a footnote.
Using the Northwind database supplied with SQL 2000 (Request a DB backup from us if you don’t have this) write SQL to do the following:
Input Parameters:
Output required:
NB: You may use any combination of views, functions and stored procedures (with or without cursors and temporary tables). Please supply the script to create all the necessary objects and to execute the query from query analyser or SQL Management Studio. Also note, we will review your answer for function and form (i.e. use of comments, indentation and which space).
Identify what you believe to be the most important success factors in a Systems Development project.
We’re looking for original thought here; you are welcome to use whatever means you like to research the answers to the problems, but remember to quote your sources and make sure you are able to defend the positions you take.
Send your answer (with your name, email address and phone number, but no CV please) to knocking@viadata.co.za and we’ll let you know what the next step is once we’ve had a chance to give your work serious consideration.
We know it is not easy, but if you’re Alchemyst material, you’ll be up for the challenge. 
Craig Byren, ViaData’s MD takes a critical look at the state of systems development.“Physician heal thyself” is a proverb found in Luke 4:23 of the bible. It is also an apt admonition to Software & Systems Development houses everywhere. We are liable to punt IT systems as the means to a competitive edge in business, a support structure to enable a business to run more effectively and efficiently. “We’ll help you work smarter” we say. No lie there; we can and we do. At a price. A price that drives all but the larger corporates into the restrictive path of ‘off the shelf’ solutions to shoe-horn their businesses into, with the tail often wildly wagging the dog.Development of custom software takes time and developers are an expensive resource, after all you need smart people to create code that drives that software that fits your company like a tailored suit (or should I have said expensive tailored suit?). I don’t deny that it is worth being rigorous in understanding the needs of a business well before creating the IT system that enables it; I have to ask if we’re spending those costly hours on the right stuff? If we’re so smart we can fix other people’s businesses, how come we haven’t fixed our own so much more effectively? How come we charge a customer to redevelop forms, screens, reports, etc where we’ve done very similar ones for any number of other customers before? Hours spent on cosmetics that add little to Acme (pty) ltd’s top or bottom line.One reason could be that it is not in our interest to do so. Hours = Revenue. More time spent on a project, as long as they can be justified on an invoice, means income for the business and thus is welcomed. No one in the industry will confess to that attitude, but the logic lurks there like a skeleton in the cupboard. Another reason is that we have been chasing the goal of more efficient and effective programming down the seductive path of technology: Java / C# / {fill in language flavour of the year here} or methodology: Agile / SCRUM / {fill in methodology flavour of the year here!} is going to be that silver bullet. Each time we develop a system, the artist in the developer (what developer sees themselves as a technician?) wants to try a new way of building the wheel. There are benefits, no argument with that, but incremental not radical. Kaizen. Incremental improvement.Surely by now, we should have come up with software that writes software? OK, so that is reaching a bit, but how about a development framework that reduces coding to a bare minimum; that handles all that cosmetic stuff, like screen layouts; that provides a clear, controlled framework without restricting what the resulting system can do; that places in the hands of a business mind the means to build a software system to meet business needs? One that is not seduced by the Technology in “IT”, but the Information?At ViaData a few years ago the frustration levels at our inability to be more effective spawned a project code-named Catalyst. The initial aim was to eliminate 80% of the coding needed to build a custom system. The team outdid themselves, they managed 100%. Apart from interfaces to 3rd party systems and batch processing, a Business Analyst with SQL scripting skills can use Catalyst to create a fully operational CRM system, ERP system, billing system, etc. 100% custom, no coding required. In a fraction of the time - the best we’ve done so far is an estimated 80% time saving, but we’re consistently achieving 50% or more. With potentially similar savings in cost to the customer, that is leaving us with very satisfied customers and more capacity for work. We’ve forgotten what is like to justify cost and time overruns and under-delivery on functionality.We believe we have a game-changing, paradigm-breaking, market-disruptor on our hands. This is what SysDev should be and we’re having a lot of fun using a powerful tool that just gets smarter by the week. Now we just have to find smart Business Analysts who see beyond their own limitations to wield this tool aggressively.Willing to step up to the plate? Give us a call.Craig.
The Sports Science Institute in Newlands, Cape Town, has decided to purchase a Catalyst based Membership Management system. After an extensive evaluation of international packages and local offerings, the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) eventually signed a contract for ViaData to deliver a Catalyst based membership management system. The system will replace SSISA’s existing membership management system and will position SSISA for future growth and improved integration of all their support software. A key factor in the SSISA management teams evaluation and the Board approval was the ability of Catalyst to deliver a system that meets SSISA’s requirements 100%. The configuration project commenced on 1 April and implementation of the new system is scheduled for 15 October – once again proving the power of Catalyst to deliver custom systems from a zero base, in a fraction of the time usually allocated to such projects.
On the 14th of October 2008 ViaData once again honoured UCT 3rd year students by presenting their ‘Award for Excellence’ at the University of Cape Town IS Expo. The award is given to the top systems development project undertaken by a team of 3rd year students and this year the winning projects were of an exceptionally high standard.
Speaking at the event, Craig Byren, MD of ViaData, challenged the students to use the skills they have learnt to go out into the business world and really make a difference. Quoting from a speech by Allen Brown, President & Chief Executive Officer of The Open Group, Craig reminded students that the real value in IT lies in the I (Information) not the T (Technology) and that by focusing on delivering value through Information, it was possible to leave customers squirming with delight.
Firstly, in order to provide sponsors and donors with some much deserved advertising and exposure – ViaData developed a website to provide guests, sponsors and other interested persons with information about the ball and the StarFish foundation – this website can be viewed on www.dinnerofhope.org.za
Secondly, ViaData reached out to their business partners to secure cash and prize sponsorships for the event.
Finally, as the major fundraising activity for the evening will be a sealed bid auction of about 40 items to the 150 guests, the dinner committee was very concerned about the logistics of managing the auction and the bids. The requirement was to collect, record and process all bids and release the results within 1 hour of closing the auction. The committee also didn’t want to burden themselves with a massive administration requirement as ultimately the main objective is to have an enjoyable evening while raising funds. To address the requirements, ViaData developed a bid management system and will provide all the hardware required on the night of the ball. The system was developed using the Catalyst tool and allows for the generation of personalized bid booklets, the capture of all the bids received on the evening, the calculation of winning bids and the printing of certificates for all winning bidders that can be signed and secured on the night of the ball. The system was developed with only 8 hours of development effort and will allow the entire auction to be managed efficiently using only two administrators on the night of the ball.
One of the reasons that companies tend to opt for large-scale ERP solutions is that the vendor offers a one-stop-shop. This is generally true for large vendors, although the inherent cost of using the vendors’ consultants and specialists is normally high, as the company has to cater for its high operating costs. Add to that divisional rivalry for the largest slice of the customer’s money and status competition, and the focus swiftly turns from the client to the vendor.
By the same token, software development houses can be perceived as fly-by-night operations with no longevity or full-house solutions.
ViaData stands as a software development house that has been in existence for 18 years - a very long time in the industry. In addition, all of ViaData’s work has come via word-of-mouth and referrals. The company has a range of consultancies that cover the full gamut of software development needs, providing a complete ERP/SCM/ CRM solution to all sizes of clients.
Please call us so that we can discuss your needs in greater depth, whether it be software development, or one of our consultancies. We are here to help you!
We would like to extend to our readers all the best for 2008 - may it be a prosperous and fulfilling year for you…
To the best of our knowledge, there are very few business software houses that focus on data as opposed to business processes for business software. From a business perspective, it seems logical that a business process(es) should be the foundation of software that is focused on the running of a business. Surely this makes sense, as business processes are the operational procedures that keep a business going?
Actually, this isn’t quite true. Business processes change over time - just ask anyone who has decided to map their business to the supposed “best practise” of a major ERP suite. Surely this is the way to go? Now you can run your business the way everyone else does, not be “left behind” and be part of the mainstream?
The reality is that if you map your processes to generic industry vertical ERP software, your business loses its identity, loses its competitive process differentiators and becomes just another business. No company runs in exactly the same way as another company - their processes are necessarily different to create competitive advantage in the marketplace. So there it is - business processes ARE different, and they morph over time due to competitive and market considerations and, because of this, no two businesses are the same.
So this is ViaData’s premise - that a business process is a transient, existential convenience, whilst a business’ data is permanent, and a reflection of the true nature of the business and its transactions. It is reliable and consistent, and hence provides a permanent and verifiable reflection of the business and its worth. This of course requires a strict data quality regimen and a very well designed database(s). Here, ViaData can also provide the knowledge and expertise, through its data consultancy and database design consultancy.
All the above is, of course, a very cursory discussion of the data versus process debate, and the subject deserves further deliberation. Come and talk to us - ViaData has proven itself, its methods, premises and practises to the marketplace since 1990 - a very long time in the Information Technology world, and all through referrals. That should speak for itself…
