ViaData has over the last two decades, developed a reputation for providing applications that are robust and business focused. In so doing, ViaData has created the Catalyst™ software development environment that enables our modellers, business and systems analysts and developers to create business applications in the shortest possible time whilst maintaining developmental and business process integrity.

Our development environment, Catalyst™ has enabled ViaData to develop and implement business applications in typically half the time required for a standard development cycle, whilst still maintaining data and process integrity. Other benefits of using the Catalyst™ prototyping and development platform include:

• Far less money is spent on the project, due to the shorter development time.
• Business benefits of using the application are realised far sooner due to the early delivery of the project.
• Return on Investment (ROI) can be demonstrated to management far sooner.
• Far less money is spent on post project support and maintenance.
• Commitment to develop a system is only made after the understanding of the system fundamentals is proven.
• The system being developed will meet the client's requirements.
• The risk of system failure due to unclear requirements is eliminated.
• The system development process and, hence, the allocation and usage of scarce resources is predictable.
• No surprises or omissions will be found during system development and implementation.
• Scarce resources will not be wasted on unnecessary re-work.
• The client will have increased confidence when planning.
• The long-term quality of the customer's data resource will be optimised.
• The database will be able to accommodate new ways of doing business, new lines of business, even new businesses - without restructuring the database and, thus, rewriting the systems that rely upon it.

Development of software with the Catalyst™ system also includes the following features and benefits:

Feature		Benefit
New functionality or architecture improvements are made available to all clients as part of our maintenance plan.	Clients are kept up to date with architectural best practise.
The system can incorporate new technologies as they become available.	Clients will always have the latest proven technologies available to them. Application architecture will never be redundant.
The proof of concept prototype becomes the basis for the new application.	Development does not have to start from scratch after the proof of concept has been written, saving time and money.
The application is tested for quality, functionality and usability throughout development, thereby ensuring the reliability of the application	Software review takes far less time, saving money.
Applications are typically written in half the time a standard development would require.	A huge time and money saver, also allowing the client to use the application far sooner than normal.
Application updates are distributed electronically in a modular format.	The clients' network bandwidth usage is greatly reduced.
Applications can be distributed internationally and data integrity maintained.	The client will always have one view of company information, no matter where they are.
A consistant graphical user interface (GUI) is used.	Less training is required. The user interface is familiar to the user no matter what application they use or in which geography they reside.
Catalyst™ is a secure development environment, with built-in security at the data, process and developmental level.	Clients' business information is always secure within the application. Catalyst™ also integrates with the client's incumbent security.