Johannesburg, 11 Nov 2011
FOXit, together with its partners, Microsoft, Nintex, PwC Exordia and Syntergy, have launched several technology firsts for South Africa, designed to enhance project and portfolio management (PPM), consumerisation of ICT, mobility and user experience.
The Centurion-based company and Microsoft Certified Gold Partner hosted C-level delegates at Microsoft in Bryanston recently to introduce fresh offerings including METROit, PIVOTit, PwC Exordia X-Connect and X-Link, as well as Nintex SharePoint Workflow for Project Server 2010 and Forms 2010.
Key focus areas were emphasised, including real-time data application, cloud computing, social networking (inside and outside the business), ubiquitous connectivity and browser-based apps.
This technology has been developed to streamline and reengineer key business processes to improve productivity. Presenters emphasised that 'productivity' in this context refers to empowering employees with access to multimedia to improve their efficiency and value to the business.
METROit is an embedded application and new user interface with a single view that facilitates real-time, one-touch consolidation between all aspects of project management. This includes approvals, documents, timesheets, risks and issues.
PIVOTit is a data virtualisation tool that provides a graphical view of data collections. Thousands of items can be visualised simultaneously, showing both relations and patterns in the data.
FOXit technology officers spoke of the relevance of replication in project management and the benefits of bi-directional replicate check-in/ check-out technology to keep document libraries in sync even across the globe.
The main theme of the day was agility or the ability to 'see technology through new eyes'.
To this end, Microsoft representatives showcased gesture technology based on Microsoft Kinect platform both on an Xbox and PC architecture.
Colin Erasmus, Windows Business Group Lead at Microsoft South Africa, made reference to advances in Natural User Interface.
Touch is already here, he said, and room is being made for the development of gesture-based technology to emerge from the PC and find relevance and application across what Microsoft calls its 'three-screen strategy' - the PC, phone and TV/Web.
Erasmus pointed out the 'avatar' concept, whereby employers could interact within their companies and to the external market via digital representatives called 'avatars'.
The unveiling of soon-to-be-released mobile multimedia products, including Ultra books, Reference and Slate devices, certainly had the pulses of audience members racing.
FOXit and Microsoft also had Microsoft Surface on display. This is a revolutionary social platform that enables people to engage on a 360-degree interface. The combination of this platform with PixelSense means that technology can see and respond to real-world objects. Up to 50 simultaneous inputs can be supported.
“We are very pleased with the attendance at the event and the level of interest in technology developments within key areas of business management,” said Aldo van Tonder, CEO, FOXit.
“It is clear that instant access to data, using a number of devices simultaneously, to automatically manipulate processes and manage these effectively equates to power. It is a power to radically improve efficiency, productivity and generate business - this is priceless to businesses under pressure,” he adds.
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