AST Workflow & EDMS Solutions has been appointed as a reseller for US-based Ultimus, a pioneer in the development of flexible end-to-end workflow solutions that enable companies across industries to enhance revenues through improved worker productivity.
AST Workflow & EDMS Solutions is a business unit of the AST Group and is one of the leading providers of electronic archiving, document management and workflow solutions in SA, with an estimated 50% to 60% share of the local Imaging, Document Management and Workflow market.
Through the reseller agreement, AST Workflow & EDMS can provide the Ultimus Workflow Suite, a complete and scalable solution dedicated to the automation of workflow, or essential business processes, using the Web. The Ultimus Workflow Suite enables users to graphically design, test, simulate, implement, monitor, measure and administer simple or complex business processes without any programming, scripting or macros.
AST Workflow & EDMS can also provide intensive training, technical support, consulting and installation services for clients.
"The Ultimus Workflow Suite is a general-purpose workflow application which can automate business processes for any industry," says Chris Koukeas, Product Manager for Ultimus Workflow at AST Workflow & EDMS Solutions.
"Targeted at solution providers already involved in workflow-intensive technology, the product refines applications to squeeze out more return on investment.
"Ultimus is extremely flexible," adds Koukeas. "Workflow processes can change priority even as the tasks are run within a process. Ultimus also allows links to change directions, enabling multiple tasks to be simultaneously connected. Within a workflow, processes can call other process, which helps modularise complex workflows to make them simpler to maintain."
Ultimus, a Web-based Client/Server application, allows users to easily design, simulate, implement, monitor and measure workflow for many different administrative business processes such as Purchase Orders, Expense Reports, Time Cards and Change Orders. Ultimus is easy to set up, as it does not require any programming, scripting, or macros.
Ultimus is easy to integrate with existing applications using its open architecture, workflow robots and ODBC database connectivity. Ultimus is easy to use for anyone with Web access and a Web browser can participate in workflow. Ultimus integrates with Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 to create applications by managers and end users. Through BizTalk, Ultimus applications are executed as Web services using XML and SOAP. Since the product uses COM++objects internally, workflow processes can be implemented in a Windows 2000 server environment, supporting clustering and IP-based load balancing.
Ultimus can also be integrated with Microsoft Transaction Server and Internet Information Server to provide transaction capabilities to workflow applications. Ultimus can interface with Microsoft Exchange and any ODBC-compliant database as well. E-mail is primarily used for notification when tasks need to be completed within a workflow process.
Ultimus includes a client-side ActiveX plug-in for Internet Explorer and Outlook 2000 and a thin client for Netscape Communicator that works on Unix, Macintosh and Linux platforms. Through the Web-based client, users can complete tasks using HTML forms, assign tasks to others and abort processes.
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In just three years the AST Group has established itself as one of the leading information and communication technology companies on the JSE Securities Exchange. Its consistent creation of value for shareholders, clients and employees has resulted in a steady increase in monthly revenue to the R100 million plus mark.
AST is now the fourth largest South African IT company by market capitalisation, and is one of the top three in terms of physical infrastructure (mainframes, servers, desktops, and networks under management) and geographical footprint with over 62 physical locations. Counting almost 90% of the top 100 JSE-listed companies among its clients, the AST Group services mostly large corporate and government clients, but they are increasingly offering their services to rapidly evolving small and medium enterprises.
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