Fleet Support Services (FSS), South Africa`s only independent fleet management bureau service, has entered the testing phase of its new objects-based fleet management system. The project involves the whole-scale replacement of its systems with a software solution developed using Delphi.
The system, described by Jacques Barnard, FSS GM: business innovation and strategy), as "massive and ambitious", will run on a newly commissioned eight-Pentium-capable server supplied by Computer Configurations. FSS has also installed an Orca Raid disk array together with two dual- and one quad-capable Corollary Promaster servers, supplied by Computer Configurations. The total value of the sale is just under R1m.
The system will run all custom-developed applications, including maintenance, contracts, debtors, procurement, quotations, (creditors), supplier details and the records of every vehicle administered by FSS. It will interface with the AccountAbility financial suite from Ixchange company Hill Cunnington, which runs on one of the Corollary Promaster servers. All applications will run on Windows NT against SQL Server.
"Once fully developed, the Delphi system will be easy to maintain and to enhance," says Barnard. "We are constantly `reinventing` our business to remain competitive and to minimise the costs of fleet management. With this level of flexibility one needs a powerful platform on which to run these applications."
FSS decided to standardise on the Intel platform more than three years ago, based on performance of the systems tested, scalability and entry-level costs. "When we took on this project of this magnitude we only did so knowing that we would get the full technical support from Computer Configurations," said Barnard.
"We rely on their skill to fine-tune the hardware to provide the best response times and to optimise performance."
Share
Editorial contacts