IOCORE gives AngloGold`s website wings

Every 12 months, IOCORE`s Microsoft Tilos Solutions Division takes on a favourite project: revamping the AngloGold Web site to represent the dynamic nature of this gold company (www.anglogold.com). This highly successful relationship has now been in place for nearly five years.

This is just one example of the division`s development of customised Web applications based on Microsoft technology, to suit client-specific requirements. These Web applications range from static Web sites to more complex, database-driven Web solutions, such as that used by AngloGold.

After years of evolving with the times and being at the forefront of Web technology, the AngloGold Web site structure remains more-or-less the same (until the next round of technological enhancements), but the look and feel takes on a new style to mirror the most recent annual report.

"Both the Web site structure and the working relationship between IOCORE and AngloGold have reached a trusted level, where everyone knows what to expect," says Esias Bootha, IOCORE General Manager - Microsoft Tilos Solutions. "AngloGold investors, analysts, shareholders and other stakeholders can expect to find the latest company information."

Bootha says AngloGold, in turn, can expect delivery turnaround in hours on what previously took days, plus the assurance that IOCORE knows exactly what AngloGold wants and in what form.

IOCORE is also tasked with publishing AngloGold`s quarterly financial results onto the Web site. "IOCORE developed an application that allows AngloGold to convert the signed off financial results that are in Excel format to PDF format, so that they can be sent straight to the printers, as well as to ASP/ HTML for publication on the Web site at the exact time required by AngloGold," says Bootha.

The Web site is a customer-friendly, wealth of information that includes Webcasts, real-time presentations and interviews, a press office and photo library.

"AngloGold is a great supporter of leading-edge technology and is a real Microsoft shop. We are always at liberty to enhance existing capabilities, provided we`re using proven technology," says Bootha. "By empowering AngloGold staff to maintain the Web site themselves, we are able to spend more time on development and give AngloGold the freedom to manage frequently-changing content without having to rely on IOCORE."

IOCORE`s methodology used in the case of complex Web development is the Microsoft Solutions Framework. The best-of-breed Web development tools used include: HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, VBScript, C++, Visual C++, a variety of databases such as SQL Server and Oracle. COM, DCOM, .NET Servers and XML technologies are also being employed.

AngloGold positions itself as a gold company rather than a gold mining company. As such, it is a sponsor of the apparel and gold design competition called Afridesia (www.afridesia.com), and initiated the Gold of Africa Museum in Cape Town (www.goldofafrica.com). IOCORE developed Web sites for both of these ventures.

Karl Shoemaker, AngloGold`s Global Program Manager - Information Technology, sums up the relationship: "IOCORE is the sole developer and supporter of AngloGold`s Internet site. Over the past 18 months, IOCORE proved to be one of the leading service providers in SA, both in its use of cutting-edge Web technologies and the highly skilled, personalised attention they pay us."