nVisionIT, one of only six South African companies to be appointed a Microsoft launch partner for the forthcoming release of Microsoft Office 2003 Editions, is to leverage its solutions in efforts to secure a foothold in global markets.
Over the months that the company`s software development team has had access to beta versions of Office 2003, which is scheduled for launch on 21 October in SA, the company has developed several value-add solutions to the new Microsoft Office System.
"In piloting and developing various Office 2003-based projects for our corporate customers, we have been able to identify a number of value-add opportunities that enhance functionality within the new product range," says Graham van Zijl, managing director, nVisionIT.
"We`ve now packaged three of them around Microsoft`s InfoPath, Office Web Components and SharePoint Portal offerings and will be launch them internationally alongside the Office 2003 launch."
As a Microsoft launch partner, nVisionIT has been able to provide details of its solutions and developments on a USB drive that is being distributed to the first 16 000 companies to buy Office 2003 Professional and Small Business versions across nine countries in the European, Middle East and Africa region.
"This is a great opportunity to give the company wider exposure internationally and hopefully enable us to trade and expand our overseas activities and presence," he says.
"Our participation at the Microsoft TechEd conference in Barcelona, Spain, earlier this year created some interest among European systems integrators and the Microsoft partner community. This new opportunity will help us build on that interest," he adds.
Since Barcelona, nVisionIT has received Microsoft`s .NET Application of the Year award for the second year running. Last year its development of a B2B messaging platform for Afrox Healthcare secured the award, while this year it was the development of a short-term risk management solution for Alexander Forbes` Risk Services division.
"We saw the potential of .NET at a very early stage and were one of the first software houses to start developing on the environment. It`s given us a technology and market lead not only in SA, but also throughout the EMEA region. Our applications are recognised as world-class and have earned us this award for the second time in a row."
Microsoft has divided the Office 2003 suite into six different editions: Professional Enterprise Edition, Professional Edition, Small Business Edition, Standard Edition, Basic Edition, and Student and Teacher Edition.
At the top end, Professional Enterprise Edition will be the most complete offering, featuring professional versions of Word 2003, Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, PowerPoint 2003, and Access 2003, as well as Publisher 2003, Business Contact Manager 2003, InfoPath 2003 and value-added solutions capabilities.
At the client end Office Standard 2003, available in the retail channel as well as all volume licences, will include Outlook 2003, Word 2003, Excel 2003 and PowerPoint 2003.
"As a launch partner we`ve been able to do extensive testing on these new software suites that promise to raise knowledge management and collaboration to new levels. We`ve already proved the power of the suites at beta sites such as the Department of Mines in Botswana and Liberty Life and are ready to enhance and leverage these new Microsoft technologies with our own developments and solutions," concludes Van Zijl.
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nVisionIT was founded in 2000 and today is at the forefront of innovative enterprise solution delivery on the Microsoft platform. Customers include leaders in distribution, facilities management, financial services, healthcare, insurance, IT services and telecoms.
The company, part of the proudly South African initiative, is a Microsoft Gold Partner and a Microsoft Certified Solutions Partner. It has won national and global awards for its expertise in architecturing MS .Net solutions that leverage information in existing systems. nVisionIT`s methodology ensures rapid development and deployment of unique business solutions and their integration with core systems.
In addition to its .NET architecturing and enterprise management operations, nVisionIT has an ERP solutions division based on Microsoft`s Great Plains, a mobile solutions division and one dedicated to the sales and implementation of its Charisma application suite. The Charisma application suite allows organisations to incorporate elements such as BI, knowledge management, CRM, workflow and others into a single information portal.
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