Integrated business solutions provider, Safmarine Computer Services (SCS), is implementing wireless-enabling technology, to solve real business problems in innovative ways, and is currently rolling it out to its client base.
Earlier this year, SCS was selected as one of only eight companies, from Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), invited to participate in IBM's wireless software early adopter programme. IBM provided training on the deployment of its wireless technology called WebSphere Everyplace Access and WebSphere Everyplace Connection Manager.
"We were very excited to be selected for IBM's early adopter programme, especially when so few companies around the world were chosen. As a result, we've got a very well trained team with hands-on Websphere expertise," says Graham Dickinson, SCS divisional director.
"One of the projects currently under way for Safmarine is beneficial for client representatives and others travelling, giving them access to their e-mail, PIM and personalised applications from any WiFi hotspot or via GPRS/GSM," says Dickinson.
According to Gartner reports, the number of public WiFi hotspots worldwide has risen from just over 1 200 in 2001 to more than 71 000 in 2003.
"There are great expectations about the future of wireless and WiFi in the industry, and to keep at the pulse of things we've worked with IBM's southern African sales team. IBM sells the licences and we are there when it comes to delivering solutions," says Dickinson.
"SCS specialises in portal development, a browser-based technology that allows several applications to be simultaneously presented to the user on one screen. The user can then customise the applications to personally suit their specific business needs. Portal technology has widespread applicability and provides customers with exciting new alternative ways to solve business problems.
"For example, when a user logs on to the system, it automatically kicks up previously selected or defaulted applications, enabling users to pre-select relevant applications to suit their specific work needs. Safmarine clients use this technology to make pre-selections which might include daily news, an application to review transit times, a shipping route application, share prices and so on.
"Our internal intranet solutions are developed to allow users to focus their view, essentially never having to go anywhere else on the Internet. A natural extension of the portal is to use wireless-enabling technology and present aspects of it onto your mobile device of choice, and this can be done with minimal extra development work and in a secure manner," added Dickinson.
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