Wits names IT project winners

Johannesburg, 27 Oct 2005

Wits University has selected Vortex Systems as the 2005 Best IT Solution winner for developing a system that keeps records of a maintenance company`s daily activities.

The announcement follows an information systems project exhibition where students recently showcased their work at the campus.

Students approached small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that used manual systems and helped identify IT opportunities, built solutions that would be easy for the SMEs to implement and then aided the SMEs in meeting their technology needs.

Vortex Systems approached Quick 2 Build, a small maintenance company, and analysed how it could assist the business owner by building a system that could meet his current and future business needs through IT, says Vortex Systems member Rene Whitaker.

"The business owner used a paper-based system for quotes, invoices, client information, material prices and employee working hours. We decided to automate all the information for him," says Whitaker.

"We are most proud of the marketing reports that allow the business owner to determine who his top clients are, which jobs generate the most profits and do a comparative analysis on the jobs done," says adds.

The overall winner was judged on how the solution solved the client`s business problem, creativity and innovation, says Maria Jakovljevic, organiser and information systems lecturer at Wits. "Vortex Systems was chosen because of the consistency in its work throughout the year. We took into account the planning, project design and implementation that went into the project. Vortex will represent Wits at Microsoft`s Project Firefly."

The projects are part of the information systems final year students` assignments, and become part of the students` portfolios. The students, comprising 12 teams, had to develop a solution that could improve the functionality of an SME. The projects took about 10 months to complete.

The Vortex group will compete with winners from other South African universities and technikons for the national title. The national winners will compete in the international Microsoft Project Firefly in 2006.