Eagle supplies SKY with business intellingence | Eagle wins Compaq award | Tasman District Council: Converting to ESRI's ArcInfo | Eagle gives Australia a hand | Eagle keeps Vodafone mobile| Restaurant Brands re-affirms commitment to Epicor | Lincoln Ventures choose BST and Eagle | Vector out in the field with GIS | Supporter of the fourth quarter 2001 | Congratulations Denis O'Callahan
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Eagle supplies SKY with business intelligence
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Business Objects Southern Channel Manager Jean-Christophe Richard (left) Eagle's Account Manager Chris Lines (centre) and Sky TV's Business Analyst Chris Keogh. |
Business Objects solution (business intelligence) is helping Sky Network TV make informed decisions about its subscribers. Sky TV is New Zealand's major pay television company with over 480,000 subscribers.
The company purchased Business Objects Set Analysis, Reporting and Business Mining tools as part of a staged project, from Eagle Technology. As well as supplying the software, Eagle completed the installation and set up data manipulation code.
Sky TV management recognised that with more detailed information its sales team would be better equipped to focus on their respective markets. Business Objects Business Miner was used to determine which data elements contributed to customer churn (turnover).
Set Analyser was then used to create sets based on Business Miner outcomes. Now the company can manipulate the data and very quickly discover trends or patterns and mine down for further information.
"The process contributes to the larger decision support function that is at the heart of business intelligence. From this information Sky TV can plan and execute proactive marketing campaigns," says Eagle Technology's Senior Technical Consultant Jon Wakely. "Sky already had the data - we just helped them get the best use from it.
"Marketing programmes could also include partnerships with other companies.
| "Business Objects is ideal for companies dealing with large volumes of transactions" |
For example, Sky TV subscribers could have a pizza delivered to coincide with them sitting down to watch rugby or other sport.
"Business Objects is ideal for companies dealing with large volumes of transactions, retail organisations with large client bases such as telco's and power retailers, and companies like supermarkets with loyalty programmes.
"It helps them access, analyse and share information internally with employees or externally with customers, suppliers and partners," says Mr Wakely.
Sky TV's Business Analyst Chris Keogh said, "The first stage served as the test bed for these tools - now that we are getting information of real value to us, we are looking at rolling out business intelligence through the rest of the organisation in the next stage."
Contact: Chris Lines:
Email:
Tasman District Council: Converting to ESRI's ArcInfo
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| Janne, (left) Raewyn and Leanne (right) use ExploreTasman at the Murchison Service Centre. |
When Tasman District decided to replace its old Geographical Information Systems (GIS) platform with Environmental Systems Research Institute's (ESRI) ArcInfo, supplied by Eagle Technology Group, a little over a year ago, it was hoping for a more distributed model and enhanced functionality.
Not only did the council achieve these goals it also dramatically improved the quality of its data. "Each one of our four departments: engineering, environmental services, consents and regulatory and community service, verified its datasets as we converted to the new system," says Tasman District Council Information Services Manager Peter Darlington, "Because they were the custodians, they were in the best position to assess the various accuracies of the data, both spatial and attribute, and build metadata descriptions. As a result, our datasets are cleaner than ever and extremely well-documented."
While the improved data has been a definite benefit of the switch from the Genamap product, it was a not the key driver behind the decision. Tasman District Council had been running a successful GIS programme for almost ten years. However, over time council's requirements had evolved and two years ago it decided to review its options in respect to GIS.
"We wanted a GIS that could run under Windows," says Mr Darlington, "and we wanted one that could tie into our intranet/internet strategy.
"We didn't have any problem with Genamap as such, but we felt it might not be able to provide the same commitment to continued development that ESRI would. Since ArcInfo had all the functionality we required, we decided to replace Genamap with ArcInfo and ArcView and convert the data from the old system."
The conversion process went extremely well. "Our data actually improved as a result of the conversion process," says Mr Darlington. "We had several years accumulation of datasets, so we were forced to take a very close look at what we had and prioritise them for conversion.
"This involved examining attribute fields for completeness as well as looking at source data. Plus we updated those records which had become outdated.
"The process only took three months for key data and we were able to do the job in-house without going to outside contractors."
Tasman District is also part of a regional geographic network initiative.
"We are exploring ways with Nelson City, Network Tasman and Marlborough District, who all use ArcInfo, to share data online, ideally following the G.Net architecture," says Mr Darlington. "Already we have been exchanging data via CD, but it would be great to be able to share updates as they happen."
"We were also fortunate during the transition to have a new GIS administrator Susan Pipes, come on board," says Mr Darlington. "Susan Pipes brought ten years of professional GIS experience to her role and has been a great resource. She had been working with ArcInfo for most of her career and was a key player in managing the data conversion."
Tasman's GIS resources are now available to all Council staff via the Explore Tasman intranet site.
"We have a three-tier approach to GIS," says Mr Darlington. "Top of the pile are the ArcInfo administrators in the GIS Section who look after the databases and manage special projects. Then, in each one of the departments we have our ArcView users who can prepare any number of maps and reports from the various spatial datasets available online.
"And then we have our casual users who can query the system from any browser. ESRI's ArcIMS has really given us the opportunity to extend GIS across the District, even to remote branches. We couldn't do this before." Ms Pipes says "We're continuing to improve the system and make it more accessible,"
"For us, providing GIS data and tools across the intranet has been a great step forward. Now any council staff member, from its desktop, can query the various databases and perform basic mapping functions. This availability of geographic data, and the mapping tools to use it, is really what GIS is all about."
Contact: Peng Aik Lim
Email:
Eagle gives Australia a hand
Over the past seven years the software development team at Eagle Technology Group have been quietly writing software for the New Zealand and Australian markets. Now this business is expected to expand into markets further a field.
"Our Australian partner Sagacious bundles our food service industries software range, which include Kitchen-Hand and Menu-Hand, with the hardware it provides to hospitals," says Eagle's Software Development Manager Stuart Simpson.
"While our software is becoming very well known in hospital and aged-care areas, with 15 New Zealand sites and 73 Australian sites, we are now looking for additional opportunities outside Australasia."
Kitchen-Hand
contains ingredient and recipe lists, menus and production schedules.
It includes a full debtors ledger with invoicing and a creditors ledger
with purchasing.
Menu-Hand includes a patient menu designer, scanning and exporting facility to Kitchen-Hand.
"The software range can be used for hospitals with as few a 125 beds and while our biggest client makes 12,000 meals a day and could do more - the number of meals a day is unlimited.
"Bakery-Hand has been a hit with wholesale bakers in New Zealand," says Mr Simpson.
The package has been designed to control production and with weekly and/or monthly invoicing. It includes bake schedules, standing orders, packing slips, a vendor database and delivery sequences. The enhanced version incorporates stock control, recipes and costings together with a full creditors ledger with purchasing.
"Caring-Hand is being widely used for running day-to day functions within aged-care facilities eg. keeping track of patients personal needs and activities. As well as managing medical reporting and incident reporting, it is capable of storing personal information and is suitable for short and long term patients.
"So far our sales of Caring-Hand have been in New Zealand. Australia is reviewing its regulations for aged-care and once the new regulations are signed we will modify the software to suit," says Mr Simpson. "Our latest offering is Diet-Hand. Already we have prospective clients knocking at the door.
"Diet-Hand provides nutritional analysis and is ideal for dieticians in hospitals. Dieticians can ensure their patients are getting nutritional value in their food during their stay in hospital.
"Diet-Hand can check for 37 nutrients and minerals in any food item or recipe. When a patient has special needs such as low cholesterol meals, these can be designed.
"Eagle's software sales in New Zealand and off-shore during 2001 were increasing month by month and we expect 2002 to be even more rewarding," said Mr Simpson.
Contact: Stuart Simpson
Email:
Eagle keeps Vodafone mobile
Since acquiring BellSouth in 1998, Vodafone has increased its customer base from 145,600 to over 1,000.000 and its market share from 20.5 per cent to 41.2 per cent. This success has led to Vodafone establishing New Zealand as a centre for testing new technologies and services before rolling them out to the rest of the world.
Short message service (SMS) text messaging is just one example of Vodafone's innovations and this will be closely followed by Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) which provide mobile users with high speed access to data networks. These added value services are supported by powerful computer systems which are housed at Vodafone's strategically located main switching sites. These facilities are designed for maximum security and are provided with emergency power supplies to ensure continuity of service. The telephone switching equipment requires direct current (DC) power at 48 volts, while the computer equipment requires standard 230 volts, 50 Hz alternating current (AC) power.
To ensure uninterruptible supply of power to all these areas is vital so Vodafone asked Eagle Technology for its expertise.
Using Powerware brand Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) equipment, Eagle has provided the high reliability AC power systems for three new switch sites established by Vodafone over the past two years. Twelve UPS modules have been installed with a total capacity of 990 kVA and in case the on-site emergency generators fail to start, the UPS batteries will support the load for at least two hours. The AC and DC power systems are fully duplicated so every item of critical switching and computer equipment can draw power from either of two sources of supply located in isolated plant rooms. Even a switchboard fire cannot interrupt the service.
The UPS manufacturer, Powerware Corporation, is a division of the large multinational engineering and manufacturing group Invensys Plc. Vodafone has the benefit of Eagle's 25 years of experience in the supply and support of UPS systems, while knowing that the Invensys Plc is ultimately responsible for all its critical power supply equipment.
Eagle Technology would like to commend Vodafone's engineering consultants, Meritec Limited who designed and managed the projects. The electrical contractors, Allendale in Auckland and Aotea Electric in Christchurch, should also be commended for their help in achieving the required high standard of workmanship.
Contact: Denis O'Callahan
Email:
Restaurant Brands re-affirms commitment to Epicor
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Restaurant Brands Financial Controller Peter Nobilo (left) and Information Services Manager, Kerry Cross (right) with Eagle's Project Manager Carol Nilsson and Epicor Support Consultant Daniel Kelly. |
When Restaurant Brands decided to upgrade both its financial management software along with its Server and Microsoft systems it used Eagle Technology to provide the consulting services.
Restaurant Brands commenced operation in New Zealand in October 1997 as the franchisee for KFC and Pizza Hut which was previously part of Pepsico Restaurants International. The company started with 120 outlets and grew dramatically over the last two years when it added Eagle Boys Pizza and the highly successful Starbucks chain of coffee houses to its stable. Until recently it had 202 outlets spanning the length and breadth of New Zealand. With the acquisition of 51 Pizza Hut outlets in Victoria, Australia, announced in March it now has a total of 253 outlets.
As a start up operation in 1997, Restaurant Brands chose Platinum SQL for its financial management information system, a product marketed and supported by Eagle Technology which also provided the implementation and integration services. Platinum SQL, which was re-branded Epicor in 1999, was developed for the Microsoft BackOffice environment and was installed on a Compaq server running Windows NT V4.0 and SQL Server database version 6.5.
Since the initial implementation, several new versions of Epicor have been released, as well as significant advancements in server technology and the Microsoft infrastructure.
In July 2001 Restaurant Brands decided to upgrade to the latest release of Epicor and take the opportunity to upgrade its Server and Microsoft systems to Windows NT V4 and SQL 2000. The benefits Restaurant Brands wanted when upgrading its systems were:
- increased functionality
- improved performance
- lower cost of ownership through reduced maintenance tasks
Work on the upgrade commenced in July with the installation of a new generation Compaq server, followed by the application upgrade which was performed along with the database upgrade. Interfaces and some custom developments were migrated across, and the users were trained on the new functionality Epicor offered. Live operation on the new system commenced in early September 2001. Eagle's Carol Nilsson said the whole project team worked together like a well-oiled machine.
| "The client was well prepared for the production upgrade ensuring there were no problems when the system went live " |
"The management and staff at Restaurant Brands approached the project in a positive manner, worked through issues to resolution, and each member had constructive input. "The client was well prepared for the production upgrade ensuring there were no problems when the system went live."
Restaurant Brands' Peter Nobilo said, "It was a pleasure working with Carol and Daniel as they are prepared to go that extra mile to ensure any potential hiccups were quickly dealt with".
Contact: David Gould
Email:
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Lincoln Ventures choose BST Enterprise and Eagle
Lincoln Ventures choose BST Enterprise and Eagle Technology Lincoln Ventures Ltd has chosen BST Enterprise and Eagle Technology as its Professional Services Automation solution provider for all its trading divisions. BST Enterprise is a 100 per cent web based e-Business solution connecting project, financial, and employee time management processes into a multi-company, multi-currency environment in a secure single database environment. Lincoln Ventures, established in 1993, offers research, development, and consulting services through its various divisions covering water and environmental engineering, supply chain management, electro and biosensor technologies, analytical/laboratory services and information technology disciplines. The company's 50 staff are based at Lincoln University and Hamilton. As a provider of specialised knowledge-based services they work closely with clients, including Lincoln University, and other research groups and consultants to deliver workable solutions in a variety of agricultural and environmental disciplines. Implementation of BST Enterprise will be a joint project involving Lincoln Ventures staff and Eagle Technology product specialists. Live operation will commence in July 2002. BST Enterprise which is used by over 400 professional service's organisations world-wide is marketed and supported in New Zealand and Australia by Eagle Technology. Contact: Brian Lawrence |
Vector out in the field with GIS
VECTOR,
Auckland's electricity network, is responsible for the design, development
and maintenance of the lines and cables that distribute power to more
than 260,000 residential and commercial customers in Auckland, Manukau
and Papakura.
As such, it needs to be responsive to faults as they occur and ensure that its assets perform to specification. To increase the efficiency of its field crews, VECTOR has recently completed preliminary testing of ArcPad, Environmental Systems Research Institute's (ESRI) new mobile Geographical Information System (GIS) and mapping solution. The results? An estimated $500,000 worth of potential savings per annum.
"When our field crews need information, they need it fast," says VECTOR Network Assets and Systems Manager Gareth Williams.
"With ArcPad running in conjunction with Global Positioning System (GPS) software on a Compaq iPaq handheld, they have complete access to relevant data, both graphic and attribute.
"They can drill down quickly to the geographic area and query the database for key information and update the database if they find anything amiss. All of the team who have trialed the system, so far, love it, and already have ideas on how to add even more functionality."
VECTOR is no newcomer to the GIS game. It started its GIS programme in 1993 with Intergraph FRAMME and migrated to SmallWorld about three years ago. Last year it acquired ArcView to provide an additional window into the database and an easily accessible analysis resource.
"ArcView has given us another tool with which to perform spatial analysis and produce reports and maps," says Mr Williams.
"We have had no problems at all with translating the data into Arc format or with taking the updates and porting them back to the SmallWorld database. The two systems work very well with each other."
It is an emphasis on data and data quality that has driven the ArcPad initiative.
"Having the ability to access the data in the field and physically compare what is in the database to what is on the ground is a tremendous advantage," says Mr Williams.
"With ArcPad, our field staff can access the complete data record and move around the system with pick lists and menus, minimising the amount of time spent on navigating databases. Additionally, when they have to enter new data records, the system will prompt them for all information so that they must complete the entry before they can move on."
The field tests started in November with three units and will expand to more units this year.
"Primarily the system is being used for recording asset fault information," says Mr Williams. "Whenever there is a fault on the network, the unit is used to provide reference data to help in the restoration of the fault and allow information to be recorded on what piece of equipment failed and why.
"This information is a key input into VECTOR's sophisticated asset management tools that have been developed based on ArcView 8."
"We have a large asset base, more than fifty substations, 3,000 kilometres of overhead line, 4,000 kilometres of underground cable, 8,000 transformers and 50,000 power poles," says Mr Williams. "Keeping this data up-to-date and accurate is paramount. If we carry out our planned expansion to 40 units, we expect to see a savings of $500,000 per annum on staff time and fault restoration. Not only will we be able to provide better service to our customers, but we will save money while doing it."
Contact: Peng Aik Lim
Email:
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Congratulations
Denis
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Eagle
Technology Group Sales Engineer Denis O'Callahan has been with Eagle
since 1976.
