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Next Generation Mobile Applications
Posted 10 Feb 2009 by Optaros Tags: Accessibility, Assembled Web, Assembly Methodology, Business Model, Europe, Mobile, multi-channel, Open Source, telco, telecom, User Experience, User-Centered Design, Web 2.0

Mobile Applications are no longer stand alone experiments. As part of our Assembled Web Vision, we help our clients leverage the mobile channel as an integral part of the customer experience that spans web, mobile and offline. + Read more

Recession fears will boost open source business solution adoption
Posted 15 Oct 2008 by Optaros Tags: Assembly Methodology, CIO, Open Source

The news is full of reports on the financial crisis, recession fears and economic downturn symptoms. CEOs and CIOs are preparing for a serious negative impact on their business. Initially the problems were with financial institutions only, but more and more the issues are hitting larger audiences. Will IT buying centers and business managers cut investments in IT in general or how will they deal with the crisis?Let’s start with some facts and hypotheses: + Read more

Assembling Django Applications into Web 2.0 Solutions
Posted 24 Jul 2008 by Sean CreeleyTags: Assembly Methodology, Django

What is Django?Django is a python web framework that in their own words "encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design." It was originally developed developed by The World Company to manage their news properties in Lawrence, Kansas. It was open sourced in 2005 and has been gaining traction ever since. Often compared to Ruby on Rails, it is used in close to 1500 sites as listed on djangosites.org + Read more

Post Merger Integration – Technology Strategy & Planning – Part 2
Posted 08 Jul 2008 by Kevin CarlsonTags: Acquisition, Application Stategy, Architecture, Assembly Methodology, IT Strategy, Merger, Strategy, support

Once a detailed transition or integration plan is created, efforts at this point should consider:Efficiency of Architecture: What is needed to bridge a particular gap between the baseline and vision?  Are architectural changes necessary and, if so, how will those changes be executed with little to no disruption to the business?   If integration is necessary, can a tertiary technology be introduced to simplify the effort? + Read more

CIO Open Source Interview Part 6 - OForge
Posted 07 Jul 2008 by Marc OsofskyTags: Assembly Methodology, Integrated Assembly Environment

Here is a snippet of the conversation I had with Steve Snyder, CIO of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, describing his experience with our open approach and personal use of OForge (our Integrated Assembly Environment tool)   + Read more

CIO Open Source Interview Part 4 - Offshore vs. Iterative Process
Posted 07 Jul 2008 by Marc OsofskyTags: Assembly Methodology

Here is a snippet of the conversation I had with Steve Snyder, CIO of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, describing his experience with our iterative Assembly Methodology versus a more classic waterfall approach used by most offshore consulting firms. + Read more

CIO Open Source Interview Part 2 - Packaged Software vs. Assembly
Posted 07 Jul 2008 by Marc OsofskyTags: Assembly Methodology

Here is a snippet of an interview with Steve Snyder, CIO of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, where he explains why they chose to go with an application assembly approach versus buying packaged software. + Read more

CIO Open Source Interview Part 1 - Project Scope
Posted 07 Jul 2008 by Marc OsofskyTags: Assembly Methodology, Open Source, Red Hat

I had a chance recently to catch up with Steve Snyder, the CIO of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (an Optaros client). Steve was quite candid in his remarks. In this short clip, he describes the large scope of the project he is undertaking. + Read more

Integrated Assembly Environment - Choosing OForge to kickstart your project
Posted 26 Jun 2008 by Jay DolanTags: Assembly Methodology, Integrated Assembly Environment, OForge, Portal, Trac

My most recent client engagement was a site redesign and launch for a leading national news paper. There is definitely some sexy technology at work on that site now (Python, Django, Ellington, Apache Solr, Inform, ..), but today I'm choosing to 'blog about Optaros' Trac-based software distribution known as OForge. + Read more

Software Development Methodology - 7 Lessons Learned
Posted 12 Jun 2008 by Rich HighlandTags: Application Stategy, Assembly Methodology, Distributed Development, Integrated Assembly Environment

Many of our clients complain that IT is holding back their business growth.  This is a harsh indictment, but one that is all too true. Most IT departments struggle to provide the business agility required to support rapidly changing business requirements.  IT organizations are frustrated with broken promises from their vendors because  the vendors are not helping them become more agile.  Maintenance fees are growing, but only seem to add to rigidity.  Even seemingly simple projects take longer than they should.  The question is, what can IT do about it?    + Read more

Optaros at SugarCON 2008
Posted 12 Feb 2008 by Optaros Tags: Assembly Methodology, CRM, customer care, Customer Relationship Management, Ecommerce, Europe, Mule ESB, multi-channel, Open Source, osCommerce, partner relationship management, sales force automation, SOA, SugarCRM, Web 2.0

I spent the Wednesday - Friday last week at the SugarCON conference in San Jose. Overall, I found it a good event with relevant and entertaining speakers, topics, and lots of opportunities to hook up both with the SugarCRM team and other players in that eco-system: - SugarCRM CEO John Roberts illustrated the SugarCRM success story; among a bunch of other things, SugarCRM has closed another round of funding for additional 20 MIO USD. + Read more

Open Source Ecommerce - Assembled
Posted 06 Feb 2008 by Olivier PépinTags: Application Stategy, Architecture, Assembly Methodology, CRM, Ecommerce, Enterprise applications, Europe, Integrated Assembly Environment, Java, Mule ESB, Open Source, osCommerce, PHP, Platform, Re-platforming, SOA, Solutions, Sugar CRM, SugarCRM, Web 2.0

In a very competitive sector, flexibility, extensibility and time to market have been the main drivers when we assembled the Wonderbox ecommerce platform. + Read more

From requirements to a designed UI in 5 too-short days!
Posted 30 Jan 2008 by Optaros Tags: Ajax, Alfresco, Assembly Methodology, Collaboration, Community, Design, User Experience, User-Centered Design, Web 2.0, Wireframing

When Swisscom Mobile challenged our Zurich team to design a total overhaul of the Labs public beta website in just 4.5 working days, some said that it couldn't be done. And they were right - it took 5 days! This project proved the value of two things we pride ourselves on at Optaros: methodology and experience. The methodology included our Design Workshops, where stakeholders and users follow their path to completing a task using rough screen mockups called wireframes. + Read more

Open Source CRM - How it fits into the overall CRM solution market
Posted 29 Jan 2008 by Optaros Tags: Assembly Methodology, CentricCRM, CRM, Customer Relationship Management, destinationcrm, Open Source, SaaS, sales force automation, SugarCRM

Many people are still unclear on the role of open source business applications in relation to the proprietary offerings available. In a recent article in destinationCRM.com, I’ve provided Optaros’ point of view of open source CRM in an overall CRM solution context. + Read more

Keys to Support
Posted 10 Jan 2008 by Optaros Tags: Assembly Methodology, support

The keys to successfully supporting a solution assembled from open source solution include: + Read more