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Posted: Mon, July 21, 2003
MicroComputer Associates: Going forward with Distinction Systems and LogicaleBy Basheera KhanThe MicroComputer Associates Group commenced trading as a small software house in 1984, focussing on the areas of financial accounts, manufacturing and remote sales ordering software. The success of these early products secured the base of the business and allowed for early growth and expansion. Early customers included such household names as Kraft Foods, L'Oreal. Gillette and Smith Kline Beecham.  Today, the group comprises of three divisions; Distinction Systems Ltd, which caters for the education and public sectors; Logicale Ltd,
a commercial division; and MicroCompass Systems Ltd, a legacy division. Gary Williams, product development manager, comments: "Distinction is one of the leading software solution providers for both the Higher and Further Education sectors in the United Kingdom, specializing in financial management, student administration, human resources, CRM and e-business solutions. The division has a growing customer base and evolving products and services.  "The commercial division, Logicale is dedicated to providing total business solutions around the Microsoft platform encompassing Microsoft
Great Plains business applications and the Siebel Front Office CRM solutions."The group has also worked with Swansea University in a joint programme to review future software developments and strategies. This project has been on-going for over 4 years and has led to a number of staff being employed by Distinction, through the IT Wales Placement Scheme. ITW: What products/services does your company provide? GW: Distinction is the complete software solution provider developing, owning and delivering its own software product range - QL. The QL software portfolio is a flexible e-business solution, which centres on the Microsoft.NET development concept. In addition to developing our integrated systems of financial management, personnel and payroll, student administration and customer relationship management (CRM), the organisation implements, trains and fully supports our software solutions at customer sites. Embracing a concept of QL e-business enablement and interoperability has ensured that the QL portfolio remains an integral part of an expanding and evolving e-business environment . Logicale is a one-stop shop for Microsoft solutions, services and support. Staff competency and efficient systems are high on the agenda of all forward looking enterprises and Logicale offers a value service for training, support and advice. ITW: What's unique/outstanding about the products/services you provide? GW: MicroComputer Associates Group's education division, Distinction, is one of the only software development houses which develops its own completely integrated software solutions, comprising of financial management, student administration, personnel and payroll. The company encourages customer user group forums where suggestions from customers regarding software enhancements are seriously considered to help focus on further software developments. Consequently our software evolves to meet their changing needs. Distinction works very closely with customers to develop unique software modules to meet the needs of individual establishments. ITW: What one piece of technology has benefited your company the most? GW: Microsoft component and .NET technology has been utilized to provide a powerful on-screen data selection and reporting capability, providing a powerful method of distributing critical financial, HR and student information, in addition to delivering the necessary components to pursue a full e-Business solution. The latest developments to the QL portfolio are centred on the .NET paradigm taking advantage of "workflow" techniques and web enablement ensuring that Distinction's QL software portfolio remains in the vanguard of suppliers to the UK Education sector ITW: Where do you see your company going in the future? GW: Our vision for the future is one of partnership - a partnership with our customers to provide an appropriate solution to their changing needs. This will be achieved through the continuous enhancement of the underlying functionality of the software and the addition of new, complementary technologies ensuring evolvement in line with market expectations and user demands. ITW: What one piece of advice would you give to start up companies in your field? GW: The best piece of advice would be to ensure they understand their market's needs and focus not on only on delivering software which meets these needs in the present day but which will have longevity and will continue to meet their needs in future. ITW: What's been the key to your success? GW: Distinction's pro-active attitude to business and dedication to market development through specialisation which has ensured a solid, integrated and proven solution, which lays the foundation upon which new technologies can be built to take advantage of the new opportunities and uncertainties that lay ahead. ContactsMicroComputer Associates Group (incorporating Distinction Systems, Logicale and MicroCompass)Tel: 01792 524524 Web: http://www.distinction-systems.co.uk / http://www.logicale.co.uk |
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