Sophisticated intranet and extranet permission systems that can control access in so many ways are rapidly blurring the traditional distinction between intranets and extranets.

It still remains true that extranets are different – we need to provide access to partners and the supply chain in a way the business can securely control and monitor – but actually with Claromentis key staff themselves are separated into access areas by role, group and individual permissions so there is indeed some overlap.

Here is the difference as we see it today:

• Extranet users need to be ring fenced from each other – we clearly do not want Partner A accessing pricing information for Partner B.
• Nor do we want users from Partner A being aware of the existence of users from Partner B.
• Co-branding must be automatic if required – the customer must with no effort be able to create a co-branded portal that provides the right environment for each supplier and partner.
• Hybrid access in terms of active directory or individual logon with a username and password. We must, and do, support mix and match access in terms of active directory automated intranet log-on for staff, and logon with username and password for partners.

Apart from these key differentiators, extranets are just one more permission bucket in Claromentis, which is exactly as it should be as the world flattens, and key users and contributors that can make a difference to any Claromentis customer might be employees of suppliers, partners or freelancers.

Products extranets, intranets, permissions

It seems we are the victim of our own success sometimes when using our bespoke development teams to deliver very significant focused applications on top of Claromentis.

We are working on Competitive Intelligence portals, and Environment Sustainability Portals at the moment – to name just two of the largest bespoke projects our Claromentis clients are asking to add to their systems.

This work is immensely enjoyable – concentrating on delivering very real business value on top of the information layer that is already well in place across the companies concerned.

The reason for this post – is how do you respond to the initial requests from the client for a budget? We draw up specifications, mock ups, we are good at this. But as soon as the client sees the results they get so involved and excited – how should we react as they add functionality and raise the bar ever higher?

Easy you would say – just put the specifications through change management and come up with revised budgets. Normal procedures. Now here is the complexity. These are shared intranet development projects which Claromentis undertakes because we think there is value in us being able to build a core product from this clients ideas and expertise. For example Quality Management Software – we are now adding an entirely new second application to sit alongside Quality Manager – and perfectly reasonably the client sponsoring this wants to know what it will cost them.

Looking at the work Michael has done this is a potentially outstanding addition to Quality Management Software we already have. It is an exciting space to be in, one where we have unique skills and great partnerships with our client.

But we are being taken into functional spaces where we actually have no previous experience – we simply do not know the potential business value of the applications we are creating on a shared development basis. And to add complexity – we will need to move those applications into core code, and of course market them before we even get a foothold in these new spaces and so realize some return on the shared development, probably with 3-6 months sales cycles as well.

So what seems to be a simple problem turns out to be far from that. How much money would we be prepared to lose in developing an application for a specific client as they want to improve on everything they have– in a part of their business we do not have any previous experience – in order to encourage the client to make our application as extraordinary as possible. Even if we have no idea if the way they do things is the way anybody else does?

Services intranet development budgets, intranet shared development

Everyday, we visit tens of websites everyday and every website has its own interface and logo design. But how many of these logos we remember actually?

Web Logos

There are 2 different versions in guess the logo website which aims to test your memory skills. You might think that you will always remember the logo of Google, but are you sure?

Visit the website and get ready to be surprised.

Solutions Design, Logo

I have just run a query using intranet software on Google Insight to see current trend and here is the snap shot I’ve got. Is this simply the sign of credit crunch? While the trend is generally lower, it shows sharp increase in the developing countries such as India or Indonesia. I guess this picture speaks for itself.

Prod-Intranet commercial, intranet software, seo

Aurora

This week Mozilla labs took step to open up its idea factory asking for community help to develop next big ideas for the future browsers.

They said, “You don’t have to be a software engineer to get involved, and you don’t have to program,” says the announcement. “Everyone is welcome to participate. We’re particularly interested in engaging with designers who have not typically been involved with open-source projects. And we’re biasing towards broad participation, not finished implementations.”

It’s the design, mockups, prototypes time for everyone who are welcomed to contribute. It looks like Mozilla not even worried if their major competitors would tap into the ideas gathered.

Solutions browser, development vision, future, technology

IDEA (Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement) has conducted a survey about Factors That Improve Online Experiences which you might possibly find interesting & helpful.

The report emphasizes facts like the importance of visual design & ease of use. And also, it points out interesting information like “designers being overly optimistic about visitors’ ability to maintain orientation”.
You can download the full report as a PDF file or read the shorter executive summary.

If you want to see the methodology behind the survey, click here.

Resources-Technical Online

My Network

As you might have heard Microsoft is reportedly developing an operating system with code name Midori. The idea is the new OS would replace client based system today with the a system that reside on the Intranet.

This idea is not new of course, there was a time when people thinks Computer as a consumer electronics, which simply a terminal to access various informations (think teletext). Suddenly history has repeated itself. My life is now fully web-based, I don’t actually care what OS and application I am using as long as I can get the job done.

Does Microsoft tried to stop Google domination by once again inventing a platform based on the web or the future will be more fruitful where we can choose any flavour. Comments?

Intranet-Extranet

I today read with real interest what apparently is the first of a total of 3 articles on intranet journal by Paul Chin. I encourage you to take a look.

The theme is choosing between Open Source and Commercial intranets. He discusses the ideas that we have reviewed for such a long time when developing Claromentis, a commercially available and supported intranet system that is developed on LAMP, coded entirely in PHP, is completely customizable and has a comprehensive API for external PHP developers to extend our systems to meet the needs of their clients.

We are currently working with 2 major corporations, one in the USA and one in the UK, where open source developers are working with our own core team to provide significant functionality on top of our framework.

I will be very interested to read Paul’s conclusion – and to see if we at Claromentis really do supply, as we have always argued – a third way.

Prod-Intranet commercial, intranets, open source