Island Web Works

This post is part of a series that will highlight the key improvements and features in the new product that we’ll be running over the next few months. You can also follow our Twitter account @migturbo for regular updates on progress.

Over the past year, we’ve been hard at work developing the new evolution of our key business intelligence product, MIGTurbo 2.0. MIGTurbo is a successful CRM product running in many client sites both on and off the island. During its lifetime, we’ve come to understand what our users want and how they work. One aspect we have come to learn is how users configure their servers.

A key trend that has developed in the last 5 years is virtualisation. Virtualisation allows companies to extract more efficiency out of their existing hardware platform by creating virtual instances of servers running on the same physical hardware. If implemented well, this can result in benefits such as:

• efficiencies in leveraging under-used CPU cycles by planning and scheduling server activity accordingly
• separating server processes to provide a layer of protection from configuration issues when processes compete for finite resources
• provides redundancy and an additional backup strategy to maximise uptime and reduce maintenance costs

Having virtualisation in mind when working on MIGTurbo 2.0, we were able to re-architect MIGTurbo to work well within both virtualised and existing physical environments. A key change we have made to this new version is to extract the “engine” of MIGTurbo from an IIS-hosted application to a self-contained server process. This allows MIGTurbo to operate independently of IIS and its configuration for its core operation, and providing a host for autonomous activities such as workflow, caching, index building and security services.

A key benefit for us is that as MIGTurbo develops, we can decide whether features are user-oriented, or system-oriented. System-oriented features such as security indexes can be built and maintained on the server at no cost to the user’s experience.

This positions MIGTurbo in the ideal position for businesses of just about any size. From a one-man business with a server in the corner to an organisation with thousands of users across different sites, MIGTurbo has a deployment model that will work.

The diagram below illustrates a typical “top-end” installation.

MIGTurbo Server deployment

The diagram shows three servers managing the MIGTurbo installation. These can be independent physical boxes, some or all of them could be virtualised on a single box, or different processes can be brought on to the same box as required by the company and available on the existing infrastructure. The Web Server continues to be the “point of contact” for MIGTurbo users who will fire up their browsers in the usual manner to interact with the software. Using the new API, new user interface clients can be created which interact with the web server or directly with the MIGTurbo server engine itself, for added performance.

A final benefit to this is that it moves the sensitive raw data further away from the end user. In a security conscious organisation, firewalls can be implemented between each server to maximise the security of the SQL Server databases used to store business critical and highly sensitive data. We’ve also used secure communications between the client and various components of MIGTurbo to further increase security. The diagram below shows that MIGTurbo maintains a secure database even when deployed over the internet using a DMZ configuration:

MIGTurbo working within a DMZ firewall

Moving the MIGTurbo engine out of IIS also allows us to provide additional functionality that would otherwise have been difficult from within the security-restricted context of IIS. Services such as instrumentation using Windows Performance Monitors can be created to allow real-time monitoring of MIGTurbo performance along with other functions that require deeper interaction with the operating system. Configuration is also made easier as IIS dependencies are reduced to only those services required to support the user interface.

Profiling MIGTurbo using Windows Performance Monitor

We believe that this change will form an important platform to allow us to take MIGTurbo to a new level. MIGTurbo has been growing with your business since v1.8, now it can grow with your IT hardware policy to maximise performance for individual users.

These posts discuss features of MIGTurbo CRM 2. While we have every confidence that these features will appear and work as discussed, these blog posts do not represent a final product specification. We will release final product specifications at launch.

Nathan MIGTurbo MIGTurbo 2.0, Virtualisation

Happy New Year!  I know February is approaching quickly, however, it is often the thought that counts.

Now that 2010 is upon us, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and bankers bonuses are re-appearing, and there is talk of ‘growth’, does that mean that we can cast aside the lessons of yesterday and throw caution to the wind?… I suspect not. Business will continue to be hard won, service will continue to be of paramount importance, and clients will continue to seek value for money.

Optimism is returning, over the past few months we have noticed that larger projects are returning to the table, but the same projects need to be cost justified.

The internet continues to play an important part, the more people search for value, the  more you need to be extolling the value of your products and services. Like it or not, the web is the preferred research mechanism for many. Social media, whilst I personally avoid it, is gaining ground, with the ‘youth’ market and many businesses adopting it wholesale. Like most technology there is both an upside and downside, however, it is undoubtedly a technology that is here for a while yet.

If you haven’t already done so, I suggest it is worth reviewing your web site content, keeping contact information up to date, review the services offered and make sure you have a recent news item (or blog posting) to impress upon visitors that you are still here!

Charles Articles

Yesterday saw the Isle of Man section of the British Computing Society host a talk by Gabriel Karawani on Sharepoint and the benefits it can bring as a Document Management  solution. The BCS regularly host events such as this, which range from soft-skills to harder, technical topics. Overall, a wide mix that should suit most tastes.

As a regular attendee, I was keen to invite Charles down to the presentation to see how other people implement and use Microsoft SharePoint.

The presentation consisted of a fair chunk of marketing-speak, with a brief case-study thrown in. I found it interesting when Gabriel (the presenter) asserted that most people spend a lot of their day interacting with Microsoft Outlook. To this end, he demonstrated SharePoint as an add-on to the standard Outlook interface.

The question is, do people use Outlook because it is a reliable and effective interface for working with other applications such as document management, client management, etc., or because as Outlook is a de-facto business standard which leaves them feeling as if they no have other choice? The interface that was demonstrated felt a little clunky as a result.

What became clear from the presentation is that utilising SharePoint is hardly a case of  ”turn it on and go”. The product represents the foundations of what you could accomplish, given sufficient time and allocation of IT resources whether internally or externally.

When you put it alongside other, more feature complete, systems we deal with such as our own DocuMentor product which comes as part of MIGTurbo CRM, or the Laserfiche Document management solution, it becomes clear that businesses don’t necessarily work the way Microsoft think they do - or should. Nor do they have the resources required to “complete” the job.

We’ve had a number of discussions within the office about the MIGTurbo experience, and where it should lie. Should we leverage the existing power and user experience built around the Microsoft Outlook/Exchange product, or develop a product alongside it that itself would form the hub of a user’s day? The answer is a mix of these. What is key, however, is being able to draw on our experience with working with businesses to facilitate a working procedure that mirrors their business processes and requirements.

In moving forward, we’re certainly going to maintain our focus on the MIGTurbo CRM product as being the force mejeure behind many of our client’s businesses, but we will keep a keen eye on what infrastructure is already within the business, such as Microsoft Exchange for working with scheduling and communications and Microsoft SharePoint when working with documents. It seems to be a logical move to be able to provide users with the option of combining MIGTurbo with their existing infrastructure, which may have its own eco-system of plug-ins and processes essential to the business. MIGTurbo CRM 2 is certainly going to be an exciting product.

Nathan MIGTurbo Document Management, DocuMentor, Exchange, LaserFiche, MIGTurbo 2.0, Outlook, SharePoint

We calculated recently that in recent years, based on the number of licensed MIGTurbo users (divided by 4 multiplied by 5 days per week - less holidays and bank holidays, on the basis of 3 hours use per working day); MIGTurbo has exceeded 1.5 Million hours of real world user testing.  If we play with the figures slightly it quickly approaches 10+ million, but we have always been a tad conservative!

It’s quite ‘gob smacking’ when you work out the figures just how extensively our MIGTurbo CRM software is used. We were so proud of the fact that many of the current features have either been requested or suggested by our user base - we considered starting a marketing campaign based upon the notion that our clients ‘invented that’ - unfortunately another software company appears to have recently used that idea!

I think the answer to my question is there can never be enough testing just insufficient time!

Charles Uncategorized

The reason for the title is the number of diaries people seem to use. In our office, the main diary is MIGTurbo, however, colleagues also use Google, various Mobile phone diaries and even Outlook! Absolutely mind blowing when you consider how difficult it is keeping just a single calendar in sync with birthdays etc.

Personally, I have never used the Outlook Diary, nor a diary in my mobile phone, personal organiser or any one of the many web based freebies! I used to use an A4 diary, until I tired of replicating information into my primary electronic diary - the one within MIGTurbo that is. Fortunately I can access this from any mobile phone or browser with an internet connection so I am usually always where I should be when I should.

Fortunately, there is a technology that enables you to synchronise all your different diaries within in a single diary of your choice.  iCalendar is a file-format that allows calendar items to be sent/received and used between different calendar programmes that support files with a .ics suffix .

So, now you know, if you’re ever asked how many diaries you need, your answer should be - only one!

Charles MIGTurbo Diary, MIGTurbo 1.9, Outlook

Like it or not, the social media era is upon us and now users have got bored of sharing photos, playing FarmVille and poking each other, businesses are starting to get in on the act. Facebook is not just a site for wasting time, but is fast becoming a way for companies to interact with their followers.

I was asked today why companies take the time and effort to create Facebook Pages when they have perfectly good web sites. The answer is simple: Engagement with your clients.

Building a community around your brand or company is difficult. Building that community on your own web site which people may not know about is even harder. That’s why major companies like Microsoft, Red Bull, Harley Davison and VW turn to Facebook to engage with users, because the Facebook Community is already huge.

Creating a presence on Facebook is pretty simple and involves going through a short procedure to generate an initial page. You can then add content such as news discussions, photos, videos and any other content Facebook supports.

The next step is to market your Facebook presence. You can add badges to your existing online presences such as your web-site, and also add links to your out-going emails, press-releases and marketing material.

As users discover you, they can become “Fans” of your page and participate in discussions on your page. As a company, you can push out marketing messages, news and invite discussion that you find interesting to these users. For example, the cut-out from my own feed on the right shows Wimbledon and The University of Salford engaging with me as a user. By becoming a Fan, I have “opted in”, which makes me to be a very viable target for marketing.

Another reason is that even if you have the best site in the world, users do forget about your site - it’s natural. Facebook marketing is an ideal way to remind users of your activity. I no longer forget about what happens at Wimbledon except for two weeks and I’m still interested in what is happening at my old University even though I left it … well, I’m not saying how long ago!

Using your Facebook channel effectively can be challenging, particularly when identifying what benefit your Facebook and social media activity is having on your bottom line.

If you want to combine your web-site with Facebook as a marketing channel give us a call and we’ll help you navigate the minefield. Or, you can join me and the rest of the island’s Social Media Club every Third Thursday at Paparazzi at 12.30pm (held by Strive PR) where we help introduce people to the benefits of social media and chat about the hottest trends.

Nathan Social Media Facebook, Social Media

They always come in three’s, why is that?

The week started with a power outage, Monday morning was not good for many businesses.

Tuesday I had  mobile phone issues, darn thing kept switching itself off, and if that wasn’t bad enough, disabling the answer service in the process. Anyway, nice lady in the phone shop exchanged it. Following day I took it back, the replacement kept switching itself off. Nice lady in the phone shop replaced it for a different model, really, really good customer service, although, I suspect it may have been a case of just getting me out of the shop ! lol.

Yesterday we had a problem with our internal system, running extremely sloooowly in IE 8. Anyway, after isolating and discounting every step in the chain between server and workstation(s) we concluded the network card had been zapped during Mondays power outage. 9 pm Thursday evening after restoring back up arrays and replacing network cards we concluded the DNS must have become corrupt. In a last ditch attempt to find an alternative cause we discovered that an Anti Virus update to the browser plugin was the culprit… extremely annoying since we had (we thought) disabled the AV in the earliest stage of our diagnosis.

Friday I received an updated preview on our new MIGTurbo 2.0 Rich Internet Application interface (RIA), and the clouds parted and all was good with the world once more. Ahh! isn’t it good to end the week on a high note!

Charles Uncategorized

As Charles alluded to in his last post, MIGTurbo 2.0 is coming on apace, with no lack of focus on maintaining its high levels of usability. We’ve been thrashing a number of ideas around in various forms to try and come up with a system for Securing data with the flexibility required by regulatory and legislative requirements but without losing usability and comprehension. We hope to post more on how this is going in the next few days, including some of the first screenshots from our new product.

The “other” big product announcement you may have heard about is the RTM (Release to Manufacturing) of Windows 7 by Microsoft. Windows 7 is what many see as what Vista should have been and has been widely accepted and praised as being an outstanding improvement not only on Windows XP, but also Windows Vista. Microsoft really seem to have pulled it out of the bag this time, with one user claiming to have installed it on a 266MHz Pentium II with 96Mb of RAM. If you’re already using Windows 7 in its Release Candidate or if you’re lucky enough to have a copy of the RTM, try these Keyboard Shortcuts which really open up usability when working with windows on your desktop. Some of them will also work in Vista. Try them out, you’ll be surprised what you didn’t know. Our favourite? Windows+Shift+Left/Right to move windows between monitors.

Staying with Microsoft, there’s been a widely publicised outpouring of grief resentment over the continued use of their old Internet Explorer 6 browser. Twitter and various other sources have mounted a number of campaigns to try and encourage users to ditch the IE6 browser in favour of more modern versions such as IE 7 or 8. IE 6 has been the bane of web developer’s lives, with its quirky rendering mechanism and requirements for bad practices in order to force web pages to work as the designer intended. We’d all like to see it pass on, but reality will see that there are many reasons why the browser will hang around for a few more years yet, not least of which is Microsoft’s commitment to support the operating system it shipped with till 2014. Persuading users who are visiting YouTube, Orkut or other sites which are now actively eschewing the IE6 browser is one thing, but persuading corporate IT departments to move away from IE6 is quite another. Coupled with the requirements of IE7 being Windows XP or later, existing Windows 2000 users don’t even have the choice. As such, IE6 continues to represent a sizeable chunk of browser traffic.

In the office, the debate continues about the benefits or otherwise of Office 2007’s new ribbon interface, an interface that has been extended to the rest of the Office suite of products in the 2010 Technical Preview. The detractors have a very valid point in that it significantly reduces usability for users who just want to “get the job done” as they have been trained. My own discussions on Twitter this week highlighted the other side of the argument, which is that maintaining legacy user-interfaces is detrimental to innovation.

Twitter conversation with @alexdegroot

It would be nice to achieve a happy medium, much like the Lotus 1-2-3 emulation mode previously in Excel to try and entice old-school Lotus 1-2-3 users over to the product. I guess when it comes to migrating users who have already “bought in” to your product it becomes a less viable feature proposition. Two of the guys on the Office development team at Microsoft have built a site dedicated to soliciting user feedback, cunningly titled “Make Office Better“. As most users in businesses spend most of their time in Microsoft Office, it’s perhaps an opportunity to drive the future of the product from the “grass-roots”. (It’s also got a great logo.)

Nathan Friday Feeling Internet Explorer 6, MIGTurbo 2.0, Office 2007, Office 2010, Windows 7

Following on from my last post (aka rant), I have been upsetting people internally by translating many of the superb new developments in the MIGTurbo 2.0 security profile into real world application.

I kept finding myself being hit by statements such as ‘client groups do not define security policy’ and ‘once assigned a role becomes a policy’, to which I usually retort,’ I am a user, why do I care!’. Whilst churlish, it does help frame matters from a users perspective – does it matter!, so what if you can lock access down to 3 decimal places if the system becomes unusable.

It is so easy to lose sight of usability in a mêlée of functions and features. I am pleased therefore to report, both security and usability appear to be capably accommodated in my first preview of the all new MIGTurbo 2.0 development.

Charles Uncategorized

Whilst I should not be surprised, I am! Who drives ‘innovation’ in today’s software products! To me, the latest version of Microsoft Office is unrecogniseable compared to 2003, everything I want from the menu system has moved or worse, simply does not exist any more. How does a company become so arrogant or out of touch with its users! Functions that I have used everyday for years no longer exist.  My latest realisation is that I cannot save documents to my C:\ drive, apparently it is a security threat. I can copy the file to my desktop and then to my c:\ drive but not to my c:\ drive directly. It’s a bit like saying you cannot buy cigarettes because you are too young, however we will sell you tobacco and cigarette paper separately.

I must be getting old, I used to revel in technology, eagerly awaiting each new release and often feeling let down because the raft of new functions were superficial and of no real significance. Now I feel let down because each function is wrapped in so much ‘cotton wool’ by the time I have managed to get to the function, I have forgotten what I wanted to do in the first place.

Charles Uncategorized Office 2007, Office 2010