Workforce Training
ADC’s Model-Based Solutions get the Job Done for Leading Workforce Training Company
A leading workforce training company faced a serious technical and logistical challenge: they needed to replace the 5250-based system that ran their entire organization. Additionally, the volume of services the firm provides on an annual basis made the task that much more daunting. For example, in 2007 alone, they trained nearly a quarter of a million people from all 50 US states, five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia and 53 countries—in more than 8,300 class deliveries conducted worldwide. Furthermore, they needed a completely new system that would work not only with their IBM System i infrastructure, but also connect to their Microsoft.NET-based enterprise systems. After an intensive, nationwide search, the company chose ADC Austin to tackle the job.
The right solution, on time and on budget
ADC undertook a careful analysis of the company’s needs and a technological assessment of the project, and subsequently designed a CA Plex model-based solution, generating both System i and Microsoft .NET solutions from the same business application model. A key advantage of this model-based development was that the software could be delivered at a high level of productivity by small teams, resulting in a system that met both time and budget constraints. After implementation, over 1,000 employees were able to administer and deliver training on a student management system (SMS), distributed across different locations.
From green screen to browser-based
The company’s previous SMS system was originally based on CA 2E (Synon) and RPG technology, and before the modernization, employees worked on a 5250 green screen user interface. The 2E application fulfilled the administrative tasks adequately, but there the SMS system needed to be modernized with a browser-based user interface and new usability features. These included:
- the use of existing infrastructure and developer skill sets in a model-based environment
- integration with MS Office
- integration with credit card processing
- creation of e-mail
- a modern, browser-based user interface
- integration to other applications and systems using SOA/Web Services
- enhanced usability on assigning security to different sets of screens and for spread sheet analysis
- accessibility from anywhere
Improved job satisfaction and service
The company reports that its everyday users are extremely pleased with ADC’s CA Plex model-based development. Their employees are now enjoying the many benefits of a modern, user-friendly, browser-based and secure application, which they can access from anywhere, anytime. Best of all, this improved usability has not only increased working satisfaction for the staff, it has resulted in increased efficiency and improved customer service.
