| OGS GmbH |
The Situation:
The OGS GmbH is located in Koblenz and offers IT solutions that feature groundbreaking applications and services for medium-sized top companies, most of which operate in the construction material and food/wine industries, as well as the trade sector.
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| The goal of the Neuwied-based research and development company OGSid GmbH, part of this group of companies, is to take software supplied by OGS and adapt it to the market’s visionary future demands. In 2005, this included taking leave of the green screen. |
The goals to be fulfilled within the scope of the OGSid modernization project carried out with PKS ranged from platform independence of the OGSid application, to mouse-oriented operation, tightly-knit integration with Windows and an expansion of the functions (e.g. email and Internet access at the click of a button, CTI functionality and spool file displays in HTML for browsers or as PDFs). Another focal point was creating a more aesthetic, modern interface to the point of generating custom-tailored corporate designs for individual customers.
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The Solution:
A decision was made for the PKS Server Builder 400 because among other things, the development of new programs could be done in the familiar programming language and on the System i server. “The PKS Server Builder 400 itself is easy to learn and we can develop the connection programs to Windows on our own. This was a considerable factor that ultimately led us to choose PKS,” as OGSid Managing Director, Andreas Graef, sums up his company’s case.
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| For the automated transformation of screen masks from the 5250 emulation to the graphical interface, OGSid developed a corresponding program that optimized this procedure for OGS/OGSid specifics. After this step, the transformed masks were checked and, if necessary, manually adapted. In particular, the following challenges had to be overcome: |
- The OGSid menu structure had to be transferred to a new client menu tree (with icons, structures within the menus and parameters); it also had to be ensured that data administration could continue to be done from the head office at the system house in Koblenz.
- OGSid required that the number of columns be expanded to 50 in the subfile program. In addition, users should be able to select and save their own column arrangement. PKS achieved this by providing OGSid a corresponding variable for control.
- In order to ensure that all users within a company are always working with the latest release, OGSid developed an automatic updater that compares the client’s version with the version on the server and makes an update if necessary.
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| The Advantages: |
| OGS launched the new version for the first customer in July 2005 and right from the very start, both the decision-makers and the users praised and continue to praise the special benefits of the new application: |
- The communication between the PC and server facilitates an easy exchange of data and the integration of OCX components
- Office integration is now available
- The number of expanded functions such as CTI functionality, user-dependent subfile sorting or storing images in the article master.
- The easy to learn usability of the interface thanks to its Windows-like feel, and better acceptance of the software through a Windows-like GUI.
- By adding tool-tip texts, i.e. explanatory text that is displayed when rolling over an item with the mouse, users are provided with much more information about field contents.
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Summery:
Nearly all of OGS’s long-standing customers have now switched over to the new version.
New customers don’t even broach the green screen topic nowadays.
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| In conclusion Andreas Graef says: “Our expectations of the new interface were fully met. Working together with PKS was good; the entire project was carried out without any problems and additional demands were met by our partner in a timely manner. Because OGSid software is continually being enhanced and improved with every new version release, PKS software and tools are an integral part of our ongoing development.” |
PKS also views its collaboration with OGS in a similar positive light:
“For a number of years now already, OGS and OGSid have been affiliated with our company through our close partnership. Here at PKS we rely heavily on the intensive exchange with a strategic ISV partner, because their suggestions oftentimes spark important new ideas for our own product planning. From my vantage point, Carmen Schönke, head of sales and distribution at OGS, and the OGS team are totally dedicated to new customer acquisitions on the System i platform. With their ERP software, they offer an excellent solution for both small and medium-sized enterprises.” Heidi Schmidt, Sales Manager at PKS, sums up her experience with this collaborative effort in a nutshell: “OGS and OGSid—the cream of the crop on both a professional and interpersonal level!” |
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| www.ogs.de |
