NIIT Technologies’ has launched three solution frameworks for Transportation sector to extend its value to clients while increasing its bottom line. A report by Forrester released in October 2007 highlights the fact that clients are looking for solutions that will help them automate discrete business processes or aspects of product development. NIIT Technologies foray into development of these frameworks exemplifies NIIT Tech’s innovation.
Introduction
A software framework is a re-usable design for a software system (or subsystem). A software framework may include support programs, code libraries, a scripting language, or other software to help develop and glue together the different components of a software project. Various parts of the framework may be exposed through an API.
These frameworks can be called ‘Solution Accelerators’ - a phrase coined by Forrester. Forrester defines ‘Solution Accelerators’ as ‘Internally developed software that technology services firms use to automate a particular business process or aspect of product development for a range of clients, where 30% to 70% of the code can be reused across engagements’
NIIT Frameworks
The frameworks launched by NIIT are – Travel Portal Framework, Cargo Framework, and Software Testing Framework. The section below describes each of these framework in brief.
Travel Portal Framework
The Travel Portal Framework offers a complete eCommerce platform for airlines, travel agencies, consolidators and aggregators, enabling them to reduce the core operation costs. The eCommerce platform supports integrating systems for Inventory and Reservations, Publishing Content, Customer Relationship Management, Payment, Sales Information and other Supplier Systems.
Cargo Framework
NIIT Technologies’ Cargo Ground Handling Framework is specifically designed to provide tailor-made solutions to Cargo Ground Handling Agents and Cargo Carriers. Being a Strategic Partner to IATA, NIIT Technologies’ built the framework compliant to IATA Cargo 2000 and e-freight standards. The framework is developed using component-based architecture that is highly flexible, optimised, scalable and efficient.
Software Testing Framework
The Software Testing Framework is developed from NIIT’s rich experience of providing independent verification and validation services to fortune 500 customers in the Travel/Transport/Logistics domain. The framework is a packaged solution of Testing Best Practices, processes, templates and tools to serve the application and product testing needs of the customers.
Benefits
These frameworks aim to achieve the following benefits:
Address a specific business challenge - These frameworks developed by NIIT address business challenges to specific sub-verticals. For example, the Cargo framework is suited to a Cargo Handler that intends to build a solution complying to the Cargo2000 standards, and be on the leading edge of technology.
Reduced time to deliver - These frameworks are more than just documentation or theoretical concepts. On an average, these frameworks can save 30-40% of the time spent on a software project.
Ease of Integration - having been built using open technologies, these frameworks are easy to integrate with legacy applications as well as niche technology products.
Ease of Future Enhancements - Owing to their modular nature, any future enhancement will be quicker and easier.
Lower cost of ownership - Open system technologies and flexible business models assist in reducing total cost of ownership.
Bring Agility - Solution accelerators are only partially finished and are completed based on the specific needs of a client. Hence the IT projects are more ‘agile’ as compared to off-the-shelf products.
Future Directions
As part of the strategy to build unique differentiators and invest in IPR, NIIT will continue to invest in these frameworks and build new frameworks relevant to the Transport sector. Being one of the three largest Indian offshore IT vendors in this space, NIIT look forward to taking the leadership position of being the best.
