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Making a Case for Custom Application Development

Searching for a software solution to a business need is frequently a daunting task.  Armed with a list of business needs and requirements, packages are evaluated and meetings are held, but what if at the end of the day you still can’t find one that meets all of your needs? The reality is not every business need or requirement can be met by package software.  Custom application development may be just the answer you’re looking for.

Whether it’s fulfilling a requirement to meet changing business needs, modernizing a legacy application, or developing a SOA, QAT has the expertise and experience to meet your specific application needs. For over 10 years QAT has delivered in the analysis, design, implementation and support of large scale, custom applications for commercial and government customers, domestic and international.

Depending on your needs, QAT can either work as part of a team or provide turnkey development services. While working jointly with your team, our architects and developers stress mentoring and knowledge transfer, to ensure they are prepared to take ownership of the system and are fully able to main it after the project is complete.  By utilizing our turnkey development services, your business can alternatively receive the benefit of successful, high-quality applications without the struggles of learning curves and staffing. Furthermore, we are able to utilize many of our unique tools, frameworks, and reusable code available commercially to accelerate application development in specific environments.

Our Application Development and Support (ADS) service provides full lifecycle support, from design and architecture through development, testing and deployment. Modern software architecture is driving beyond the traditional monolithic structure with ubiquitous web services and rich web interfaces. QAT thrives in the cutting edge technologies that enable business value through custom applications.

Organizations looking to outside partners to provide custom software have many options, but few companies are as skilled in software architecture and design as QAT. Experience the difference that QAT application development and support can bring to your organization.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

What type of applications do you build?
QAT has industry leading expertise in a broad array of architectures and business competencies. We have delivered Mainframe 3270, Distributed Client/Server, Web based, Web service, SOA, and Wireless solutions to the following industries:

• Transportation
• Manufacturing
• Automotive
• Banking
• State Government
• Federal Government
• Insurance
• Credit Card Processing
• Distribution

What are the unique features of your applications?
First, we build customizable applications that offer significant user customization. Our development techniques allow for a high degree of architectural variation at the data, event and process levels. Data customization implies that the customer can dynamically add attributes concerning the major concepts of their application. Event customization allows the customers to define and monitor the business events that drive the application. Process customization is very difficult to achieve, however this is common in the applications built by QAT. Process customization implies that our customers have the tools within the application to dynamically define both the interactive as well as the transactional business processes. Imagine being able to dynamically alter the processing behind a transaction in the application using a graphical diagramming tool.

Second, we spend a significant portion of our resources on research and development. One of our main focuses is in the area of application and component architecture standards. Successful application development hinges on the development team's ability to communicate in a concise and consistent manner as well as to rely upon an infrastructure that promotes component reuse. The tools and components we build are directly focused on improving the service capabilities of "the team".

How do you build applications so quickly?
Our methods and tools used to achieve success are unique. We fully leverage a significant investment in component and pattern technology to build and implement applications quickly. Our methods and tools provide rapid application assembly in two significant ways. First, is the consumption of pre-built infrastructure and enterprise-level components from our catalog such as Security and Workflow. Second, is the rapid development of unique business logic components and application interfaces using our pattern technology. Lastly, we further extend the value proposition of speed and quality by augmenting our designs with powerful lightweight user interfaces such as dynamic tree and grid views.

Where do you build your applications customer's site or outsource?
Where we build the application is completely up to the client. QAT has a full development center to support outsourced projects. Many of our clients have found that by leveraging our development center, they are afforded the opportunity to expand their projects' delivery capabilities. However, there are times when it makes sense to have all resources working together at the client's site. Most of our consultants have spent time working through our development center and onsite with the client.

Do your applications integrate with other systems?
Absolutely. We understand that there is no such thing as a "Stand Alone" application - integration into a heterogeneous environment is a cornerstone requirement for a 21st century project. We take great care in working with our clients to understand their legacy software assets and how to best leverage it.

How do you price your offerings?
We provide services on a time and material basis or on a fixed-fee contract.

Time and Material: Each business situation is unique and consequently our time and material offerings adapt to the knowledge requirement, location and length of the engagement. All of these details are negotiated on a case-by-case basis with the client.

Fixed-Fee Contract: QAT will agree to perform a defined piece of work for a fixed amount. The advantage to the client is that QAT assumes all project-related risk provided that we have control over project scope and development coordination activities. Our clients have found the fixed-fee approach to completing work is very advantageous in managing budgets and planning work.

For our software component pricing we include the sale price of the component and the amount of integration service work required to implement the component. QAT often provides price breaks on our software components if there is significant integration service work involved. Each business engagement will have an unique pricing scenario based upon the customer's service level request.

Advantages of QAT’s Custom Application Development and Support

• Create new, custom applications with full lifecycle support to address aspects of the business process unique to your business
  
• Address business processes for which solutions are unavailable in the market.
  
• Address gaps in the functionality provided by commercial packaged applications
  
• Gain access to resourceful visionaries and reduce development costs
  
• Avoid the hassles of learning curves and staffing
  
• Increase productivity and improve business performance
  
• Gain a consistent edge over competition

Key Features of QAT’s Custom Application Development Approach

• Predefined methodologies and frameworks
  
• Proprietary tools to improve effectiveness of the development process
  
• Strong focus on quality

While working jointly with your team, our architects and developers stress mentoring and knowledge transfer, to ensure they are prepared to take ownership of the system and are fully able to main it after the project is complete.

With QAT Application Development and Support you can see your business performance goals through to the end, particularly when packaged software does not adequately meet your needs  and requirements.

For more information, please visit http://www.qat.com/ms_ads_overview.asp