Public Utilities Fortnightly – July 2008
For employees at National Grid, operational data is just a phone call away with Visual KPI. A key attribute of the application, from National Grid’s perspective, is that it allows the employee to custom-design access to information according to his or her role within the company. More…
Transpara Further Distinguishes Itself by Earning a Microsoft Competency in ISV/Software Solutions Competency
Transpara Corporation, a leading provider of operations intelligence software, today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in ISV/Software Solutions, recognizing Transpara’s expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Transpara has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and a proven ability to meet customers’ needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.
Transpara’s Visual KPI software provides customers in the manufacturing and utility sectors with on-demand, business-critical operations data via any web browser. Visual KPI aggregates operations, financial and infrastructure information from multiple, existing data sources and delivers role-based, actionable KPIs to users via the desktop, laptop, or more than 250 mobile devices. The web-based software enables users to easily create and customize composite KPIs and scorecards without any additional programming, using information from any combination of existing data sources, including the OSIsoft PI System, Rockwell RSSQL, Invensys InSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, SmartSignal, OLE DB and Web Services.
“Transpara is committed to helping customers derive greater value from their existing technology investments, and the Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program is another step for helping users leverage their existing Microsoft infrastructure and deep Excel knowledge,” said Michael Saucier, CEO of Transpara. “With the Gold Certified Partner status, utility and manufacturing customers will benefit from the continued enhancement of our operations intelligence solutions, which help them capture timely and accurate data for vastly improved decision making.”
By allowing users to leverage their existing Microsoft infrastructure and deep Excel knowledge, Transpara helps customers realize greater business value in creating composite KPIs and scorecards and monitoring overall performance metrics,” said Michael Saucier, CEO of Transpara. “With Visual KPI, customers can repurpose their existing technology systems without reinventing back-end data systems. This translates to immediate ROI, as users throughout the organizations can be up and running quickly, on a familiar system and with minimal training.”
“Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities,” said Allison Watson, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. “They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognizes Transpara as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology.”
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, Transpara had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each Competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry. Within select Competencies, there are Specializations that focus on specific solution areas that recognize deeper expertise within that Competency. Serving as a specialized path to earning those Competencies, Specializations give direct access to the tools and resources that support that specific area of focus.
The ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing software based on Microsoft technologies.
“Solutions competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs,” said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft Corp. “They allow ISVs to keep and win customers through their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help them deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Microsoft Competencies are an important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide.”
The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners’ businesses be successful.
About Transpara Corporation
Transpara establishes corporate transparency throughout the enterprise with Visual KPI, operations intelligence software that provides enterprise customers in the process and utility industries with real-time asset and operating data on any web browser. The only composite Key Performance Indicator (KPI) software available, Visual KPI aggregates operations information from multiple, existing data sources and delivers role-based, actionable KPIs to users via the desktop, laptop, or more than 250 mobile devices. Visual KPI ensures that responsible parties throughout the organization and supply chain have on-demand access to consistent, business-critical operating measures, enabling stakeholders to monitor their entire asset base, and implement such initiatives as Balanced Scorecard, Six Sigma and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. With Visual KPI, customers improve performance, while reducing operating costs and lowering business risk. Transpara is headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif. Visit www.transpara.com for more information.
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Transpara is a registered trademark of Transpara Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Download PDF: Transpara Attains Gold Certified Partner Status in Microsoft Partner Program
Managing Automation – May 27, 2008
“We are trying to solve the problem of information overload,” Michael Saucier said of the company’s offerings. “We want to make it almost trivial for people to take complex information and put it within their own context and on their own device, be it a Blackberry…or desktop.”
Leading Provider of Operations Intelligence Software Extends Worldwide Reseller Channel
Transpara Corporation, a leading provider of operations intelligence software, today announced a Business Development relationship with the Bridge Incubation Group. The only composite Key Performance Indicator (KPI) software that delivers on-demand operations data from multiple data sources to any desktop or mobile browser, Visual KPI will now be marketed throughout EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). With the ability to view trends over time and access instantaneous snapshots of role-based data, decision makers benefit from comprehensive, complex and rich analysis of business-critical data. The agreement involves the development of localized market strategies, set-up and management of sales channels and various business development and marketing activities.
“Visual KPI is a critical tool for customers, providing people on the move with a unique solution for on-demand access to KPIs,” said Bridge Incubation Group CEO Johan Pellicaan. “Intelligent decision making is still a problem for most companies. While the quantity of data has increased dramatically, many still use the same tools that were used a decade ago to become informed. This increased amount of data and the speed with which people need to make a good decision require more effective ways to communicate relevant business data. With Transpara’s Visual KPI, users are informed quickly, with comprehensive, real-time data, leading to vastly improved decision making.”
“Enterprise customers are looking for solutions to manage and effectively use the massive amounts of data generated from multiple and disparate sources throughout the organization,” said Matthew Littlefield, Research Analyst with Aberdeen’s Global Manufacturing Practice. “According to our research results, Transpara enables customers to extend the power of their existing data sources to mobile devices, and deliver actionable, role-based data to personnel, no matter where they are, in the field or in the office. With Visual KPI 3.0, data is presented in context, through intuitive KPI maps and scorecard views, ensuring users throughout the organization have real-time operations intelligence at their fingertips for smart, fast decision making.”
“We are pleased to work with the Bridge Incubation Group to further develop our activities in the EMEA region,” said Michael Saucier, CEO of Transpara. “The Bridge Incubation Group’s vast experience in the channel, and background in enterprise mobility and business intelligence make them an ideal partner to increase international exposure and drive more business with global accounts.”
Visual KPI aggregates operations, financial and infrastructure information from multiple, existing data sources and delivers role-based, actionable KPIs to users via the desktop, laptop, or more than 250 mobile devices. The web-based software enables users to easily create and customize composite KPIs and scorecards without any additional programming, using information from any combination of existing data sources, including the OSIsoft PI System, Rockwell RSSQL, Invensys InSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, SmartSignal, OLE DB and Web Services. Leveraging the Microsoft infrastructure for all installations, Visual KPI is based on the familiar platform of Microsoft Excel, Internet Information Server and SQL Server 2005, and is the only composite KPI engine that works with the 2007 Microsoft Office system, including Excel Services, Performance Point Server and Office SharePoint Server 2007.
About The Bridge Incubation Group
Bridge Incubation Group CEO Johan Pellicaan was a former Director of Microsoft Corporation, and founder of the international activities of ProClarity, the leading Business Intelligence vendor on the Microsoft technology platform, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2006. The Bridge Incubation Group enables organizations to optimize sales, marketing and financial results by extending into new geographical markets, including Europe, the Middle East and Africa, without financial risks.
About Transpara Corporation
Transpara delivers Visual KPI, operations intelligence software that provides customers in the process and utility industries with role-based, actionable KPIs on any web browser. Visual KPI presents operating information from multiple data sources to users in context and on-demand, enabling timely, informed decision making from any location. By helping users throughout the organization to monitor their asset base, Visual KPI improves performance, reduces operating costs and lowers business risk. Visit www.transpara.com for more information.
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Transpara is a registered trademark of Transpara Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Download PDF: Transpara Announces Partnership with Bridge Incubation Group to Expand Adoption of Visual KPI in EMEA Region
Control Engineering – April 1, 2008
Transpara has formed an OEM relationship with OSIsoft, which delivers the PI System data historian. Transpara’s Visual KPI, which delivers on-demand operations data from multiple data sources to any desktop or mobile browser, will be embedded in the PI System.
Transpara today announced that its Visual KPI web-based software is the first operations intelligence solution to earn Windows Server 2008 software certification. Visual KPI is the only composite Key Performance Indicator (KPI) software that provides on-demand operations data from multiple data sources to any desktop or mobile browser. By delivering role-based, real-time operating data in context, Visual KPI enables timely, informed decision making by users in the process manufacturing, utilities and pharmaceutical industries.
“Certification for Windows Server 2008 is an important step for partners looking to deliver the power of our most advanced server operating system,” said Tony de Freitas, Director of Windows Server Marketing at Microsoft. “By working closely with partners like Transpara, we provide our mutual customers with innovative solutions that take advantage of top performing technologies for the next generation of networks, applications and Web services.”
Building on the enhanced manageability, stability and security of Windows Server 2008, Visual KPI uses Web 2.0 technology to provide web-based delivery of and access to business-critical data. Leveraging the Microsoft infrastructure for all installations, Visual KPI is an Office Business Application (OBA) based on Microsoft Excel, Internet Information Server (IIS) and SQL Server 2005, and is the only composite KPI engine that works with data sources from Microsoft Office Server 2007 and Windows Server 2008, like Excel Services and the Business Data Catalog.
“Windows Server 2008 gives Transpara the ability to deliver Visual KPI’s rich web-based experiences with improved administration and diagnostics, development and application tools, and lower infrastructure costs,” said Michael Saucier, CEO of Transpara. “With its hardened operating system and security innovations, Windows Server 2008 provides unprecedented levels of protection for our customers’ networks, data and business. Windows Server 2008 has built-in server virtualization technology, delivering reduced costs, increased hardware utilization, optimized infrastructure and improved server availability to our customers.”
Windows Server 2008 software certification consists of approximately 100 test cases that independently confirm an application’s compliance with best practices for compatibility, security, reliability and availability on the new platform while ensuring the software performs in a 64-bit environment. The certification identifies top-performing technologies that are ready to deploy in mission-critical environments. As a participant in the Microsoft Early Access Program (EAP) for Windows Server 2008 Software Certification, Transpara’s Visual KPI is one of more than 300 applications that are eligible for certification on a pre-release version of the new platform.
With support for more than 250 mobile devices, Visual KPI enables users to easily create and customize composite KPIs and scorecards without any additional programming, using information from any combination of existing data sources, including the OSIsoft PI System, Rockwell RSSQL, Invensys InSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, SmartSignal, OLE DB and Web Services.
About Transpara Corporation
Transpara establishes corporate transparency throughout the enterprise with Visual KPI, operations intelligence software that provides enterprise customers in the process and utility industries with real-time asset and operating data on any web browser. The only composite Key Performance Indicator (KPI) software available, Visual KPI aggregates operations information from multiple, existing data sources and delivers role-based, actionable KPIs to users via the desktop, laptop, or more than 250 mobile devices. Visual KPI ensures that responsible parties throughout the organization and supply chain have on-demand access to consistent, business-critical operating measures, enabling stakeholders to monitor their entire asset base, and implement such initiatives as Balanced Scorecard, Six Sigma and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. With Visual KPI, customers improve performance, while reducing operating costs and lowering business risk. Transpara is headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif. Visit www.transpara.com for more information.
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Transpara is a registered trademark of Transpara Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Download PDF: Transpara Delivers First Operations Intelligence Solution Certified for Windows Server 2008
Managing Automation – March 21, 2008
Visual KPI for AF provides a Web-based view for AF 2.0 with zero configuration or programming. By adding a visual component to the monitoring, aggregation, and analysis of AF data, Transpara is helping customers maximize their OSIsoft investment.
Visual KPI Embeds the PI System to Provide “Out of the Box” Historical Analysis and Trending Capabilities for KPI Data
Transpara Corporation, a leading provider of operations intelligence software, today announced an OEM relationship with OSIsoft, which delivers the PI System, the industry standard in data historians. The only composite Key Performance Indicator (KPI) software that delivers on-demand operations data from multiple data sources to any desktop or mobile browser, Visual KPI will now embed the PI System. The OEM agreement enables customers to trend KPI status and calculations by adding time series capabilities even if their back-end data source is not time series-based. With the ability to determine trends over time – in addition to instantaneous snapshots of role-based data – decision makers benefit from comprehensive, complex and rich analysis of business-critical data.
“Customers in the utility and manufacturing sectors rely on both historical and real-time data to make critical decisions around their business operations,” said Michael Saucier, CEO of Transpara. “The relationship with OSIsoft is an important step for Transpara and enables us to deliver real-time and historical KPI trending based on the most trusted historian in the world. Customers requiring complete access to the full scope of PI System capabilities can migrate to a standalone PI System any time they wish.”
Through the OEM relationship, Visual KPI embeds data history in the product, facilitating KPI trending and allowing users to create more interesting scorecards with their data, such as “All KPIs that entered the ‘High’ state in the last 60 minutes.” Users can build scorecards and queries to trend KPI status without additional programming, leading to richer, more comprehensive analytics about the state of operations. Adding history to non-time series KPIs will be as simple as checking a box on the KPI configuration screen.
“OSIsoft PI is the standard for managing real-time data in order to dynamically enable software. Transpara’s Visual KPI is an excellent example of a browser-based visualization tool that utilizes this unique aspect of PI and demonstrates how PI information can be fed to people in new and innovative ways,” said Dr. Patrick Kennedy, CEO and Founder of OSIsoft.
About Visual KPI
Visual KPI delivers role-based, real-time operating data in context, enabling timely, intelligent decision making from any location. With support for more than 250 mobile devices, Visual KPI enables users to easily create and customize composite KPIs and scorecards without any additional programming, using information from any combination of existing data sources, including the OSIsoft PI System, Rockwell RSSQL, Invensys InSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, SmartSignal, OLE DB and Web Services. Leveraging the Microsoft infrastructure for all installations, Visual KPI is based on the familiar platform of Microsoft Excel, Internet Information Server and SQL Server 2005, and is the only composite KPI engine that works with the 2007 Microsoft Office system, including Excel Services, Performance Point Server and Office SharePoint Server 2007.
About OSIsoft
OSIsoft (www.osisoft.com) delivers the PI System, the industry standard in enterprise historians, as the core of its real-time infrastructure platform. A global base of more than 11,000 installations across manufacturing, energy, utilities, life sciences and other process industries relies upon the OSIsoft PI System to safeguard data and deliver enterprise-wide visibility into operational health in order to manage assets, mitigate risks, and identify new market opportunities. Founded in 1980, OSIsoft, Inc. is headquartered in San Leandro, Calif., with operations worldwide and is privately held.
About Transpara Corporation
Transpara establishes corporate transparency throughout the enterprise with Visual KPI, operations intelligence software that provides enterprise customers in the process and utility industries with real-time asset and operating data on any web browser. The only composite Key Performance Indicator (KPI) software available, Visual KPI aggregates operations information from multiple, existing data sources and delivers role-based, actionable KPIs to users via the desktop, laptop, or more than 150 mobile devices. Visual KPI ensures that responsible parties throughout the organization and supply chain have on-demand access to consistent, business-critical operating measures, enabling stakeholders to monitor their entire asset base, and implement such initiatives as Balanced Scorecard, Six Sigma and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. With Visual KPI, customers improve performance, while reducing operating costs and lowering business risk. Transpara is headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif. Visit www.transpara.com for more information.
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Transpara is a registered trademark of Transpara Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Download PDF: Transpara and OSIsoft Announce OEM Relationship
Start-IT Magazine – March 14, 2008
START-IT magazine announced the companies named on the START-IT 125 for 2008 list, a directory of the most influential technology providers in the manufacturing space.
Visual KPI for AF Delivers Web-based Access and Visualization of Operations Data
Transpara Corporation, a leading provider of operations intelligence software, today announced Visual KPI for AF, the first solution to provide web-based access to and visualization of OSIsoft AF 2.0 data. Visual KPI for AF is a web-based add-on to OSIsoft’s AF, OSIsoft’s server-based modeling tool that enables an organization to define a consistent representation of its assets, providing attributes and context for PI System and non-PI System data. With Visual KPI for AF, users get immediate, web-based access to their AF data, and can also link any AF Element to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Scorecards and Views in Visual KPI.
“Visual KPI for AF provides a web-based view for AF 2.0 with zero configuration or programming,” said Michael Saucier, CEO of Transpara. “OSIsoft’s AF brings order, structure and models to many kinds of data, and Visual KPI for AF delivers all of this to users via the web. By adding a visual component to the monitoring, aggregation and analysis of AF data, Transpara is helping customers maximize their OSIsoft investment, extending the power of AF in asset-intensive vertical industries, as well as data center management.”
Visual KPI for AF integrates with Transpara’s flagship product, Visual KPI, the only composite KPI software that delivers on-demand operations data from multiple data sources to any desktop or mobile browser. This integration enables AF users to easily navigate, view and analyze data and KPIs across their system hierarchy without any programming.
Visual KPI for AF is available now through Transpara. Contact the company at info@transpara.com or (925) 218-6983 for pricing.
About Visual KPI
Visual KPI delivers role-based, real-time operating data in context, enabling timely, intelligent decision making from any location. With support for more than 250 mobile devices, Visual KPI enables users to easily create and customize composite KPIs and scorecards without any additional programming, using information from any combination of existing data sources, including the OSIsoft PI System, Rockwell RSSQL, Invensys InSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, SmartSignal, OLE DB and Web Services. Leveraging the Microsoft infrastructure for all installations, Visual KPI is based on the familiar platform of Microsoft Excel, Internet Information Server and SQL Server 2005, and is the only composite KPI engine that works with the 2007 Microsoft Office system, including Excel Services, Business Scorecard Manager and Office SharePoint Server 2007.
About OSIsoft
OSIsoft (www.osisoft.com) delivers the PI System, the industry standard in enterprise historians, as the core of its real-time infrastructure platform. A global base of more than 11,000 installations across manufacturing, energy, utilities, life sciences and other process industries relies upon the OSIsoft PI System to safeguard data and deliver enterprise-wide visibility into operational health in order to manage assets, mitigate risks, and identify new market opportunities. Founded in 1980, OSIsoft, Inc. is headquartered in San Leandro, Calif., with operations worldwide and is privately held.
About Transpara Corporation
Transpara establishes corporate transparency throughout the enterprise with Visual KPI, operations intelligence software that provides enterprise customers in the process and utility industries with real-time asset and operating data on any web browser. The only composite Key Performance Indicator (KPI) software available, Visual KPI aggregates operations information from multiple, existing data sources and delivers role-based, actionable KPIs to users via the desktop, laptop, or more than 150 mobile devices. Visual KPI ensures that responsible parties throughout the organization and supply chain have on-demand access to consistent, business-critical operating measures, enabling stakeholders to monitor their entire asset base, and implement such initiatives as Balanced Scorecard, Six Sigma and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. With Visual KPI, customers improve performance, while reducing operating costs and lowering business risk. Transpara is headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif. Visit www.transpara.com for more information.
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Transpara is a registered trademark of Transpara Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Download PDF: Transpara Announces Visual KPI for AF for OSIsoft Users