Softwex

Arruia Press Media Center needed a content management system to streamline their publishing process and to enhance user experience. The system should be able to provide advanced features such as versioning, automated publishing based on predefined dates, deleting, hiding and draft publishing of articles, notifications to editors, newsletters and much more. In Addition to that the application should support localization to different languages within the same control panel.

The media center also required a solution to provide a discussion forum application with the ability to list users’ discussions and replies in a hierarchical form of presentation and the ability to provide ratings for each message similar to YouTube ’s way of handling comments on their video listing. The requirements also included a membership process to handle user accounts and to control user access to restricted areas.

Agile Approach

Softwex was challenged to complete the project in less than 3 months period. Usual times for such projects is well over 6 months. We had to follow an agile process of development to meet these tight deadlines.

Softwex created a communication pipeline to gather sound and accurate requirements from AP Center. Through our Client Section we were able to create a real time, open discussion with the client to provide feedback on decisions made on every stage of analysis, design or development. Top management and those who work directly with Softwexteam were able to follow up the progress of the project and to provide their comments and advice.

The blog-like client section offered greater visibility and transparency and created the trust needed for success.

Softwex started the project by analyzing the current legacy application and business requirements, and provided AP center with a complete proposal that addressed all points of interest to the customer. The document was followed by design prototypes and mockups that emphasized the business needs and envision for the project. That was followed by an iterative set of mockups and designs to reach a final consensus on the current set of features.

Design Features

The new design implements latest technologies in web design and architecture. Using 100% Cascading Style sheet layered design enhances usability and makes it easier to maintain the user interface architecture for any upcoming updates. The modular design concept allows us to easily move sections around without affecting production environment. The new design is compatible with W3C standards and is validated for XHTML and CSS compliance with international standards.

Service Oriented Architecture -> Empowering Editors!

Built on a service oriented architecture , the solution Softwex provided enabled the center’s editorial team to connect to the website using a myriad of Windows client applications such as Windows Live Writer and MS Office Word 2007, in addition to the online feature rich editor of the Content Management System. Softwex provided a local client application to upload mass media files to the website through web services technology.

By leveraging editorial process to external , more feature rich tools like MS Office Word 2007, editors find themselves empowered to focus on the task at hand without worrying about dealing with new tools. We allow them to continue using the same old tools they have been using for years and get accustomed to.