Catalyst Resources and Backbase Announce Business Alliance
Deliver End-to-End Solution for Design and Development of Enterprise RIAs
Web 2.0 Expo, San Francisco, California, April 23rd, 2008 - Today, Catalyst Resources, a leader in rapid application design and Backbase, the leading provider of enterprise software for creating AJAX-based Rich Internet Applications (RIAs), announce an alliance to provide an end-to-end design and development solution for rich Customer Engagement and Enterprise AJAX applications.
AJAX, already the leading technology for rapid development and deployment of Rich Internet Applications, is being adopted at an increasingly rapid pace by small and medium size businesses as well as large enterprises. But companies face a number of hurtles as they try to make this RIA transition. While it is easy to add in a few flashy widgets to a webpage, it requires a different level of expertise to enhance user experience with measurable business value and develop code that is scalable, high performance, and easily maintained.
The end-to-end design and development solution from Catalyst Resources and Backbase provides this expertise. It is designed to help organizations make better business decisions, get their new projects to market faster and significantly reduce the investment required to bring internal resources up to speed.
For application modernization such as moving a client/server-based call center to the Web, Catalyst Resources will systematically define and design all aspects of a rich, unified application in terms of everything that the user experiences - what they see, what they do, what information they can access. For existing applications looking to enhance online ROI and improve customer retention, such as consumer banking, Catalyst Resources will assess an organizations current application, refine the UI architecture based on high-value scenarios, and develop a new visual design for key screens that includes user-validated AJAX functionality.
Backbase applies their technical AJAX expertise and works iteratively with Catalyst Resources to engineer the application “blueprint” into working prototypes that meet accessibility standards, integrate critical data sources and optimize AJAX performance and scalability. Prototypes can be built using the managed framework of Backbase Enterprise AJAX Framework or other RIA solutions including Adobe AIR, Google Gadgets and YUI Widgets. The prototypes can be rapidly extended to full production applications in phased, quick deployments for immediate ROI as well as long-term growth.
The result is a complete “design-to-development” solution that delivers an optimized user experience with maintainable and scalable RIA technology to solve real world business problems and offer the best return on investment.
“The Catalyst-Backbase solution solves a very real and pressing problem. Organizations recognize that to remain competitive, they must adopt rich internet functionality that radically improves the usability and ROI of online applications.” said Paul Giurata, managing partner of Catalyst Resources. “The benefits of using RIAs are not however automatic and depend on designing for key interaction and data handling points and changing the development process to include continuous code integration build and testing.”
Charlie Janes, general manager from Backbase adds “The comprehensive service offered by Backbase and Catalyst Resources means organizations can benefit from enhanced usability and effectiveness of their online enterprise applications, with reduced ramp up time and reduced uncertainty about impact, development and integration. Almost immediately they will begin capturing significant returns and lay the groundwork for sustained and profitable customer relationships in the future.”
About Catalyst Resources
Since 1994, Catalyst Resources has successfully delivered user interface and rapid application design for more than 250 software applications to leading global and VC-funded organizations. Catalyst’s user-validated, agile design approach to UI minimizes financial and functional risks while maximizing dependability and user satisfaction. Catalyst Resources specializes in the unique strategy and user experience demands of Software as a Service (SaaS), Financial Services, and Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). Headquartered in the Silicon Valley, Catalyst Resources employs accomplished UI designers, information architects, developers and business professionals. More information about Catalyst Resources can be found at www.catalystresources.com.
About Backbase
Backbase, Inc, The Ajax CompanyTM, is the leading provider of enterprise software for creating Ajax-based Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). Medium to large enterprises and independent software vendors use Backbase to enhance the usability of their Web applications, migrate fat client applications to the Web, deliver next-generation online self-service applications, and create enterprise mashups. Founded in 2003, Backbase is headquartered in San Mateo, California, USA. Additional information is available at www.backbase.com.
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Media Contacts:
Paul Giurata Catalyst Resources 650.655.6700 E-mail: Michel Gerin Backbase, Inc. 650-242-4173