News

Oxford University Press (OUP) publishes books, journals and online services in a wide range of academic and professional disciplines, as well as reference works, textbooks, and books for the general reader.

As part of a major CMS project, commencing February 2012, OUP have appointed one of the Influential Software Project Management team to act as contract PM via the main partner.

Now in its 41st year, The London Book Fair continues to be the global market place for book publishers. With over 250 seminars and events, 2,000 international exhibiting companies and 24,500 publishing professionals, The London Book Fair (Earls Court, 16-18 April 2012) encompasses the broad spectrum of the publishing industry.

Influential Software will be exhibiting at London Book Fair 2012, stand J205, details of which can be found at http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/en/Exhibitors/75025/Influential-Software

This will provide Influential with an opportunity to demonstrate the various facets of the consultancy offering to publishers, large and small alike: * Publishing IT consultancy * BI/MIS reporting solutions for medium/large publishers * ATLAS SaaS BI reporting solution for small/medium publishers

If you would like to talk to Influential about a business intelligence solution, software solution or any publishing IT project you need to deliver successfully, please contact us, visit our stand J205 at the London Book Fair or join us for a chat at the world famous 40-30 rooftop bar of our landmark London office - 30 St Mary Axe.

ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 are the most widely used and internationally-recognised frameworks for good business management covering the key areas of Quality Management and Information Security Management. These ensure companies have policies, processes and procedures in place to better meet their quality, customer and information security requirements.

Influential have spent the last few months of 2011 working towards certification for both ISO9001 and ISO27001 and are pleased to confirm receipt of a 5 year interim certification of accreditation from 13th December 2011.

These frameworks will underpin Influential’s attempts to bid for and deliver work within both public and private sectors in 2012 and beyond.

Maybourne Hotel Group, owners of 3 x luxury 5* hotels in London - Claridge’s, Connaught and The Berkeley, appoint Influential Software for assistance around Business Objects licence sales and consultancy

Maybourne Hotel Group (http://www.maybourne.com/) own luxury hotels situated in exclusive London enclaves and Influential are delighted to be able to assist in solving Maybourne’s BI requirements via an installation of Business Objects.

Aristocratic Mayfair is home to Claridge’s and the Connaught. In elegant Mayfair village opulent boutiques such as Christian Louboutin, Mark Jacobs, Lanvin, Goyard and Balenciaga rub shoulders with fashionable hangouts and galleries. Mayfair boasts many of London’s top restaurants, with Hélène Darroze at the Connaught and Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s foremost among them.

With stunning views overlooking Hyde Park, the Berkeley is situated in flamboyant Knightsbridge, the heart of London’s luxury shopping district. It’s also close to some of London’s top attractions, including most of the major museums.

Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com), London-based IT consultancy, has a 20 year history of delivering IT solutions to some of the world’s leading businesses – aiming to increase client profitability via a core set of objectives; to drive revenue, to underpin growth, to reduce cost whilst reducing risk. This is achieved by realising past investment in systems and infrastructure and unlocking the drivers of each business, developing enterprise-grade bespoke software to integrate, manage and streamline processes, all underpinned by expert consultancy.

If you would like to talk to Influential about a business intelligence solution, software solution or any IT project you need to deliver successfully, please contact us or join us for a chat at the world famous 40-30 rooftop bar of our landmark London office - 30 St Mary Axe.

JFEdwards (Smithfield) Ltd is one of Smithfield’s largest and longest established names, As a catering butcher, JFEdwards (Smithfield) Ltd cuts carcasses to specific customer requirements, selling direct to wholesale/retail business. They import fresh and frozen meat from European countries including France, Belgium and Hungary and have a turnover of £40m and with a sales team of 32 people.

Influential Software are pleased to offer support & development services to JFEdwards (Smithfield) Ltd, providing a one stop shop solution for all the company’s IT needs.

JFEdwards (Smithfield) Ltd (http://www.jfedwards.uk.com) have numerous projects scheduled for 2012 including the development of a wireless trading system for the 32-strong team of traders to automatically process sales and purchase orders, whilst relying upon accurate and immediate system data for pricing and stock levels and full automation of sales trading processes. Once complete, these will lead to significant cost, productivity and customer service benefits.

JFEdwards (Smithfield) Ltd are also keen for Influential to develop/support their website, eCommerce offering, disaster recovery procedures, computerise their stock control and finally implement an industry-leading BI reporting solution.

Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com), London-based IT consultancy, has a 20 year history of delivering IT solutions to some of the world’s leading businesses – aiming to increase client profitability via a core set of objectives; to drive revenue, to underpin growth, to reduce cost whilst reducing risk. This is achieved by realising past investment in systems and infrastructure and unlocking the drivers of each business, developing enterprise-grade bespoke software to integrate, manage and streamline processes, all underpinned by expert consultancy.

If you would like to talk to Influential about a business intelligence solution, software solution or any IT project you need to deliver successfully, please contact us or join us for a chat at the world famous 40-30 rooftop bar of our landmark London office - 30 St Mary Axe.

Influential Software, London-based suppliers of business intelligence and book/journal publishing sector solutions, have been working on a major programme to deliver a SaaS-based, low-cost, high value BI platform for the publishing industry; Project ATLAS.

The programme forms one part of a new collaboration with Klopotek, leading supplier of international standardized software and consulting services for publishers of books and journals and Influential Software.

The platform will be developed to incorporate Klopotek-SaaS-ready datafeeds as a standard feature, thus the benefits of ATLAS reporting will be easily accessible to all Klopotek SaaS clients as a packaged offering. This will include (amongst others) interactive sales, product and customer enquiries, standardised configurable reporting, and the option of ad-hoc reporting across the entire system as well as sophisticated management dashboards and data analyses which can be configured and deployed instantly.

John Simpson, Director of Influential Software, said “We feel that our integrated ATLAS Business Intelligence solution is the perfect low cost add-on to enhance the well proven backbone that Klopotek’s SaaS provides its customers. It will allow publishers using the SaaS model to analyse and manage their business in a way that was only previously open to mega-publishers having made heavy investment into bespoke Business Intelligence solutions”.

If you would like to talk to Influential about Project ATLAS, SaaS tools, a business intelligence solution, software solution or any IT project you need to deliver successfully, please visit the website or join us for a chat at the world famous 40-30 rooftop bar of our landmark London office - 30 St Mary Axe.

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Notes to Editors:

Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com) London-based suppliers of business intelligence and book/journal publishing sector solutions, has a 20 year history of delivering IT solutions to some of the world’s leading businesses – aiming to increase client profitability via a core set of objectives; to drive revenue, to underpin growth, to reduce cost whilst also reducing risk. This is achieved by the strategic deployment of data management, reporting and analysis tools, bringing transparency and order into complex business situations by empowering end-users to manage and report on their data in a centralised solution. This has enabled clients to realise past investment in systems and infrastructure by unlocking the drivers of that business – data that is often hidden deep within enterprise systems.

Klopotek is the leading supplier of software and consulting services for print and online publishers of books and journals. More than 350 publishers specializing in different areas, with over 14,000 users, rely on Klopotek’s software to help them manage their business and achieve their goals. Klopotek has nearly 20 years experience in delivering innovative solutions to publishers around the world. The software supports the entire publishing value chain for print and digital products, including state-of-the-art rights management, effective product marketing combined with exposing enriched metadata on the internet, and a seamless order to cash business process.

Influential Software, London-based suppliers of business intelligence and book/journal publishing sector solutions, have signed a multi-year agreement with Klopotek, leading supplier of international standardized software and consulting services in this sector.

The agreement will see Influential Software provide bespoke BI/MIS/reporting solutions and consultancy to Klopotek’s current and future client base.

Andy Richardson, Managing Director of Influential Software, said of the agreement, “We are very pleased to be able to offer our proven BI consultancy experience to enhance Klopotek’s expanding global client base, further underpinning our position as a leading data management consultancy to the book/journal publishing sector.”

John Lawson, UK Sales Director of Klopotek, said of the agreement, “I am delighted to have formed the partnership with Influential. Our publisher clients amass huge amounts of data often from multiple sources, and voice an increasing demand to analyze such data with flexible specialized tools. They still want standard reports for the basic needs, but desire the ability to run ad-hoc reports and drill down and analyze key management information too. Influential’s expertise in this area has always impressed me and coupled with their knowledge of Publishing, they are an ideal technical partner for Klopotek to work with.”

If you would like to talk to Influential about a business intelligence solution, software solution or any IT project you need to deliver successfully, please visit http://www.influentialsoftware.com/contact-us/ or join us for a chat at the world famous 40-30 rooftop bar of our landmark London office - 30 St Mary Axe.

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Notes to Editors:

Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com) London-based suppliers of business intelligence and book/journal publishing sector solutions, has a 20 year history of delivering IT solutions to some of the world’s leading businesses – aiming to increase client profitability via a core set of objectives; to drive revenue, to underpin growth, to reduce cost whilst also reducing risk. This is achieved by the strategic deployment of data management, reporting and analysis tools, bringing transparency and order into complex business situations by empowering end-users to manage and report on their data in a centralised solution. This has enabled clients to realise past investment in systems and infrastructure by unlocking the drivers of that business – data that is often hidden deep within enterprise systems.

Klopotek is the leading supplier of software and consulting services for print and online publishers of books and journals. More than 350 publishers specializing in different areas, with over 14,000 users, rely on Klopotek’s software to help them manage their business and achieve their goals. Klopotek has nearly 20 years experience in delivering innovative solutions to publishers around the world. The software supports the entire publishing value chain for print and digital products, including state-of-the-art rights management, effective product marketing combined with exposing enriched metadata on the internet, and a seamless order to cash business process.

Influential Software are continuing a run of new business wins with their engagement by the FTSE-250 listed leading global recruitment group Hays PLC

Influential Software, London-based suppliers of business intelligence and IT solutions, have been appointed by the recruitment group to help support their existing SAP Business Objects offering.

David Spearman, Head of BI of Influential Software said of the appointment, “We are pleased to be helping Hays with assistance around the Business Objects product set, one of our core competencies. The work will ensure a smooth transition for their JD Edwards reporting solution”

Hays plc (http://www.haysplc.com) is the leading global specialist recruitment group. In 2010, Hays placed approximately 50,000 people into permanent jobs and found temporary assignments for approximately 180,000 people. The Group employs over 6,800 people operating from 270 offices in 28 countries across 17 specialisms.

Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com), London-based IT consultancy, has a 20 year history of delivering IT solutions to some of the world’s leading businesses – aiming to increase client profitability via a core set of objectives; to drive revenue, to underpin growth, to reduce cost whilst reducing risk. This is achieved by realising past investment in systems and infrastructure and unlocking the drivers of each business, developing enterprise-grade bespoke software to integrate, manage and streamline processes, all underpinned by expert consultancy.

If you would like to talk to Influential about a business intelligence solution, software solution or any IT project you need to deliver successfully, please contact us or join us for a chat at the world famous 40-30 rooftop bar of our landmark London office - 30 St Mary Axe.

Influential Software is pleased to confirm the expansion of its UK operation with the addition of new office space in the iconic 30 St Mary Axe office building, also known as The Gherkin

Influential Software is very pleased to open its first London office to better support its expanding client portfolio which includes several London-based companies. The St Mary Axe building was chosen as it offers excellent client services, both vocational and social and is an ideal location for City travel.

30 St Mary Axe, the Swiss Re Building (colloquially referred to as the Gherkin), is a skyscraper in London’s main financial district, the City of London, completed in December 2003 and opened at the end of May 2004. With 40 floors, the tower is 180 metres (591 ft) tall, and stands on the former site of the Baltic Exchange building, which was severely bomb damaged on 10 April 1992.

Since its completion, the building has won a number of prestigious awards for architecture. In October 2004, the building was awarded the 2004 RIBA Stirling Prize. For the first time in the prize’s history, the judges reached a unanimous decision. In December 2005, a survey of the world’s largest firms of architects published in 2006 BD World Architecture 200 voted the tower as the most admired new building in the world.

In September 2006, the building was put up for sale and on 21 February 2007, IVG Immobilien AG and UK investment firm Evans Randall completed their joint purchase of the building for GB£630 million, making it Britain’s most expensive office building.

Since February 2010, Sky News has broadcast its flagship business programme, Jeff Randall Live, from a studio in the building.

Influential Software are continuing a run of new business wins with their engagement by the FSA-registered insurer, Premier Underwriting.

Influential, Maidstone-based suppliers of business intelligence and IT solutions, have been appointed by the insurer to performance tune their existing Cognos report system. This will reduce data load and build times thus allowing increased time for end user analysis.

David Spearman, Head of BI of Influential Software said of the appointment, “We are looking forward with assisting Premier on various aspects of their Business Intelligence offering around the Cognos product set. The work we do will help move their reporting facilities to the next level”

Premier Underwriting (http://www.premierunderwriting.com/) was set up in 1999 as a Personal Lines Insurance Underwriting Agency, providing Premier Underwriting branded products which are distributed to customers through carefully selected retail insurance intermediaries.

Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com), Maidstone-based IT consultancy, has a 20 year history of delivering IT solutions to some of the world’s leading global businesses – aiming to increase client profitability via a core set of objectives; to drive revenue, to underpin growth, to reduce cost whilst reducing risk. This is achieved by realising past investment in systems and infrastructure and unlocking the drivers of each business, developing enterprise-grade bespoke software to integrate, manage and streamline processes, all underpinned by expert consultancy.

TGC Corporate Lawyers, an international corporate law firm providing constructive and cost effective advice and assistance to clients, have appointed Influential as IT partner

Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com) are very pleased to announce we have been engaged by TGC Corporate Lawyers of Warsaw/Wrocław/Prague/Bratislava to perform a search and selection exercise of integrated CRM, legal and document management packages, with an aim to underpin their core business and support their drive for expanding their Legal Process Outsourcing services in Central Europe over the coming years

TGC act for some of the world’s leading companies, with lawyers rooted in the local business environment whilst understanding the international commercial environment, offering services including corporate, M&A, litigation, finance, real estate and tax advice that is combined with a deep understanding of industry sectors such as financial services, real estate, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and companies involved in international trade.

After a period of training followed by examinations, Influential Software was pleased to formally be welcomed into the SalesForce CRM partner program.

As a consulting partner, Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com) joins the world’s most experienced community of innovators in the cloud who are working with the latest cloud-computing technologies to help companies transform the way they run their businesses

SalesForce works with leading professional services firms of all sizes that offer a range of consulting expertise, including strategic business consulting, software implementation and integration, training, and custom application development services.

As a partner company, Influential Software has access to the following: * SalesForce partner portal * Unlimited Force.com developer & testing environments * Force.com tutorials & content * Developer toolkits & code libraries * Pre-release environments * Embedded & AppExchange distribution options * Participation in the Force.com VAR Program * Leads from the AppExchange * Marketing & sales best practices & tools

Within the company, we have employees who are certified salesforce developers - a professional credential for Force.com developers that is a recognised qualification for competency in the development of Salesforce tools.

This is a great addition to the portfolio of skills offered by Influential to all of its client base.

STA Graydon, provider of UK debt collection, International debt collection, student debt collection and receivables management services, appoins Influential Software

Global debt collection agency, STA Graydon, has also appointed influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com) to provide secure, reliable and managed hosting for all of their web offerings. Influential will also provide support for STA Graydon with on-line data management and their CMS.

STA Graydon was keen to partner with a business that would work proactively to enhance their offerings to clients after their last agency lacked focus.

Atherton Bailey, the SouthEast’s largest independent insolvency partnership, specialising in helping local people and businesses rebuild for a better financial future with realistic business rescue and personal insolvency solutions, appoints Influential Software for IT services

Atherton Bailey Maidstone, expert insolvency practitioners, has appointed Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com) to provide IT consultancy and infrastructure support. Chosen for its wide skill base and local services, Influential Software has been tasked with a number of projects including an upgrade of their main server and PCs.

Other projects that Influential will undertake for Atherton Bailey include maintenance and upgrade of current applications, as well as a new back-up strategy.

Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com) have recently recruited a number of interns from Kent based Universities. They will be working with our established team and we look forward to exchanging knowledge

Interns Simon Barnes, Robert Day and Matthew Bacon, all from Kent, will work closely with Influential’s existing team. A fourth intern, Matthew Gould, will also join Influential Software in September.

Simon and Robert are both 3rd year Computer Science students at the University of Kent, while Matthew is an apprentice who has been studying an HNC in Computer Systems at K College.

Simon, 20, will initially be researching JasperReports, the world’s most popular open source reporting engine, in order to generate enterprise grade reports from databases.

Robert, also 20, will initially be investigating automated testing software for websites and web-applications. Automated test software (in this case selenium) allows a standardised framework for running a suite of automatic tests over a website or web-application, testing functionality, reliability and accuracy. This kind of automation is at the heart of test-driven development ensuring high quality and robust applications.

Matthew, 19, is helping to investigate new techniques in building virtualised environments for our development projects. Virtualisation delivers the ability to propagate multiple server environments on a single physical server and is a core technology in the Cloud Computing paradigm.

Influential qualify for a SEEDA Innovation Grant with the University of Kent to co-develop key software

Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com), supplier of bespoke software and business intelligence solutions, has won a £12,000 investment from SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) to develop access management in the cloud with the University of Kent (UKC).

The project, named ‘Data secured in the cloud’, sees Influential working with Professor David Chadwick of UKC, to write a PHP-based access control service.

Professor Chadwick, pre-eminent in the field of access control, and a team of post-graduate developers will, along with Influential Software, design the service to work with the Amazon EC1 cloud computing environment.

The new access control service will allow Influential’s forthcoming, cloud-based, publisher’s business intelligence system (ATLAS) to be accessed via existing logins, such as Facebook and Twitter.

The project will also allow academics to log in securely using their own credentials, a key benefit to client publishers.

As part of Influential’s international expansion, the company is opening an office on the East Coast of the US.

Until now, Influential has served its international client base from its UK office near London, but a decision was taken in early 2011 to offer better support to its US customers by opening an office on the East Coast of the US, in Delray Beach Florida (http://www.delraybeach.com/).

This office will initially house 5 members of staff, including 3 graduates from Florida Atlantic University (http://www.fau.edu/) in combination with 2 staff transferred from the UK operation. The team will be responsible for supporting existing US clients, COGNOS/Business Objects licence sales to the US market and also providing additional resource to the development of Influential’s new SaaS product, ATLAS.

Phaidon Press appoint Influential Software (http://www.influentialsoftware.com) in major upgrade to their BI offering

Phaidon Press, the world’s leading publisher of books in the Visual Arts, have appointed publishing sector and BI specialists, Influential Software, in a move to upgrade their existing Business Intelligence offering utilising SAP Business Objects/SQL Server.

With the Book market down nearly 6% on last year and the likelihood of it being some time before the industry returning to its pre-recession prosperity, publishers are looking inward with views to cut costs and focus on profit.

Following in the footsteps of other industry giants including Taylor and Francis, Elsevier and Cambridge University Press, Phaidon have called upon on the unrivalled expertise of Influential Software to improve the quality of their data and reporting systems.

John Simpson, Technical Director of Influential Software, said: “ We are delighted to be developing a long-term relationship with the team at Phaidon and look forward to assisting in improving and supporting their reporting solution with a view to increasing sales and identify cost savings”