Oracle Outsourcing Presentation

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Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)myIFT.org
OverviewPaul D. GrassmanDirector, Information
ServicesSeptember 2003
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About IFT
Founded in 1939, the Institute of Food
Technologists is a nonprofit scientific society
with approximately 28,000 members working in food
science, food technology, and related professions
in industry, academia and government. Our mission
is to advance the science and technology of food
through the exchange of knowledge. IFT
membership represents most, if not all, of the
major food manufacturers and universities in the
world. Membership comes from major
corporations, small business owners,
laboratories, learning institutions, government
and the press. International membership consists
of approximately 15 of the overall total.
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IFT Strategic Goals

• Become the Go To knowledge center and
  authoritative resource worldwide for food science
  and technology information
• Goal reaffirmed and detailed through a March 2002
  Global Strategic Planning initiative
• Seven special task forces charged with developing
  strategies for implementing the Strategic Plan
  recommended web strategies (October 2002)
• The Result myIFT.org initiative

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Business Challenges

• Current web site content static
• No personalized web self services for members
• No on-line collaboration capabilities for local
  chapters and special interest groups
• Limited in-house technical resources
• Difficult to interface enterprise systems with
  web
• Lacked efficient methods for distributing
  information to members and staff
• IFT Publications going electronic beginning in
  January 2004
• And solution had to be ready for IFT Annual
  Meeting in July 2003 (over 20,000 attendees)

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The Approach

• Selected Acquity Group as our partner in December
  2002
• Roadmap plan approved in March 2003 (defined
  requirements and anticipated costs/schedule)
• Software RFP issued in March 2003
• 8 proposals received and evaluated in April 2003
• Staff unanimously recommended Oracle 9iAS
  software and Oracle Outsourcing
• Signed software and outsourcing contracts in May
  2003
• The Result Software operational in mid-June,
  initial content loaded, and myIFT.org very
  successfully introduced in mid-July at Annual
  Meeting to over 20,000 attendees.

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Current Status

• Additional content for launch being loaded
• Pilot testing by selected members and staff in
  progress
• Pilot testing results will be used to fine tune
  site
• Setting up UltraSearch crawls
• Oracle Consulting programming interface with
  membership database
• Preparing final marketing and rollout plan
• Beginning plans for future enhancements
• Getting ready for October launch!

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Welcome Page
Clean Look and Feel
User Specific Navigation
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Personalized Pages
Personalized News, Membership Applications and
Publications
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Document Library
Robust Taxonomy Structure
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Community Features
Distributed Content Management
Collaboration Tools
Access to member specific sections and divisions
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Expected Benefits

• From myIFT.org
• Establish IFT as Go To resource worldwide for
  food science
• Increase recognition of IFT in food science
  community
• Increase recognition of IFT from public and media
• More personalized web services for members
• Reduce back office internal staffing expenses
• Even more attendees and exhibitors at Food
  Expo/Annual Meeting
• More members
• Improve membership retention
• More paid advertising in magazines and web sites
• Result more revenue and profits!!

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Expected Benefits

• From Oracle Outsourcing
• Provide IFT members with good response times and
  minimal downtime
• Ensure stable operations 365 days/year 7
  days/week 24 hours/day
• Install new hardware/software quickly
• Provide disaster recovery capabilities
• Provide specialized technical expertise
• Plan and implement new software releases
• Manage all internet and firewall connections
• Result no IT problems!!

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Lessons We Have Learned

• Executive sponsorship crucial
• Stay aligned with strategic plans
• Keep sponsors involved
• Get project management and technical assistance
• Acquity Group
• Oracle Outsourcing
• Oracle Consulting
• Document technical solutions at Oracle
  Outsourcing to aid future issue resolution
• Be sure user interface is attractive and easy to
  use
• Content, content, content!!
• Enterprise system interfaces may be complicated
• Marketing communications plan important

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Thank You!

• For More Information or an electronic copy of
  this slide presentation contact
• Paul Grassman pdgrassman_at_ift.org
• Paul Brizz paul.brizz_at_acquitygroup.com