Application Readiness
One of the most overlooked aspects of extending applications and solutions in a bid to enter global markets is application readiness. There are many issues that need to be considered when a solution is being planned to be offered in China or South East Asia such as tax issues, statutory and regulatory requirements, multi-currency and exchange rate conversion, language and local standards compliance amongst others.
The Progress Asia Business Link Program allows participating Application Partners to evaluate their solution’s application readiness for the Asian market by utilizing Application Readiness Certification programs. The Application Partners will be assisted in evaluating their solution’s application readiness based on the areas listed below.
Platform and Infrastructure
Minimum hardware, operating system, display languages and network bandwidth requirements by country and region according to the technical maturity of the industry players within the markets and the skill sets of the end users therein.
Localization
- Language requirements and issues
- Unicode
- Field Lengths
- Internationalization
- Statutory Requirements
- Human Resource
- Taxation
- Standards Compliance
Print Formats
Multi-Currency Support
Legal Issues and Compliance
Infrastructure Readiness of Countries
Advising participants of the readiness of target markets in terms of Communications, Broadband, Internet connectivity, Wireless Technology, RFID, security, etc.
Application Reengineering Services
Port to new versions of Progress and/or enabling Service-oriented Business Architecture
Training
Training Materials
Pre-sales Training
Marketing Collateral
Evaluating the suitability of the existing marketing collateral to the local markets and providing suggestions for improving and enhancing the effectiveness of the marketing collateral according to local sentiments.
Demo Scripts
In order to facilitate the skills transfer process to the local pre-sales consultants, it is advised that the Application Partners provide demo scripts and prepare demo environments. This will ensure that the local consultants will come up to speed quickly and will be a great help in lead and prospect qualification exercises apart from pre-sales activities. The solutions can be installed and showcased in the Progress Solution Center.
2nd Level Support
It is important for the Application Partners, who come onboard the Progress Asia Business Link Program, to consider the 2nd Level Support requirements to their customers and channel partners and also the need to provide the necessary support for the first 2 projects undertaken in any new region.
Design and Production of Brochures and Collateral
The China and ASEAN region in general offers a cost effective alternative to the design, production and printing of quality brochures and other marketing collateral. Even just printing existing marketing collateral in these regions will be very cost effective.
