Hardcat News is an online publication to keep Hardcat's customers and clients aware of exciting new developments at Hardcat world-wide. On this page we present some selected news items from 2000 - 2001.

Hardcat launches new Version 3.22

21st November 2001: In a special function at Sydney's Hotel InterContinental (itself a client of Hardcat), Managing Director Mr Dan Drum today officially launched the new Hardcat 3.22 release to a large assembled gathering of interested customers, dealers and current clients. The new version had already picked up a 5 star rating when reviewed by the US journal CPA Software News a few weeks earlier, the second year running that Hardcat has received this award.

The launch also included a demonstration of the lastest CatScan 2.0 Palm-based software tools for barcode asset auditing and data capture, as well as a demonstration of Hardcat running over the internet through a web browser, providing remote users with the benefit of asset lookup and editing capabilities.

Mr Drum also highlighted the tremendous success Hardcat is now enjoying in the US, UK, Middle East and Australian markets with recent sales to BBDO in NYC, University of Texas, Pannell Kerr Forster in London, Random House, and Union National Bank in the United Arab Emirates.

Above: The Hardcat implementation project team at Union National Bank in the UAE, an exciting new market Hardcat launched into during 2001.

The City made a wise choice in selecting Hardcat as it is capable of meeting their current and projected future asset management needs, by virtue of separate modules to control different facets of fixed asset management. Hardcat provided a Project Manager, Ms Nada Brusic, to oversee the implementation and barcoding of city assets in a full physical asset audit that took place during July 2001.

The Purchasing Module and Depreciation Module will enable Pelham to have more control over budgeting, financial records and the ability to produce timely reports.

Above: One of Pelham's many assets, a fire engine, in the "safe hands" of Hardcat Project Manager Ms Nada Brusic.

Above: Hardcat Project Manager Ms Dianna Hill provides on-site assistance (and a complementary Hardcat mouse mat!) to inChord's Brad Biller (left) and Tony Jerig (right).

Hardcat barcodes Office of Tax and Revenue assets in Washington DC

Early in 2000, the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) in Washington DC identified they were not controlling their assets and needed a solution quickly.

Mr Edward Roberson, Network Division Chief of OTR, engaged in a lengthy evaluation of available products in the marketplace and eventually decided on Hardcat in June 2000.

Hardcat was known to Mr Roberson from his time three years earlier at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where the original Hardcat Client/Server release had been used extensively and proved to be a great success. Mr Roberson had found that due to the intuitive nature of Hardcat, staff at the Commission had been able to begin using Hardcat with almost no training, and the robust nature of the system allowed for trouble free operation, with hardly any calls for system support. As such, he had no hesitation in selecting Hardcat as the product to use to control fixed assets at OTR; including all computer equipment as well as furniture and fittings.

OTR had 2 major objectives. The first being, a need to identify furniture & fittings and optimize these existing resources. Secondly, identify and track computer equipment. OTR wanted to allocate responsibility for computer equipment to individual users.

As with most organisations, they did not have the resources to execute the project and requested the assistance of Hardcat. Hardcat Business Services appointed a Project Manager to manage the implementation. The Hardcat project manager arranged staffing for the project and commenced the data capture in June 2000.

The Hardcat software was configured to OTR’s unique requirements and a full audit was completed. All assets were identified and barcoded. The physical location and cost centre for each asset was recorded. For computer equipment, the user was also recorded as well as serial number make and model.

Over 12,000 assets were barcoded and registered in Hardcat in less than 3 weeks with little or no disruption to OTR’s ongoing business. Within this time frame a full audit of 2 buildings and training for OTR key personnel was completed.

Hardcat Business Services provided a total solution to OTR. Many organisations purchase software to manage their assets and believe this is the answer to their problems. However, the implementation is vital to ensure the success of the software and OTR was no exception.

Since Hardcat completed the data capture and audit in June, OTR has merged with another Government body, resulting in an additional 50 departments at various locations required to have their data captured. Hardcat will be playing an essential part in the control of the purchase of 1500 new PCs that will occur before the end of September.

Above: Office of Tax and Revenue Network Division Chief Mr Edward Roberson and Hardcat Managing Director Mr Dan Drum

EDS, through its specially established group, Global Partner Solutions, has just announced that Melbourne-based software developer, Hardcat Pty Ltd, had been chosen as a participant.

According to Nick Hough, principal consultant with Global Partner Solutions, Hardcat not only fulfilled selection criteria but was in an ideal position to take advantage of a range of export opportunities.

"Hardcat is a small company by international standards but it is very aggressive and successful in its pursuit of export markets," Mr Hough said. "We were impressed by their success in a short time and by the growth strategies that they outlined".

"We believe that this is a company that will continue to be successful in exploiting overseas markets and if we can facilitate the process it will be an excellent result for Australia and, in particular, for the Government’s export development programs."

Mr Hough said that the first joint venture between the two companies would come at the end of November when he met executives of Hardcat’s U.K. office to look at the possibility of offering a total Asset Management solution to the Ministry of Defence.

Hardcat Pty Ltd Managing Director, Dan Drum, said that while his company’s software was already being used in some 10 per cent of the 875 MOD units, the association with a company the size and reputation of EDS offered "enormous opportunities to significantly expand our presence within the Ministry."

Apart from the immediate negotiations in the U.K., EDS would also be putting Hardcat through sales channels in Asia, the U.S. and Europe. Mr. Drum said that EDS’s strategic and marketing strengths were underlined recently when the group won a $4.9 billion contract with the U.S. Defence Department.

" I am confident that our association with EDS will meet Government objectives of opening up new markets for innovative Australian products," he said.

Above: Hardcat Managing Director Mr Dan Drum at Hardcat's stand at the EDS Innovative Solutions Forum in San Ramon, California - April 2002

Above: Hardcat Account Manager Mr John Hawthorne and EDS Principal Consultant Mr Nick Hough