2 page Case Study - Posted 9/15/2008

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Grey Group

New Workflow Technology Helps Global Marketers Work Smarter and Faster

Communications companies such as Grey Group are under intense pressure to launch global campaigns that use talent from multiple regions and organisations within their network. They rely on workflow and file-sharing capabilities so that teams in different time zones can collaborate effectively. Grey Group is taking workflow to the next level by updating its Spinnaker application using the Windows Server® 2008 operating system, Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 data management software, the Microsoft Visual Studio® 2008 development system, and the Microsoft Silverlight™ browser plug-in.

Business Needs

In today’s global market, advertisers are looking for cost efficiencies as they roll out regional and global campaigns while maintaining a unified brand identity. Communications companies have to deliver campaigns quickly, while minimising production costs. Confidentiality is also crucial, so agencies with multiple clients have to make sure campaign data is secure.

By choosing Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008, and Silverlight, we can take our workflow management solution to a new level. David Parker Founder, Pelagon

Global communications organisation Grey Group, which works for some of the world’s leading manufacturers uses workflow technology. Rachana Suri, Vice President and Director of Integrated Business Systems at Grey Worldwide, says: “In many industries, people collaborate easily enough using desktop applications such as e-mail. But in our business, people use multiple platforms and large multimedia files so we can’t easily share information through e-mail. Instead, we rely on Web-based collaborative spaces where teams can complete tasks.”

She adds: “A key selling point of Grey Group is the fact that we coordinate the activities of business units all over the world. So we are always interested in the latest technology that can help us work smarter and offer better value to our clients.”

Solution

Grey Group used a workflow management solution called Spinnaker from Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Pelagon. The solution links up local, regional, and worldwide offices so they operate as one connected network. There are a number of Microsoft technologies offered within Spinnaker, including Microsoft SQL Server 2005 data management software and Microsoft Dynamics® AX. In 2008, Pelagon began to redevelop Spinnaker, taking advantage of the latest Microsoft enterprise software. David Parker, Founder of Pelagon, says: “By choosing Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008, and Silverlight, we can take our workflow management solution to a new level.”

According to Parker, the updated version of Spinnaker—which also includes Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007—will be much easier to integrate across platforms. In addition, personnel will be able to collaborate more effectively on high-resolution multimedia files in real time from anywhere in the world.

Key features of the solution are Windows® Workflow Foundation and Language-Integrated Query (LINQ). Windows Workflow Foundation comes with a visual workflow designer so developers can build customised workflows faster. Parker adds: “The advantage of LINQ in SQL Server 2008 is that it removes a layer of complexity when programmers are developing the database environment.”

The new version of Spinnaker, which Grey Group expects to move to, is due to go into beta testing towards the end of 2008, and into production in 2009.

Benefits

The updated Spinnaker solution from Pelagon will help companies such as Grey Group manage campaigns more effectively while still protecting client confidentiality. By choosing to build the solution using Microsoft technologies, Pelagon gains an environment that supports rapid development and customisation with Windows Workflow Foundation, Visual Studio 2008, and SQL Server 2008. Its customers can integrate more solutions with their workflow Web sites and stream content more smoothly.

• Communications companies use Windows Workflow Foundation to create customised workflows fast.
• LINQ in SQL Server 2008 removes a layer of complexity so programmes can develop database environments quickly.
• Companies such as Grey Group can better integrate Office SharePoint Server 2007 Web sites with other applications using Web Parts in Visual Studio 2008.
• Employee browsers can stream multimedia content smoothly regardless of network bandwidth because of the Deep Zoom technology in Silverlight.
• Employee access to campaign data is more tightly controlled because of improved security in Office SharePoint Server 2007.
• Personnel can receive automatic updates on workflow to their mobile devices because of better integration between Web sites and e-mail infrastructures.
• Communications companies can integrate the latest version of Spinnaker across multiple territories quicker using the integrated Visual Studio 2008 environment.
• Employees reduce campaign costs through better workflow management.
• Communications companies help maintain their global status because clients see them using the latest browser technology.

Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, and Visual Studio 2008

Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, and Visual Studio 2008 provide a secure and trusted foundation for creating and running your most demanding applications. Combined, the products offer advanced security technology, developer support for the latest platforms, improved management and Web tools, flexible virtualisation technology to optimise your infrastructure, and access to relevant information throughout your organisation.

For more information about Windows Server 2008, go to:
www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008

For more information about SQL Server 2008, go to:
www.microsoft.com/sql/2008/default.mspx

For more information about Visual Studio 2008, go to:
www.microsoft.com/vstudio

For More Information

For further information about Microsoft products and services, please visit
www.microsoft.com/uk

or call 0870 60 10 100*

For hearing impaired customers with a Minicom, contact: 0870 50 30 400*

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This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Document published September 2008