Getting Started with Arbutus Software

Considering Arbutus for your next project? To understand how we can develop your new solution please read the following guide. As with most projects, there are many details to track and sometimes things do get busy! Use the following guide to review the most commonly asked questions.

What types of custom systems do you provide?

• Supply Chain Management
• Document Management
• Customer Relationship Management
• Content Management
• Knowledge Management and Collaboration
• Calendar and Activity Management
• Business Process and Integration
• Microsoft Office 2007 Extensions 

 

What is Joint Contact? Is this a product owned by your company?

Yes. Owned and operated by Arbutus Software, Joint Contact (www.jointcontact.com) is a hosted web-based knowledge management solution that supports the management and creation of documents, discussions, calendars, tasks and team information. Available online or hosted at your company, Joint Contact supports companies in their efforts to maintain high trust person-to-person (P2P) and business-to-business (B2B) relationships.  

What technologies do YOU support?

Arbutus Software is a Microsoft Certified Partner and deals exclusively with leading Microsoft technologies such as ASP.NET, XML, VB.NET, .NET 2.0 Framework, C#, SQL Server 2005, XML, AJAX and Web Services. In addition to providing web based solutions we are also experts in developing custom solutions that extend Microsoft Office 2007.

Where is the code developed?

Your new solution will be built and maintained at our company based in the Seattle area. Our software development process combines the traditional elements of the software development life cycle (SDLC) with various aspects of the Agile / Scrum development methodology.

Our development process follows a tested-and-true methodology that has matured with years of experience developing custom solutions. Best practices include items such as the following:

• Version Source Control
• Automated Build Process
• Project Management tracking tools and processes
• Periodic Development Database Backups
• Independent Test and Development Environments
• Periodic offsite backups of source code and databases

Who maintains the source code once the initial project is completed?

When starting projects, some clients have the goal of moving their source code to their own internal systems once the initial project coding is completed. However, most customers appreciate the ease and simplicity of having Arbutus Software maintain their source code. Our proven systems and processes help us save our customers time and money.

How does Arbutus estimate the cost of a project?

Any proposed timelines and level of effort (billable hours) for projects are based on the history of numerous successful projects implemented by Arbutus Software. As a company policy, estimates on custom software projects are not based on a fixed bid, but are based on a high-low estimate for the time needed to meet the goal.

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