November 5, 2009

IP Converge, the information technology & telecommunications division of publicly listed IPVG and Geodata Systems Technologies have entered into a strategic tie-up that brings the most complete fleet management system to the Philippine and South East Asian market.

Under the partnership, IP Converge brings together Convoy FMS and Geodata’s ArcLogistics and Archibus to create a comprehensive, end-to-end fleet management solution that outperforms existing fleet management systems in the marketplace.

“This partnership combines world-class fleet management solutions in Convoy FMS, ArcLogistics and Archibus that address the deficiencies of other fleet management systems. Beyond tracking vehicles, the collective solution expands management’s ability to set and enforce protocols for vehicle users and optimizes fleet utilization to save on overhead and contribute to the bottom-line,” says IP-Converge President, Reynaldo Huergas.

Convoy FMS is a Web-based, user-friendly GPS fleet management system developed by Lazer Technology Solutions that uses Google Maps as a platform. Convoy FMS delivers detailed information on a vehicle’s activities to a laptop or Web-enabled mobile device in real time. The solution has nationwide coverage and two-way communication is done between a device installed in the vehicle and the end-user through GPRS (General Packet Radio Service).

IP-Converge was recently appointed by LazerTech as the exclusive distributor of Convoy FMS in the South East Asian region. The Miami-based IT solutions and applications development company chose IP-Converge for its robust sales force and its proven track record in advancing Web-based applications in the Philippine market. LazerTech’s fleet management system has several thousands of licenses issued with installations in ten countries spanning five continents.

ArcLogistics is a stand-alone management application created by Environment Systems Research Institute, a global leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and mapping solutions. The application is designed to solve vehicle routing and scheduling problems and set the optimum routes to maintain efficient use of resources such as time and fuel. ArcLogistics is dynamic and adjusts as problems or roadblocks arise ensuring that deliveries arrive on time and customer satisfaction is preserved.

Archibus Fleet Management, a product of total Infrastructure and Facilities Management Solutions company, Archibus, based in Boston, Massachusetts, maintains an organization’s fleet of mobile assets and is crucial to the safety and efficiency of fleet operations. Through Archibus, fleet managers can optimize utilization and performance of fleet assets by tracking every vehicle’s usage, availability and maintenance schedules. This information improves management’s ability to control costs and assign resources.

“IP-Converge’s vision for this fleet management product is compatible with ours and we look forward to working closely with them in identifying growth opportunities and achieving a high rate of adoption across markets.  The Philippines and other South East Asian countries have robust and resilient economies and this partnership illustrates an opportunity to help companies better manage their fleet assets and enable them to drive their business and be more competitive in their respective niches,” says John Morales, senior VP of Geodata Systems Technologies.

IP-Converge is a regional data center whose core competency is managed data services particularly server co-location, connectivity solutions, and network security. IPC is also one of the Philippines’ leading business solutions and services providers, promoting Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).

Geodata Systems Technologies, Inc. is an information technology company focused on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping solutions and GIS ready data products.

October 7, 2009

To move up the future if geographic information systems (GIS) and how it can be maximized especially in difficult economic conditions and through environmental challenges in the Philippines is top priority as the 9^th Philippines 2009 ESRI GIS User Conference commences at the Crown Plaza Galleria Manila in Ortigas.

Spearheaded by Geodata Systems Technologies Inc., the exclusive distributor of ESRI ArcGIS software in the Philippines, the two-day event themes GIS: Designing Out Future focuses on how GIS can help build, connect and move organizations today and most especially in the future through key plenary sessions, extensive track sessions and product exhibitions.

According to Francisca Nasol-Dayrit, executive vice president of Geodata Systems, GIS solutions has now become most critical especially with the many economic and environmental challenges the country is going through.

“GIS in itself is already a vital and critical factor in location intelligance,” shares Dayrit. “Combine this tool with the readily available resources like the Internet and stable communications systems, it becomes even more useful, even powerful.”

Citing the recent crisis when typhoon Ondoy took major cities and provinces underwater in just a day, Dayrit said that GIS was the main toool in location intelligance. “An ordinary map is no longer enough. A GIS-generated map has many layers of critical information-information that could possibly save communities, save lives.”

GIS is basically a computer software that links geographic data with descriptive information. It is very different from the ordinary map mainly because it can integrate geo-reference imagery such as data layers or themes that can be linked to other data sets to produce geospatial representations of data.

“These geographical pictures do not only depict topographical boundaries, but they also offer special insight to planners across many disciplines such as health, agriculture, defense, city management, natural resources, telecommunications and transportation,” added Dayrit. “Wherever people can imagine that needs mapping, GIS can help.”

Mapping The Future
Apart from location intelligence, GIS is also key in anticipating future outcomes by depicting regression analysis for forecasting future events and processes. These studies may include drought repercussions in wildlife, dam influences on urban and agrarian economies, the spread of communicable diseases and impact of population growth on a township’s economic development.

“The ability of GIS to manage, correlate, predict, model and share geographic information makes GIS an essential analytical tool,” said Dayrit. “With the future upon us, we are developing more ways to make GIS more extensive and more useful not just to our stakeholders “