1-hour Webinar: Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Productivity often suffers from time wasted by knowledge workers searching for the appropriate information or document. Alcove9’s UIA captures and identifies the content your employees need to increase workplace efficiency.

Learn how finding, reusing, and sharing your data from a single point of access will help you increase efficiency, customize your search experience, and make data duplication a thing of the past.

Join this webcast to learn:

• Find, view, and use part data from multiple repositories without the costly hassles of implementation
• Get results from deep within your files – search beyond naming conventions, meta data and file attributes
• Avoid duplication by reusing legacy data as-is – find and compare existing drawings and data
• Unlock the rich structured content stored within their Product Lifecycle Management and Enterprise Content Management application repositories
• Find the critical information your organization must access to make real-time business decisions
• Immediately deploy out-of-box functionality without hassles, costly implementation, training, maintenance, or interruption in your existing security controls

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Learn how to quickly and easily search throughout your entire enterprise without leaving your CAD session.

Join this quick webcast to learn:

Register

Learn how to quickly and easily search throughout your entire enterprise without leaving your PLM session.

Join this quick webcast to learn:

• Unified access to multiple repositories including shared drives, databases, or any storage source you would otherwise login to access separately
• Search across multiple formats and file types with a9 Global Search to include Items, Parts, and Document types
• Fast results from deep within content with full-text search to go beyond naming conventions, file attributes, and meta data
• Search everything securely right from within your session – gain access only to what your permissions allow
• Customizable refinements to search or filter based on your unique data characteristics

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The problem: the huge amount of money people have to put up front to implement a search solution, such as PLM. But this costs too much and takes too long to implement + the pressure from the vendor to buy more licenses and services..

The solution: an open source enterprise model. Alcove9 does enterprise search for CAD and manufacturing, and has a close relationship with Aras, the open source PLM system.

The technology: Apache’s open source SOLR search engine running an integration framework using Google’s REST APIs. It processes CAD data and images, running inside AutoCAD, Inventor, ARAS Innovator, and so on. Just click the Search button. Or, use it through a Web browser interface. It searches files stored on internal servers, Vault, Sharepoint, and other sources.

Alcove9 CEO Sam Abu-Hamdan told me that he wants Alcove9 to be a one-stop shop. “How can you guarantee this?” I asked. He replied, “We now access text, meta data, and so on in structured and unstructured formats. In the case of proprietary databases, we build connectors using our APIs. We can accesses PMI and other data from CAD models.”

Mr. Abu-Hamdan had such a complete presentation that I could barely think of any questions to ask. One of his slides, for instance, listed his competitors, a topic most other firms I interview are unkeen to discuss. Competitors suffer from these drawbacks:

Inforbix lacks embedded CAD and viewers
Actify is not in quite the same space
Projectwise is very focused on AEC
And similar software from CAD vendors, such as Exelead from Dassault, tends to be focused on the vendors own CAD offerings.

History of Alcove9

The company began in 2004 as Verity, which embedded its search engine MatrixOne. By 2006 120,000 licenses were sold through MatrixOne accounts. In 2007, Autonomy bought Verity at the same time that Dassault bought MatrixOne, and this was the opportunity for the search engine to get into markets beyond MatrixOne.

In 2009, they added unified search, and sold the product through Tata Technologies. In 2011, it was renamed A9 Hub and sold by the Alcove9 company itself. In 2012, it went to open source, and integrated with AutoCAD and Aras Innovator.

Alcove9 plans for the rest of 2012 to enhance the UI of Alcove9, improve semantics, and add video search (in which spoken words are synthesized). In 2013, it plans to release integrations for Synergis Adept, SmarTeam, Sharepoint, and for ERP software, such as Inforbix and SAP.

Customers Using Alcove9

The biggest customer is Honda in automotive, and M7 parts supplier in aerospace. Alcove9 is now entering medical equipment field.

“Where does the name come from?” I wondered. It turns out that the US Library of Congress has eight physical alcoves, plus a ninth one that is virtual.

“What is involved in a typical setup?” I asked. To implement Alcove9, it takes just 5-10 minutes to set up the Web browser, but then depending on the customer’s data, the indexing process can take days or weeks, a process that happens in the background. At a major Japanese automotive company, for instance, it took about a month to get all R&D data indexed and thumbnailed. This is a one-time setup; after this, spiders and triggers do immediate updates of new data.

In the demo that Mr. Abu-Hamdan gave, I was impressed at how easily he could narrow down the search parameters to find specific data. It’s a little bit like using Google Search, in which you can specify “in the last week” and “dwg files.”

You pay for the software through an annual subscription, with a la carte pricing. A gold membership gives you upgrades, helpdesk access, online chat, and email support. Platinum level adds any services you need.

http://www.alcove9.com

Mr. Opsahl, Newest Member of the Alcove9 Advisory Board

“Since its inception, the Alcove9 Advisory Board has sought a group of refined professionals with a compelling background in their particular fields,” said Alcove9 President, Sam Abu-Hamdan. “Mr. Opsahl is renowned in the manufacturing software industry and I am delighted to express the utmost gratitude toward him for joining our initiative.”

“Google’s withdrawal from this market is not surprising. Although they pioneered the ‘out of the box’ search appliance, the Google Mini still didn’t solve structured data access, which even small businesses have nowadays,” said Sam Abu-Hamdan, President of Alcove9. “Over the last 8 years, the open source technology behind Alcove9 has been evolving and opened the doors for a wider connectivity and access, while the Google Mini remained entirely focused on unstructured data sources.”

Using a single point of access for exclusive use in enterprise search, Alcove9’s open source product suite offers lightning fast speed, security, and ease of integration that users of the discontinued Google Mini will appreciate.

Both the browser-based and embedded versions of the a9 Hub, Alcove9’s base module, have been designed to index and optimize search by going beyond naming conventions, metadata, and file attributes. This optimization allows the a9 Hub to return search queries in 2 seconds.

Alcove9 search solutions are developed to work seamlessly with existing enterprise systems. The intuitive interface eliminates the need for data migration or client installation and is ensured by a full team of technical professionals, the same experts who design and develop Alcove9’s on-premise software.

With subscription prices designed to fit most budgets, Alcove9 offers a great replacement for the Google Mini and a wise choice for anyone looking to enhance their enterprise search.

About Alcove9

The Alcove9 suite of solutions provides on-premise advanced search solutions for teams to resolve the daily challenges of data accessibility. Since its initial release in the mid-2000s, it has helped more than 100 companies and 120,000 users quickly and easily find, view and use their data for timely decision-making and data reuse. Search results include information from deep within each file, independent of its content, format or location. No data migration or client-side installation is required, negating costly implementations and disruptive deployments. For more information, visit www.alcove9.com.

“We always keep our clients up to date with the most cutting edge solutions that are available to them,” described Mark Schlicher, National Account Manager for Collaboration Systems Group and co-host of the series’ first installment. “We are very excited about joining forces with Alcove9 for these webcasts because they share our innovative philosophy for anyone in the AEC sector.”

CAD expert Sam Abu-Hamdan and BIM consultant Mark Schlicher will be co-hosting the live webcast on August 9th at 2 PM EST to explain how viewers can solve various information management and network problems. The webcast is targeted toward executives, business managers, and front-line personnel in the AEC sector, but is open to the public. To register, click here.

To sponsor the series or apply to co-host a segment, contact Meghan Polando at meghan@alcove9.com or by phone at 248-287-1444.

About Alcove9
The Alcove9 suite of solutions provides advanced search solutions for engineering and manufacturing teams to resolve the daily challenges of product data accessibility. Since its initial release, it has helped more than 120,000 users quickly and easily find, view, and use their data for timely decision-making and data reuse. Google-like, browser-based and application-embedded interfaces enable users to search beyond naming conventions, metadata, and file attributes. Search results include information from deep within each file, independent of its content, format, or location. No data migration or client-side installation is required, negating costly implementations and disruptive deployments. For more information, visit www.alcove9.com.

About Collaboration Systems Group
CSG is a collection of CAD and IT professionals, working together with AEC firms across the U.S to allow remote office personnel and consultants to work together on project data residing in one location, from wherever the remote team may be. With their extensive CAD background, coupled with their experience in implementing Network Infrastructure, CSG has the ability to focus on solving process and delivery issues. CSG is not a “high volume” reseller, and they don’t try to be. Instead, they focus on solving their client’s problems and issues, and being a member of your team. To learn more, visit cs-grp.net.

A successful first day! Sam (left) and Patrick step outside to enjoy the afternoon sun and a photo in front of the Alcove9 office.

OXFORD, MI., June 26, 2012 — Alcove9, an integrative software development firm, announced that Patrick B. Griffis has joined the team as the Technical Support Manager.

In his new position, Patrick will lead the technical support department at Alcove9.  His practice will be primarily focused on ensuring that Alcove9 provides the highest quality support for client implementations and keeping customers’ environments running efficiently.  He will also support the sales and marketing teams in presenting customer solutions and delivering webinars to educate clients about how the Alcove9 software can increase the effectiveness of their business.

Mr. Griffis brings experience from both the IT and customer support worlds.  He started his career 13 years ago in the IT department at Chrysler.  Mr. Griffis then occupied many positions within IT departments in engineering and manufacturing organizations in the automotive industry in Detroit. Most recently, Mr. Griffis led the IT department for Grupo Antolin, an international automotive manufacturing company in eastern Michigan.

“Patrick is an exceptional worker and team player,” says Kristin Schroeder, Director of Services at his previous employer. “His people skills were a source of many compliments by our customers. He effortlessly motivates his coworkers and willingly shares his knowledge.”

“We are very pleased to bring Patrick onto our team,” says president, Sam Abu-Hamdan. “His background in IT in addition to his positive attitude is perfectly suited to construct a successful and lasting career with us at Alcove9.”

IT Social 5:01 events are targeted toward IT professionals but are open to anyone looking to be empowered by social networking with the best and brightest leaders from the greater Detroit area.  These industry leaders come together for networking, knowledge sharing, and professional career advancement opportunities.

Sponsored by Alcove9, and hosted by Erin Nicole of WXYZ Channel 7 News, the event will offer participants the opportunity to enjoy complimentary appetizers, delicious cuisine, and discounted beverages.  There will also be a raffle of Detroit Tiger tickets.

Sam Abu-Hamdan, President of Alcove9 stated, “I joined IT Social 5:01 recently and I quickly found out why the event attracts top IT talent in the area.  We at Alcove9 are happy to sponsor the summer event and look forward to meeting all of you.”

There will be no cost for the event but donations will be accepted to help Feed Hungry Kids in metro Detroit via Forgotten Harvest’s Cookies & Dreams Program. Chen Chow will also be showcasing the Erin Nicole celebrity sushi roll where proceeds of the month of June go to Forgotten Harvest.  Your contribution will help shape our local community and will be appreciated.

About Alcove9
Alcove9 is all about delivering results and this means more than just “search results”. As an advanced search solution addressing the needs of engineering and manufacturing environments, Alcove9 recognizes that organizations want out-of-the-box functionality that can be immediately deployed without the hassles, costly implementation activities, training, maintenance and support.  www.alcove9.com.

Join the Automation Alley Technology Committee for the first seminar in our Product Development series.

The morning will begin with a keynote address by Azam Khan, deputy chief of staff at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) who is responsible for the Detroit satellite office of the USPTO.  An in-depth discussion on the legal and intellectual property aspects of new product development throughout the product development cycle, from ideation to commercial launch, will follow. Next, three case studies will be presented. The session will conclude with a panel discussion and Q&A.
Attend this seminar to learn more about:

• The impact of the first USPTO satellite office in Detroit
• Invention disclosures
• IP strategy
• Patent searched and infringement analysis
• Utility and design patent application filing
• Trademark registration
• The cost of IP
• Joint development agreements
• Licensing and sales/distribution agreements

Sponsored by:

To register, visit http://www.automationalley.com/a2_nws_eventinfo?id=a086000000FC8uZAAT. ]]> http://www.alcove9.com/turning-intellectual-property-into-new-product-profits/feed 0