I spent my placement year working for Calculus Software Solutions Ltd, a company that provides business systems to the independent electrical retailer market. My primary role was as a 1st and 2nd line support advisor. I was also tasked with designing and building an integrated website solution based on an existing specification. I was also heavily involved with training, installation and data import for one of the clients.
My placement required me to learn to work to deadlines, both by myself and in a team environment. I learned SQL and ASP.net in order to design the website, and had to familiarise myself with both the application front end and database design of the company's flagship product, NCompass, in order to develop and support this new offering to Calculus' customers.
The following report will explore my different duties at Calculus, ranging from dealing with customers through helping them resolve their support issues to developing a dynamic website, which interacts with NCompass and also being involved with converting data from competitors’ software to data that can be used by NCompass.
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
3. Support
3.1 Second Line Support
3.2 Customer Installation
3.3 Sales
4. Web Development
5. Data Import
6. Conclusion
7. Figures
Objectives and Topics
This report documents the professional placement year of the author at Calculus Software Solutions Ltd, focusing on the practical application of technical skills within the independent electrical retailer market. The primary objective is to reflect on the experience gained in support, software development, and data migration, while analyzing the integration of business systems.
- 1st and 2nd line technical support for the NCompass platform.
- Development of dynamic E-Commerce website solutions using ASP.NET and SQL.
- Customer site installation processes, including training and network configuration.
- Data migration and import procedures from legacy competitor software.
- Professional development and the transition from academic theory to industry practice.
Excerpt from the Work Placement Report
3.2 Customer Installation
Customer installation is a very specific procedure that takes place to install NCompass and provide training to the customers. This process is used in this order to make the customers gain the most knowledge about the software. The process is spread over a period of months, however is described within the installation checklist as “Training Days”. There are three compulsory training days for the initial installation and training. Day one is set aside to set-up NCompass on all the machines required with the licence information, and also making sure that the network is set-up properly in order for NCompass to communicate between the different machines and the server. This day will also include some very basic training on NCompass sales module.
Day two is when the customer is trained on the whole NCompass system, with in depth information provided about the step by step processes to achieve the desired results, and this also enables the staff to ask particular questions that have raised since day one training. Day three is the go live day, which will involve any data importing that needs to be done, this is only optional, because not all the customers will have a previous electronic system. The other object of day three, is any further top-up training from day two and providing help with any issues, they might have had while using the system in the shop.
Summary of Chapters
1. Executive Summary: Provides an overview of the author’s primary roles, including 1st and 2nd line support and the development of an integrated website solution.
2. Introduction: Introduces the company, Calculus Software Solutions Ltd, and its flagship product NCompass, while outlining the scope of the author’s placement.
3. Support: Details the transition from 1st line to 2nd line support, focusing on database maintenance, customer training, and participation in trade conferences.
4. Web Development: Discusses the design and implementation of a dynamic E-Commerce website, including the learning and application of ASP.NET and SQL technologies.
5. Data Import: Examines the technical challenges of migrating client data from competitor software to the NCompass routine, including testing and script optimization.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the technical and interpersonal skills acquired, emphasizing the successful transition from an academic setting to a professional retail IT environment.
7. Figures: Contains visual representations of the company hierarchy and the NCompass three-tier system architecture.
Keywords
NCompass, Calculus Software Solutions, EPOS, Work Placement, SQL, ASP.NET, Second Line Support, Customer Installation, Data Import, E-Commerce, Web Development, Retail Software, System Integration, Database Management, Professional Development
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work placement report?
This report documents the author’s professional year at Calculus Software Solutions Ltd, detailing their responsibilities in software support, E-Commerce web development, and database data migration.
What were the central thematic areas of the internship?
The central themes include providing technical support for the NCompass business software, executing customer site installations, developing a web-based interface for the system, and performing complex data imports.
What was the main goal of the internship?
The goal was to integrate the author into the operational environment of an IT company, allowing them to apply academic theory to real-world technical problems and professional business scenarios.
Which technical methods and technologies were predominantly used?
The author utilized SQL for database management and query design, and ASP.NET for dynamic website development, while working within a three-tier software architecture.
What does the main body of the report cover?
The main body systematically reviews the author's duties: support procedures (including 2nd line), the specific stages of customer installation, the creation of a dynamic website, and the methodology behind transferring data from legacy systems.
Which keywords characterize this report?
Key terms include NCompass, EPOS, SQL, ASP.NET, Data Import, System Installation, and Professional Development within the IT sector.
What challenges were faced during the website development project?
The author had to manage time effectively while working independently, translate static code into a dynamic interface, and handle feedback from multiple clients with conflicting requirements.
How did the author handle data import issues?
The author utilized the in-house RP Convert application, performed cleaning scripts to resolve data corruption, and documented the process for future use.
What did the author learn about customer interaction?
Through support calls and on-site training, the author gained the ability to shift from a purely technical mindset to understanding software usage from a retail business perspective.
Why was the author selected for the conference in Portugal?
As the sole developer of the NCompass-integrated website, the author was chosen to represent the company to provide both technical and business-oriented answers to prospective retailers.
- Quote paper
- student maria kayani (Author), 2008, Placement Report: Website Design, Data Import and Support, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/117269
