The ABC Software Company* is a market leading provider of financial solutions for the educational arena. They had a sophisticated vertical solution with a large installed base of users. It was a desktop version, and they realized that to rewrite it as a web application would require a significant investment. On top of that, no functionality would be gained; in fact, some aspects of its delivery would be actually slower as a web based application. The company then started a hosted solution using Citrix - and experienced the typical problems. In addition, the cost of the delivery system was above and beyond the traditional delivery methods they'd used before. However, they did realize many benefits; easier upgrades, better data integrity for their clients, and remote access. They liked the centralized approach, and saw it as the key to recurring revenue and customer loyalty. ACS entered the situation with its IDS-Links product. The CTO of ABC Software commented on the difference between IDS-Links and Citrix: "Twice as fast, solved our two biggest headaches, and cost less than half as much!" ABC Software used the system internally for its staff, as well as for its hosted clients. Further, they added a valuable service by providing their customers with an "on-site asp" solution for those customers who wanted their data to reside in their office. IDS-Links is remotely supportable, and is based on multiple fail safe redundant systems thus allowing ABC Software the opportunity to support the system without expensive technician road trips. Installations were a snap as well, using IDS-Links for rapid deployment and rapid recovery. It took ABC Software* engineering staff about a day of training to understand the system. This made the financial accounting of the company happy by reducing what is often a costly learning curve. The marketing people were happy because they had a hosted solution to sell as well as a legacy product. Furthermore, the customers ultimately benefited as they had a safer and more secure computing environment with remote access without any learning curve or reinvestment in product. ACS and ABC Software Company* has been a win-win partnership. The only kind! *ABC Software Company is a fictitious name, but references are available and may be supplied upon request | 
