GOSCON 2008 Presentation Presented by: Dave Davis RDA Systems, Inc. October 21, 2008 1
Introductions • Dave Davis – 2 nd generation owner/president – 18 years in fund accounting software field • RDA Systems, Inc. – RDA Systems produces financial software K12 school systems and local governments – We are unique in that we put our client at the top of the equation for product development with an open source licensing model, active advisory board, regular user groups and annual surveys 2
RDA Timeline • RDA Systems, Inc. – Transformation to an Open Source Company • 1973 – Pencil & paper • 1980 – Computers for the masses • 1990 – Inside the Tornado (VALAS) • 1995 – Scaling for ERP • 1999 – Death to Green Screen • 2001 – An act of Faith 3
What is Xpert? • An Open Source financial management solution for K12 & local government organizations – Humble Beginnings – Components of Winning System – The Linux Difference – Underlying Technology – Xpert Tools – Xpert Applications – The Future of Xpert – Q & A A team effort 4
Humble Beginnings RDA Systems, Inc. began when pen and paper where the primary methods of accounting. Over the years, we’ve taken advantage of technology to help our clients “fulfill their calling” in the area of stewarding public funds while delivering services to the public. • Predecessors – 1980's – AppleBUD & MicroBUDGET • Riding the Technology Wave – 90's – Need for more powerful,robust software • Xpert Released – 1995 – Unix & RISC – Charlotte County & Smyth County, VA 5
Humble Beginnings (cont.) Our introduction to linux as an alternative to unix/risc revealed to us the importance of the Open Source model The Linux Difference Mid 1990's – reliability & no license fees 1999 – RDA embraces Open Source 2000 – Xpert Tools released Open Source 2001 – Xpert Applications release Open Source A simple belief: If we could not support our applications better than anyone else, then w were in the wrong business. From that point on, RDA Systems' revenue model was service based Today – RDA supports 145 organizations in 6 states 6
A Winning System • Xpert Components – Working Smart • API, Libraries & Functions – Enabling a Wider Audience • Xpert Tools – Solving Challenges facing governments • Xpert Applications • The art of designing programs that customers need & want 7
Underlying Technology • The technology behind the tool – Linux & windows – “C” Programming Language – Databases – User Interfaces – CURL, SSH, VNC, Sendmail It’s in the code – Browsers – Office Productivity 8
Xpert Tools • It’s all about having the right tool for the right job. – Solutions are developed based on need. Needs change. The Tools to meet them must as well. • 18 libraries • Binary Definitions • Luxury is Personal • Generic Setup Variables • F.A.S.T. Change is constant. Software today must be designed with the ability to manage it. 9
Xpert Applications • Customer Driven Innovation • Modules designed with the user in mind. – Financial Management – Procurement – HR/Payroll – Revenue Management Why settle for being the smartest guy in the room when it is so clear that nobody is as smart as everybody? 10 10
Xpert Experience • Experience is personal and powerful. – We ask our clients what they think and score ourselves accordingly with a “Net Promoter Score”. • Question: How likely is it that you would recommend Xpert and our services to a friend or business associate? – 2008: 9.17 out of a possible 10 – Average Customer Longevity • How long you keep your customers tells its own story: – Average Customer Retention: 15+ Years 11 11
The Future of Xpert RDA Company Purpose: To help others to fulfil their calling. • RDA Systems is dedicated to continuously improve Xpert in order to consistently and reliably meet and anticipate market and customer needs – Current Development: • New User Interface – Q1 2009 • Xpert Lite • Internet Delivery • OpenXpert.org 12 12
Q & A 13 13
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