Cloud computing: The fast way to bring software to new markets
18 October 2010
In this case study, you can read about an Italian company that was able to quickly develop and deploy its software to new markets just by using a cloud computing platform.
Computer software often needs to be available in many different languages, which could mean a lot of translation and localisation work for developers. Threeplicate created ‘Amanuens‘ which automates and simplifies the process of translating and localising software, helping developers to save time, reduce workload and error.
A great deal of work goes into bringing a new software product to the market, particularly when it needs to be made suitable for different countries and languages. This can represent a complex and error-prone process, usually involving multiple software developers and translators, as well as hundreds of hours’ work.
Threeplicate’s founders spotted a gap in the market for an online tool that speeds up and simplifies the process, without adding another layer of technical complexity. In the fast-moving world of software development, there is often only a small window of opportunity before a competitor hits on the same idea so Threeplicate needed to find a way to bring its ‘big idea’ to market quickly and Azure – Microsoft’s cloud platform – provided the solution.
The result is Amanuens: it automates tasks, minimizes effort and as Dario Solera, CEO and one of the founders explains, “Amanuens reduces the gap between changes in the software and updates in the translated material to zero.” There’s no complex installation and Amanuens integrates with tools that software developers are already using. “We estimate that the potential market for Amanuens is at least 500,000 software development firms worldwide, probably representing around two million software projects.”
Using Azure has enabled Threeplicate to bring products to commercialisation more rapidly, as well as providing a scalable foundation as customer demand grows. Azure is hosted in Microsoft data centres and provides an operating system and a set of developer services that can be used together or individually.
“With Azure, we were able to substantially reduce the time it would have taken us to make Amanuens available to customers,” says Dario.
Threeplicate is also a member of Microsoft’s BizSpark program, which provides technology, support and visibility to ICT start-ups worldwide and were a featured
Startup of the Day.
“Without the free access to technology that BizSpark has given us, it would have been very difficult for us to achieve what we have.”
Key cloud benefits to company:
- Potential market of 500,000 software development firms worldwide, representing an estimated two million software projects
- Ability to move quickly taking the product to market
- Cost savings through the speed and simplicity of product development
- Consumers benefit from the “Pay-as-you-go” service system
Small & Medium Enterprises are the backbone of Europe’s economy. We work hard with governments and industry to ensure that SMEs get the most out of technology. Thanks to cloud computing that has pervasive benefits throughout the economy, SMEs can now exploit economies of scale, to rapidly expand their business and offer innovative solutions with less risk. This space on our website is dedicated to innovative European SMEs and the added-value of cloud computing to their businesses.
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