Company Profiles - KDR Creative Software

KDR Creative Software


A Melbourne-based company is attracting international attention for its new asset management software that integrates seamlessly with existing Microsoft products and makes it easier to manage assets.

The story so far


Since launching its Facilities Maintenance Management System (FMMS) in 1991, KDR Creative Software has assisted many organisations in Australia and throughout the world to better manage their physical assets, save money, and keep their workplaces safe.

But, while FMMS proved popular for many years, its technology was ageing and the product was becoming less competitive. In late 2006 founder of KDR Creative, Kevin Ramsey, formed The Online Workshop to redevelop FMMS. Using Microsoft .NET technology The Online Workshop developed FMMS into a new product called SmartAsset.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of SmartAsset is that its complex asset management functionality works across the Microsoft Office suite of products, and it is also deployable in Windows, a web browser or a PDA.

With SmartAsset, users can review asset configuration, current maintenance activities, work history and future work requirements. They can also navigate with pictorial asset schematics and Virtual Earth for GPS-based visibility of geographically dispersed assets. "Our aim is to provide sophisticated functionality via tools most users are already familiar with," explained CEO and founder of The Online Workshop, Kevin Ramsey. "With SmartAsset activities such as asset navigation and review, maintenance planning, task assignment, job execution and feedback, parts utilisation, time recording and presentation of analytical data can all be performed using Outlook, Projects, Excel and Word."

SmartAsset also integrates with enterprise resource planning (ERP) software from global leaders SAP and Oracle. "The decision to integrate with enterprise resource planning has proved to be a good one. We've already received a lot of interest from customers that have invested millions of dollars in ERP. By implementing SmartAsset as an overlay they can gain access to simple, comprehensive functionality within an environment they already use for most of their working day," explained Ramsey.

Reaching new markets


Although SmartAsset is a relatively new product on the market, its historic links with the reliable FMMS solution provide confidence for asset managers around the world. With a product development centre located in Melbourne, and sales and support offices in Brisbane, Colorado, and Beijing, The Online Workshop is serious about taking SmartAsset to Asian and US markets.

In May 2008 the company won an iAward from the Australian Information Industry Association for SmartAsset. The product's market potential was boosted even further when it received the prestigious 2008 Microsoft Office Business Applications Solution of the Year. The Online Workshop is currently rolling out SmartAsset to its first major customer, Antarctica New Zealand, a government organisation based in Christchurch with assets spread across New Zealand and the Scott Antarctic Base.

According to Mr Ramsey the company was looking at two major revenue streams for SmartAsset: first as a best-of-breed asset management solution for midsized companies and organisations; and secondly as an easy-to-use overlay / interface for ERP software in larger, multinational companies. "We've got several very large customers interested in the product, and many of those have existing ERP solutions. One of the things in SmartAsset’s favour is that asset management is done almost the same way all over the world, so our potential market is huge."

Why Melbourne, Australia?


Melbourne's modern infrastructure, large pool of talented people and celebrated lifestyle make it an ideal base to establish and run a business, according to Ramsey.

"Melbourne compares well with many world cities in terms of the costs of running a business, with a transparent tax system and several government programs aimed at supporting business start-ups and expansions. In comparison to the US, for example, it’s much simpler in Melbourne. If you set up a company in the US then every level of government wants something out of you. It’s nowhere near as expensive to run a business here."

Ongoing support from the Victorian and Australian governments, both for business development and export assistance, is also a great advantage. "We've had a lot of assistance from the Victorian Government to undertake international business development trips to Asia and the US plus we've received export assistance from the Australian Government through Austrade. When I speak to my counterparts in other countries they are amazed at the support we can get here,’ explained Mr Ramsey.

The future


Most recently The Online Workshop was invited to join Microsoft’s Office Business Applications To Go program, which is promoting SmartAsset worldwide due to its seamless integration with Office 2007.

"It's fantastic. Suddenly we've got Microsoft out there promoting SmartAsset on our behalf," said Ramsey. "I've been introduced to companies I couldn't get access to on my own. And when you’re introduced by Microsoft as the winner of the Solution of the Year Award, it offers instant credibility."

The Online Workshop was recently invited by Microsoft to feature SmartAsset in the Keynote presentation at TechEd 2008 in Australia and New Zealand as part of their ‘Software plus Services’ strategy. The ultimate extension of this strategy will see Cloud-based customers being able to log into the system, configure the software to their own industry needs and rent it for a period of time.

"Basically it's like hosting. It gives customers the option of renting the software rather than installing it on their own system. It’s still tailored to their needs but they don’t have to maintain the back end. All they need is a browser," concluded Ramsey.