The collaboration platform streamlines localization project management and enhances the customer experience
Tuesday, January 29, 2002
Rubric, a leading localization services company, has upgraded its StreamNET™ extranet and knowledge portal, designed to enhance collaboration and to streamline the process of housing, maintaining, reporting and sharing critical localization project data. Rubric has been implementing its StreamNET™ extranet and knowledge portal to assist in the management of localization projects for its customers since 1997.
Overall, the StreamNET™ collaboration platform includes modules for scheduling, communications and status reporting, file transfers, language management, bug tracking and reporting, and training/education. The new upgrade to StreamNET™ includes the user-driven, dynamic generation of customized project scheduling information; the introduction of Rubric's BugzNET™ bug tracking and reporting system; the implementation of multilingual extranets for global teams; and an expanded globalization resource library.
Although Rubric's customers have always been able to customize and configure their MS Project schedules and to view corresponding on-line versions, they are now also able to configure their on-line schedules through a Web browser so that they can view only the specific information they are seeking covering the timeframe they specifically designate. This enables all global team members to "slice & dice" the on-line schedules according to their own needs at any given time through a Web browser. For example, with the click of a button a reviewer in Tokyo or Seoul or Paris can quickly check to confirm the timing and duration of assigned tasks for specific time frames such as the current week, the upcoming 30 days, the entire project, etc. Customized scheduling verifications can be made through a Web browser at any time 24/7/365 regardless of time zone. Alternatively, the team lead can "slice & dice" the schedule and then e-mail the output to other team members easily.
Facilitating communications and collaboration among truly global teams, Rubric is now implementing multilingual versions of StreamNET™ for projects based on customer needs. For example, with certain projects involving team members in multiple time zones and countries that include a team in Japan, the extranet has been set up in both Japanese and English with a toggle to go back-and-forth easily between the two sites. The user interface as well as project information such as status reports are translated and provided in both languages for the customer's convenience.
Another enhancement to StreamNET™ with the current upgrade is the expanded Resource Library, which acts as a globalization portal and training center for Rubric's customers. Its educational and informational offerings include localization tutorials, handbooks, checklists, articles, news and other globalization-related materials. Rubric has greatly expanded on the number of resources available, with more than 200 overall. The Resource Library covers a wide range of topics, including Java, XML, Unicode, UNIX and Windows technologies.
The StreamNET™ architecture provides full scalability and flexibility so that extranets can be highly customized in response to customer needs. The architecture utilizes ASP, XML, and VBScript/JavaScript technologies on a Windows 2000 Server system to generate accurate, consistent and up-to-the-minute information. The system is highly scalable, supporting an unlimited number of products and target-languages for each customer. The system's XML-based structure is extremely scalable, as it allows for smooth integration with future enhancements and complementary services with a "plug-and-play" simplicity.
About Rubric
Rubric assures a better localization experience. Specializing in globalization services for the high technology industry, Rubric brings flexibility, on-demand scalability, and integrity to guarantee localization success. Rubric's refined processes adapt to the high tech sector's need for proactive localization planning, anticipation of dynamically changing requirements, and agile response capabilities. For more information, visit www.rubric.com.