Thunderhead provides a comprehensive range of project management, consulting and technical services to support all aspects of the implementation and deployment of the Thunderhead NOW platform.
Thunderhead’s professional services team has a proven track record in successful large scale projects in many countries, and is able to cater for the complete spectrum of deployment scenarios, from in-house client-driven implementations through to complete turn-key solution delivery.
Partnering for Success - Services Partners
To expand the reach and depth of our services capability, Thunderhead has established strategic partnerships - with proven success - with world-wide technology service providers IBM Global Services and HCL. In addition, Thunderhead has important partnerships in specific regions and for servicing specific vertical markets.
Implementation Patterns
One of the primary features of the Thunderhead NOW platform is that it is designed to be used by business users rather than IT experts. Its ease of use means that users become productive with the NOW platform in a very short time, often only a matter of days. In addition, the NOW platform is built on an open standards architecture, which means that it fits easily into existing IT infrastructure.
Not surprisingly then, the implementation patterns of our customers vary across a continuum between two extremes. At one end of the continuum, clients will have the NOW platform installed and, following product training, move immediately into using the platform. Many of our customers have chosen, for their own reasons, to follow this approach and have had highly successful deployments. This usually requires a high level of involvement by the client, and a moderate to low level of involvement by Thunderhead professional services, typically just installation of the platform and product training.
At the other end of the continuum is the requirement for large scale turnkey implementations often requiring the conversion of existing document applications into the NOW platform. Thunderhead services partners will typically play a leading role in these projects, providing most of the resources, which may, where appropriate, involve the use of effective off-shore resources to look after conversion work.
Between these two ends of the continuum is a varying mix of client, Thunderhead, and Thunderhead partner resources. In preparation for an implementation, our professional services team will work with you, the client, to identify the best approach and the optimal mix of resources to ensure a successful outcome.
Document Conversion
Thunderhead was purposefully designed and developed as an enterprise platform for customer, partner, employee, and constituent communications. As customers begin to work with our platform, we are frequently required to help them convert in-house systems and existing document generation systems to Thunderhead.
Direct conversion is often not the best method - Thunderhead generally recommends that, in order to take full advantage of the Thunderhead NOW platform, in particular for content reuse, clients go through a document analysis and design process. However, there are situations where clients require a direct conversion from a legacy document technology. Our consultants and partners have a wide range of experience with legacy document technologies - such as Calligo Enterprise , CSF Designer, DLS Enterprise and DocuMerge - and Thunderhead, in conjunction with our partners, is able to offer a direct conversion service where it is required.
Solution Design and Integration
Thunderhead also provides specialist expertise to support effective implementations.
Solution Architecture Design - Thunderhead has experienced consultants who can provide assistance in putting together a Thunderhead solution that will be scalable, provide high availability, and meet performance needs.
Document Analysis & Design Workshop - Typically tailored to meet the needs of the client, this workshop teaches skills in the analysis and design of documents and document components, and provides key insights into designing, reconstructing and optimising enterprise documents.
Integration - Thunderhead provides expertise in the integration of the Thunderhead NOW platform with external applications or middleware, especially is the use of SOA.
XML schema design and development - Thunderhead also provides expertise in the area of XML schema design and managing complex XML messages.
"The Thunderhead implementation was the first project I've been involved in over the last 12 years that has actually exceeded expectations. The ease and success of integrating Thunderhead into the loan origination process has convinced us to expand its use across all of our business units."
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