Channel player Ultima is stepping up its commitment around automation with the launch of its own labs to provide tools to help customers.
Ultima has identified automation as one of the key areas where it can add value and has been developing its expertise in that area under the guidance of CEO Scott Dodds.
Speaking to MicroScope in December 2018, Dodds outlined just why it believed automation was a strong area for its business.
“Automation and innovation are now board-level discussions, not IT discussions, and automation is one of those things being brought to the table that is opening their eyes to high levels of productivity and how efficient you can get the business, and that is getting more attention now than ever,” he said.
The firm has now decided to launch Ultima Labs, which will operate as an independent software vendor (ISV), developing tools that will make it easier for customers to adopt more automation, particularly those that have struggled with cloud-based options because of security concerns.
The labs business already has its IA-Connect offering, which will cover off a lot of the security issues for users that do not want to automate over a virtual private network (VPN). It works with existing offerings from Citrix and Microsoft to provide a secure route through for customers.
The software also gives robotic process automation (RPA) developers more flexibility to design in the same way as if it was a “local” development. Security is also increased through the bridge made between the software robots and the desktop application session. Users can “reach through” virtual sessions to perform automations.
“As we bring out new and exciting tools to make automation a reality for customers, the promises of improved productivity and reduced operating costs from digital transformation will become a reality for every business”
Scott Dodds, Ultima
“RPA-based software development is what we’ve specialised in for some time, but the launch of Ultima Labs allows us to showcase our automation software, which is a key growth area for us. As we bring out new and exciting tools to make automation a reality for customers, the promises of improved productivity and reduced operating costs from digital transformation will become a reality for every business,” said Dodds.
“It also opens opportunities for us to work with leading vendors. We’re already working with the world’s leading RPA vendor, Blue Prism, to help them deliver robust and secure automation, having integrated IA-Connect with Blue Prism’s connected RPA platform,” he added.
Ultima Labs is headed up by Amyn Jaffer, who said it had already embedded IA-Connect in several customers, but it was also taking its own medicine.
“We’re using IA-Connect in our own managed services business to automate processes we undertake for our clients, making our service more efficient, consistent and cost effective. We know that many other businesses will want to do this for their customers, too,” he said.
“Our first automation tool, IA-Connect, has turned a previously painful process into one that the IT department can confidently sign off overnight as it ticks all the security boxes,” he added.
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