V system proves a surprise success
Software written in Melbourne more than a dozen years ago (and, of course, upgraded since) is proving a surprising benefit for users wanting to broaden their search net in establishing knowledge management (KM) systems.

Surprising to professional and industrial organizations. Little surprise to many of Australia’s leading public research libraries-long experienced users of the v-knowledge system established by Melbourne based Functional Solutions.

Its v-knowledge applies the US Library of Congress format for the classification data, developed thanks to a blank cheque from the US congress to provide a format that would accommodate every data type current when established early in the 1990’s and others that might be developed thereafter.

The v-knowledge user can, in a single operation, search her or his organization’s internal network, including emails, the World Wide Web, online newspaper files and specific industry-related files and specific databases and, if preferred, limit to specific sources.

“Our approach is dynamic” says Functional Solutions General Manager, Mr. Fernandez. “The user can harvest information from specific servers, sites or locations, and set the harvester to be aware of new information within the enterprise, and report it automatically to the appropriate user.”

The v-knowledge search module uses context to allow users to acquire information in which the terms of the search query nowhere now appears. This feature offers results to users not sure how to phrase their query most accurately.

“Until last year, we didn’t realize the commercial application of our approach,” Mr Fernandez says.

“After serving libraries successfully for 13 years, we launched into the commercial market in November and have since acquired 30 commercial and professional clients.”

The functional Solutions pricing model developed for its academic library markets, is a once-off $3500 charge for a v-knowledge box, installation and training- and $5500 annual helpdesk and support contract. There is no special equipment for the computer supplied, but it is plugged into the host network with the instructions that the box is not to be opened and its hard drive is not to be loaded with other software.

“We do this because, if our clients don’t do anything other than connect it, the box runs” Mr Fernandez says. “There’s no charge to the client’s normal business practice, and the software’s z39.50 standard offers the universal result set: the box works regardless of operating the system platform” Network installation takes 20 minutes or less, Mr Fernandez says.

Functional Solutions 1800 241 709 The Australian Newspaper P.32 17th March 2005.