MediaMine’s product information lifecycle management suite enables the customer to define, create and maintain multilingual product information, and publish this information stored in the central repository across different marketing channels. Its flexibility and ease of use for key users, content users, and external users like resellers, distributors and end-consumers enables companies to get up and running with an initial configuration within 1 to 3 months..
To ensure this objective is met, MediaMine NG has selected RUP (Rational Unified Process®) to structure its project management and software development approach.
The Rational Unified Process® is a software engineering process providing a disciplined approach to assigning tasks and responsibilities within MediaMine. Its goal is to ensure the production of high-quality software that meets the needs of its end-users, within a realistic schedule and budget.
Project Tracks
To ensure a fast rollout, MediaMine`s product information lifecycle management works with two parallel project tracks:
- Project track 1: Building a prototype;
- Project track 2: Building the production environment.
The objective of the first project track, building a prototype, is twofold and can be defined as:
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Establishing a working test environment. This environment is used to model and develop parts of the full solution. The set-up of this prototype enables the project team to conduct the necessary risk assessment during the elaboration phase of the development whilst giving the project maximum visibility to its stakeholders.
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Ensuring the maximum possible knowledge transfer between MediaMine NG and the customer project teams.
The objective of the second project track is to establish the working production environment for the customer`s customized solution. This two-track project approach must guarantee a fast delivery of the full project and full visibility towards its stakeholders. In addition, it enables the different project teams to build up the necessary knowledge at the beginning of the project, which in turn will minimize the potential risks associated with these types of projects.
At Xerox, MediaMine is managing 3,000 main product lines across 33 European offices, and incorporating 25 languages. This has given Xerox:
- Integrated marketing communications that offers customers personalized product information
- Improved product management and publishing processes
- Substantial financial savings due to a reduced time-to-market
- Pan European brand consistency
- Information available for 3rd parties to customize and print their own marketing materials
For Thomas Cook, MediaMine digitised and migrated exisiting product information, and defined the actual catalogue production. This has given Thomas Cook:
- Shorter Production cycle (time-to-market)
- Operational savings from drop in prepress and transport costs
- Improved print production with reuse of materials for different catalogues and brands without compromising brand identity