I spent my placement year working for Calculus Software Solutions Ltd, a company that provides business systems to the independent electrical retailer market. My primary role was as a 1st and 2nd line support advisor. I was also tasked with designing and building an integrated website solution based on an existing specification. I was also heavily involved with training, installation and data import for one of the clients.
My placement required me to learn to work to deadlines, both by myself and in a team environment. I learned SQL and ASP.net in order to design the website, and had to familiarise myself with both the application front end and database design of the company's flagship product, NCompass, in order to develop and support this new offering to Calculus' customers.
The following report will explore my different duties at Calculus, ranging from dealing with customers through helping them resolve their support issues to developing a dynamic website, which interacts with NCompass and also being involved with converting data from competitors’ software to data that can be used by NCompass.
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Support
- Second Line Support
- Customer Installation
- Sales
- Web Development
- Data Import
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This work placement report details the author's experiences and accomplishments during a year-long internship at Calculus Software Solutions Ltd., a company specializing in business systems for electrical retailers. The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the author's contributions to various projects, including technical support, web development, and data import, highlighting the skills and knowledge gained throughout the placement.
- First and second-line technical support for NCompass business software.
- Design and development of an integrated e-commerce website for NCompass.
- Data import and conversion from competitor software to NCompass.
- Customer training and installation of NCompass.
- Collaboration and teamwork in a small business environment.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces Calculus Software Solutions Ltd. and its flagship product, NCompass, a business software for electrical retailers. It highlights NCompass's unique selling points, such as its Windows-based application and competitive support contract, and contrasts it with competitors' Linux-based applications. The author's role as a first-line support advisor working on an individual website project is established, emphasizing NCompass's functionality as a business system beyond an electronic point-of-sale system. The chapter concludes by outlining the report's scope, covering support tasks, website development, and data conversion from competitor software.
Support: This chapter details the author's experiences in various support roles. The section on second-line support focuses on tasks beyond daily troubleshooting, such as database corrections. The author's transition from first-line to second-line support is described, highlighting the increased responsibility and the development of SQL querying skills. The customer installation section describes a detailed process involving three training days focused on NCompass setup, training, and data import. The author's involvement in a full client installation is recounted, showcasing their practical application of theoretical network knowledge. Finally, the sales section documents the author's participation in a retail conference, illustrating the marketing of both NCompass and the newly developed website as separate revenue streams.
Web Development: This chapter focuses on the author's individual project of creating a dynamic e-commerce website for NCompass customers. It details the process, from familiarizing oneself with ASP.Net to designing a three-tier architecture that integrates with the NCompass database. The chapter highlights the challenges of meeting client specifications, incorporating user feedback, and managing conflicting requirements. The author emphasizes the rewarding experience of working on a multi-user project, overcoming pressure to meet deadlines, and gaining experience in handling the diverse needs of multiple clients.
Data Import: This chapter describes the author's tasks related to data import from competitor software to NCompass. The author's work involved creating documentation for the in-house RP Convert application and testing its robustness in new environments. It highlights the challenges encountered in handling unexpected characters in client data files and adapting the RP Convert application to accommodate the specific data characteristics of a particular client. The chapter describes the intensive process of cleaning data, testing the application, and making code changes before implementing the import on the live system. The author highlights the challenging nature of this task due to the need for extensive knowledge of various database platforms.
Keywords
NCompass, business software, electrical retailers, technical support, web development, ASP.Net, SQL, data import, customer installation, e-commerce, database, three-tier architecture, teamwork, problem-solving, deadline management.
Frequently Asked Questions: Work Placement Report - Calculus Software Solutions Ltd.
What is the main focus of this report?
This report details the author's experiences and accomplishments during a year-long internship at Calculus Software Solutions Ltd., focusing on their contributions to technical support, web development, and data import for the company's flagship business software, NCompass.
What software and technologies are discussed in the report?
The report covers NCompass business software, ASP.Net for web development, SQL for database management, and various database platforms used in data import processes. It also mentions the in-house RP Convert application.
What were the author's key responsibilities in technical support?
The author provided first and second-line technical support for NCompass, including daily troubleshooting and more complex tasks like database corrections. They also participated in customer installations and training.
What was the author's role in web development?
The author's individual project involved designing and developing a dynamic e-commerce website for NCompass customers using ASP.Net, implementing a three-tier architecture, and integrating it with the NCompass database. This included managing client specifications, user feedback, and meeting deadlines.
What challenges did the author face in data import?
Data import tasks involved creating documentation for and testing the RP Convert application. The author tackled challenges such as handling unexpected characters in client data files, adapting the application to different data characteristics, and extensive data cleaning before live system implementation. This required knowledge of various database platforms.
What other aspects of the internship are covered in the report?
The report also covers the author's participation in a retail conference (relating to sales and marketing), collaboration and teamwork in a small business environment, and their transition from first-line to second-line support, highlighting skill development.
What is NCompass?
NCompass is a Windows-based business software system for electrical retailers, a flagship product of Calculus Software Solutions Ltd. It's presented as a competitor to Linux-based applications, offering a unique selling point in its support contract and functionality beyond a simple point-of-sale system.
What are the key skills and knowledge gained during the internship?
The author gained experience in technical support, web development (ASP.Net), database management (SQL), data import, customer training and installation, teamwork, problem-solving, and deadline management. They also developed skills in handling multiple client requirements and working under pressure.
What is the overall structure of the report?
The report includes an executive summary, introduction, chapters on support, web development, and data import, a conclusion, and a list of keywords. Each chapter provides a detailed summary of the author's experiences and accomplishments within that area.
- Arbeit zitieren
- student maria kayani (Autor:in), 2008, Placement Report: Website Design, Data Import and Support, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/117269
