Ephox

2002 Consensus Software Awards

Product Description

Ephox is a provider of world-leading software for the creation and management of enterprise web-based content.  Ephox develops and sells front-end components for eBusiness systems under the name ‘EditLive! ™  EditLive! is streamlining information management in many of the world’s leading companies.

The massive growth in the rollout of new corporate web sites and intranets requires the purchase and/or development of considerable software infrastructure. Infrastructure can be seen to fall into ‘front-end’ and ‘back-end’ system components and that any full function eBusiness system is likely to be built from the integration of a coalition of linked and compatible software components.

Customers and partners have deployed EditLive! in a wide range of systems including web content management, employee portals, customer support systems, human resource management, knowledge management and e-learning.

Specifically:

• EditLive! is an eBusiness software web infrastructure component that provides a rich-format (MS Office-like) front-end for any Web or intranet eBusiness application.

• EditLive! is designed principally for interaction with back-end database-driven web-based eBusiness systems but may also be used for the authoring of flat file (FTP) elements of eBusiness websites, thus providing a complete front-end solution.

• The EditLive! platform is developed to be ‘agnostic’ or ‘inter-operable’ by being able to operate cross-browsers (MSIE, Netscape), cross-client operating systems (MS, Apple, Unix), cross-server operating systems (all), and cross-database (all).

• EditLive! is not just about content management! EditLive! is much much more. It addresses the requirements of front-end users for simple, familiar and standardised desktop environments that integrates with complex and comprehensive back-end enterprise eBusiness systems.

• EditLive! allows the integrators of eBusiness systems to focus on back-end systems development while being assured of a high quality, user-familiar desktop environment. EditLive! removes from them the need to continually change their front-end code in response to changes in browser and operating system technologies.

• EditLive! empowers non IT-technical line-of-business authors to create, manage, update and publish format and graphics-rich web content.

• Ephox’s innovation has been in the design, implementation and delivery of a critical component within eBusiness systems.

EditLive Product Benefits PDF Document  
(Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

Innovation

EditLive! is innovative because:

• EditLive! has been designed from the ground up to be a solution that can be integrated with a wide range of web applications;

• EditLive! provides a standardised front-end component for eBusiness system integrators that allows rich-format text and graphics input in a familiar (Microsoft Office-like) environment for line-of-business staff; and

• EditLive! removes from eBusiness system integrators the need to constantly redevelop their code in response to changes in web browser and operating system technology.

There are a number of product technical innovations in EditLive! – these are presented in the attached PDF document EditLive! Product Innovations. Details of the benefits that arise for users of EditLive! are presented in the attached PDF document EditLive! Innovation Benefits.

EditLive Innovation Benefits PDF Document   
(Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

Performance

The EditLive! platform now consists of a number of separate and supporting products that enhance its capabilities as a cross-browser cross-operating system solution for enterprises. During the development of EditLive! products we have worked closely with many of our customers. For example, with JP Morgan Stanley in the UK to develop their online derivatives trading system under the banner ‘Acordia’.

Since the launch of the prototype in August 1999 there has been continual development of the EditLive! code base and new related products using industry best practice. Our software engineering staff is strongly supported by our close relationships with Software Engineering Australia, ILab here in Brisbane, and Brisbane’s three universities. Ephox participates extensively in university and government work experience programs for top-level information technology and marketing graduate and undergraduate students.

EditLive! has a small number of competitors worldwide for particular products but has no direct competitor that provides the cross-browser cross-operating system solutions available with EditLive!

Ephox provides 24/7 technical support for our customers from our Brisbane base. Much of the support is related to site integration issues for those customers. This support in turn enables Ephox to identify new opportunities for our own product development and the identification of specific EditLive! solutions (eg: specifically designed product for application service providers). We are constantly surprised at the applications that can be found for EditLive!.

Ephox has received a number of awards in recognition of the innovation in EditLive! products:

•  In 2000 Ephox won the Queensland Asia Pacific IT&T Award for Best New Innovative e-Commence Application.

• In 2001 Ephox was chosen as one of the ten most innovative IT companies in Australia to participate in the AusTRADE sponsored Australian Silicon Valley High Tech Tour.

•  In late 2001 Ephox was invited to join the Stanford University eLearning Forum in San Francisco, California.

Ephox has also developed a successful sales and marketing strategy that targets specific uses but maintains our core Internet product distribution mechanism. We have a number of sales channels including a significant Technology Partner Program of third-party web developers and systems integrators. In addition, we have arrangements with various VAR/ISVs and OEMs. In particular, we have received strong support and assistance from both Sun Microsystems and Apple Computer.  Increasingly Ephox works with world leading systems integrators including: EDS, KPMG, Accenture, Deloittes, and Getronics to implement EditLive! solutions for their global clients.

Potential

EditLive! has already achieved considerable sales success and is now in use by large and small enterprises worldwide. Some 95% of our sales are offshore, 2/3^rd USA and 1/3^rd Europe, and cover over 35 countries. Ephox has over 350 corporate clients with over 400,000 users.

Our client list includes many leading global enterprises and governments:

EditLive! software is sold and distributed via the Internet through a sophisticated ecommerce engine.

Our Global Distribution Strategy focuses on key VAR/ISV and OEM initiatives aimed at expanding our reach and penetration into global markets. To date we have over 65 VAR and ISV partners and we have developed strategic alliances with Apple, SUN, and EDS.

Ephox will be establishing points of presence in Europe and the USA in Q2 2002.

The company is financially sound, has recently attracted first round venture capital investment, and has an experienced management team.

Other information the judges should know

EditLive! is most often used on corporate intranets, integrated into Application Service Provider (ASP) websites, or embedded into specific web-enabled products. It is difficult to see EditLive! in operation on the Internet other than on the Ephox website (www.ephox.com). EditLive! may be seen operating on an ASP website by obtaining a trial subscription to the service provided by www.intranets.com. 

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