In my last post, ‘The Benefits of Customization,’ I told you I would review the cost of customization in my next post. If you missed it, you can find it here:
Of course, the benefits of customization don’t come without some associated costs. Here are some examples of the cost of customizing PTC Arbortext:
Development Costs
The most obvious cost is the cost of initially developing and testing the customization code. This will vary based on how extensive the customizations are. Also, don’t forget to keep maintenance costs in mind. Bug fixing, adding new features, and adapting customizations to changing requirements all require additional investment.
Version Lock-In
When you develop customizations, you generally work with a specific version of Arbortext. Depending on how extensive the customizations are, there is a chance that some part of the customization will break when you upgrade your Arbortext software to a new release version. In that case, you have two choices: either spend the resources to update the customization for the new Arbortext version, or commit to remaining with an out-of-date version of Arbortext to keep your customizations running.
Proprietary User Skills
With customization, you will need to take user training into account. For new features that don’t come out-of-the-box, you will have to develop your own training and support materials, and make sure your end users are up to speed on how to use the new features. In addition to the direct costs, this can also make recruiting new staff more challenging. There is a lot of DITA expertise in the marketplace, which you can leverage if you are using standard DITA. But if you are using a custom doctype and customized Arbortext Editor interface, you may not be able to get the same advantage from potential employees’ previous experience with XML editing or with Arbortext.
Technical Support Complications
PTC’s tech support staff know the base products quite well, and can help troubleshoot problems with out-of-the-box installations pretty quickly. However, with a heavily customized environment, troubleshooting can be more challenging, for PTC tech support as well as for yourself. In some cases, it may take extra time to determine whether a problem is due to a bug in the base Arbortext software, or something wrong with your customization code, or some kind of interaction between the two. In some cases, PTC’s advice for resolving the problem may boil down to “remove the customization.”
EAC has created a tool to help eliminate some of these costs allowing you to publish faster, cheaper, and better. QuickPubs is an EAC product for PTC Arbortext that removes the cost of development and provides a user-friendly interface.
While Arbortext comes with some publishing capabilities right out of the box, most users will acknowledge that they often need to customize the document stylesheets to meet their publishing standards. Customizing the stylesheets isn’t difficult, but it often requires prior training or hiring someone with the appropriate skilled and experience, both of which have an impact to turnaround time and cost. EAC has packaged attractive stylesheets for Operator Guides, Service Manuals, and Part Catalogs into QuickPubs so you can publish manuals that look as good as your products from day one. Should you need to modify the document stylesheet, QuickPubs also offers an easy interface to customize the style layout and formatting with a few clicks.
Stay tuned for the next post where I will discuss things to consider when deciding to customize or not.
If you would like to learn more about EAC QuickPubs and how you can publish faster, cheaper, and better, download the brochure here!
This is part one of a three part series regarding PTC Arbortext, deciding whether to customize or not. In this series, we will discuss the benefits of customization, the costs of customization, and deciding whether to customize or not.
You’ll often hear of DITA in the technical documentation world. DITA stands for ‘Darwin Information Typing Architecture’ -it’s an XML-based open standard for structuring, developing, managing, and publishing content. Quite the mouthful huh? What you need to know about DITA is that it leverages XML to be used as a way of writing and storing your data so you can manage it like an asset. What does it have to do with PTC’s Arbortext? PTC was the first company to ever deliver a complete DITA solution – one where organizations can finally start to maximize their investment in service lifecycle management.
One of the most fundamental questions you have to face when considering an Arbortext implementation is whether to use the technical documentation software out of the box or develop customizations to adapt the software to your specific use cases and work processes.
In practice, this is not so much of an either/or decision, as a how-much decision. In other words, nearly every implementation has some amount of customization, even if it’s just tweaking a composition stylesheet to add your own appearance specifications to the composed output. For some applications, where one of the standard doctypes such as DITA or DocBook is adequate, that’s all you need. For other applications, you may want to add custom features, user interface elements such as toolbars and custom dialogs, a tailored doctype or schema to support specific data requirements, connections to other enterprise systems such as ERP systems, and so on.
Adapting Arbortext software to your specific business environment can provide a number of advantages. Here are some examples where customization can add value to your implementation:
Author Efficiency
Custom features and user interface controls allow the author to work more efficiently.
Example: if authors frequently need to change one type of element into another similar element, then adding a toolbar button and/or keyboard shortcut to trigger the operation can let authors do it with a single click or key press, as opposed to using the Change Markup dialog.
Workflow Integration
Custom integration with software can streamline processes in the workflow.
Example: Suppose you have part data stored in an ERP system, and you are writing support documents associated with the part data. In a stock Arbortext installation, you might need to export the part data as an Excel spreadsheet, and then copy portions of the exported data in Excel to paste into the XML document in Arbortext. In contrast, a customization could allow authors to click a toolbar button, make a few quick selections in a dialog box, and automatically extract, format, and insert the part data in the correct location in the document.
New Capabilities
Customizations allow you to add new features to Arbortext Editor.
Example: Suppose you have a metric that you want to track on your documents that depends on the number of specific elements in each document, such as graphic elements. You can easily add a feature that would count instances of a specific element and report that for a document. You could also generate a report for a set of documents found in a directory tree or a folder in a content management system (CMS). This would let authors get this information directly within Arbortext Editor, without having to switch to an external tool to do the analysis/reporting.
This publishing engine software can be customized in a number of ways, and frequently we see users customizing their stylesheets to make them look better or compliant with their publishing standards. Arbortext stylesheets are used to publish documents that have consistent styling and formatting, no matter who authored the document. Sometimes these stylesheet customizations can be significant and complex, but often we see a need to make simple modifications to the fonts, logos, and page margins. EAC QuickPubs provides users an easy way to make those simple style modifications and create great looking documents.
Stay tuned for the next post where we discuss the cost of customization.
If you’re looking for ways to adapt your environment to fit your organizations needs, EAC QuickPubs may be for you. It’s an add-on designed to style documents that fit your organizations brand at a lower cost than a customization to PTC Arbortext. You can create aesthetically pleasing part manuals, owner’s guides, service manuals and more with ease. Publish fast, cheaper, and better today!
Transform the way you design and publish product information through QuickPubs, an EAC product for PTC Arbortext. For more information about QuickPubs contact us. Publish faster, cheaper, and better today!
I applaud anyone currently considering how the Internet of Things (IoT) can transform their company and their approach to competition. This is what every industrial and consumer product company should be doing right now. While helping companies through the early stages of developing IoT strategies we’ve recognized a common challenge. Teams can get lost in the excitement of enabling their first “thing” and lose focus on their long-term vision and the value they can extract from streaming data. We get it! The IoT is exciting. That is why we always coach our clients to select an IoT platform (software) that allows them to quickly and easily develop applications that present valuable, digestible information to employees and customers – whether or not a role or data stream was part of the initial strategy.
This week provided me with a front row seat to unexpected value from streaming data. While working on an IoT proof of concept for a client, my team was able to refine a data stream and deliver a new application to an audience that was not part of the initial scope of the project. The only reason we were able to create this new application without charging an additional fee is because we selected ThingWorx, a solution by PTC as the application/mashup development tool. Thingworx helps teams create new applications in minutes.
I try to spend the majority of my time working on IoT strategies and how they can transform companies and competition. My background in engineering and software development provides me with a unique view into the time spent making things smart — providing sensor networks, communication layers, and ultimately enabling heretofore unseen analytics in real-time on remote products. The project the Connect Services team and I were working on this week involved developing mashups, which stemmed from earlier strategy work and team alignment. Mashups are the collection and presentation of data from smart things and systems enabling real-time business awareness and decision-making. For this project, we had already developed storyboards for the apps that would enable core product and service differentiation. Everyone was on board and excited.
Once the proof of concept device was wired and streaming data, we saw a whole new role that would benefit from the data that was streaming. Previously, the engineers would have been left hanging and the data would have been left alone and isolated. This is because developing an extra application for ancillary roles would have taken the project well off track. Leveraging ThingWorx as our application development environment, we were able to build a concept from scratch in literally seconds. What’s really cool is that it didn’t take any code at all either, just drag, drop, save, and we were in business. The concept made sense and in literally a couple of hours (not days or weeks) we had created an entirely new app and use case for the data. We were able to refine the data in real-time and create a whole new monitoring experience. Again, this was done without coding, just simply drag and drop.
So, here’s my recommendation — make sure your IoT platform supports your IoT strategy. And what’s more, be sure the platform you select is a tool that is flexible, fast, and fun — like ThingWorx. You will likely find more and more ways to consume, refine, and benefit from the data your connected products and enterprise produce just because it’s easy to do. And this, after all, is what your IoT platform should do — it should enable your existing business initiatives and accelerate your business initiatives.
EAC Connect Services is here to help you develop your IoT strategy, build and connect your proof of concept, and select the appropriate platform. Let us be your partner in the ever-changing world of the IoT. Please let us know if we can help you transform your business and help you beat your competition.
The EAC Product Development Academy can help you advance your career, improve department performance, and transform the way you design your products. Our training options (shown below) can turn a great designer or administrator into an expert!
- Take Our On-Site or In-Center Courses
Our Certified Instructors can come to you, or your students can come to us. We’re flexible! Let us sweat the small stuff. Our training coordinators will arrange for all the necessary tools including laptops, course material(s), and software.
- Sign Up for eLearning
Are you a self-starter that prefers online training on your time? eLearning® a solution from PTC might be perfect for you. Students can access full course material on PTC’s subscription based learning management system. Every subscription includes up to 6,000 hours of customizable self-paced training content, including training exercises and skill checks. It is a great option for customers to track the progress of their employees as they go through onboarding or training.
- Remote Learning with EACLive!
EACLive! is EAC’s proprietary remote learning offering. It allows students to reduce travel expenses and still satisfy their training needs. Students access classes remotely and maintain the classroom experience through desktop sharing and two-way communication with instructors and other students. It is available for both our public training classes and private sessions for your company.
- Mentoring
We also offer this unique training option. Students can also choose to mentor with one of our Certified Instructors. This allows students to address specific topics in which assistance is needed and develop specific skill sets in the context of their job.
- Configured or Customized Training
If you feel like “out-of-the-box training” doesn’t quite fit your needs you can utilize the EAC Training Department to help create a unique training path. We will work with you to accommodate your time and knowledge through configured or customized training.
Configured Training allows the student to subtract or add modules from an out-of-the-box certified PTC Academic Program Course; combining or shortening current curriculum.
This training type gives the student access to:
- Add and Subtract Module(s) from a Course
- Access Customized Printed Training Manual
Customized Training allows the student to build their own training course specific to their needs and their environment.
This training type gives the student access to:
- Add and Subtract Module(s) from Course
- Custom Course Content Development
- Custom Training Delivery
- Custom Documentation
- Integrate Images from Customer Environment
- Recorded Training Videos
EAC Product Development Solutions (EAC) is proud supporter of STEM education and fostering the development of future engineers. This is why we are excited to announce a partnership with the Lakeville South High School (LSHS) STEM Academy.
The STEM Academy at Lakeville South High School began as a pilot program during the 2013-14 school year. At the time, it had two sections of Engineering Your Future 1. Today it has six sections of Engineering Your Future 1, four sections of Engineering Your Future 2, and one section of Engineering Your Future 3. The demand for these courses has risen significantly in such a short amount of time. Furthermore, 50 of the 200 students in the STEM Academy are young women.
The goal of the STEM Academy is to prepare students for STEM careers, whether they head straight into the workforce, enroll in a technical college, or pursue a four-year college degree. Lakeville Area Public Schools have recognized the ncreased demand for STEM careers, in turn increasing the demand for STEM classes. STEM jobs are growing faster than jobs overall in Minnesota, more than twice as fast as all industries in Minnesota according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
EAC offers many products and services to help companies improve the way they design, manufacture, connect to, and service their products. One of the ways we do this is through the sale of the product development software toolsets created by PTC and ANSYS. EAC has pledged to donate 1% of all engineering software and support sold in MN to the LSHS. We will also make an equipment donation to the STEM Academy valued over $20,000. The school will receive a Bridgeport CNC Mill and a 3D Systems Printer.
EAC’s donation will supplement funds for supplies and equipment coming in 2016-17 that voters approved in their levy referendum in November of 2015. This includes programming at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels.
“The pieces of equipment are instrumental to state-of-the-art STEM education. Given the expense, such purchase might not be possible without the generosity of partners such as EAC,” said Justin Just, STEM teacher at Lakeville South High School.
Jacob Stewart, Senior at Lakeville South High School said throughout his four years in the STEM Academy the biggest things he has learned were “being able to work in groups and [thinking] outside the box. There’s no one right way [to solve a problem]. Failing is a big part of improving and learning.”
Stewart plans on studying engineering next fall at Iowa State University. The opportunity of working with and learning from state-of-the-art equipment may have given Stewart and his classmates a competitive advantage over their peers.
Another LSHS Senior, Will Duncan said the experience of building 3D printers has opened up future career possibilities that he might not have considered. “My dream job is to make prosthetics for people who don’t have the technology or resources to make limbs. 3D printing or other efficient technology could make that a possibility.”
In an effort to expand the awareness and success of this program EAC also plans to create a mechanism for their customers to donate additional funds and support to the program by “opting in” when placing an order.
“I want to be intentional in our efforts to support local students and schools. Some people say STEM is big right now. I say it is big for our future. Today’s students are doing amazing things. They have amazing ideas. And the staff at LSHS is doing a fantastic job preparing these students to impact the engineering and product development world. I’m proud of this program. Not only does it support a great school and great students; it also reflects EAC’s dedication to its customers. Not only do we want to provide great product development technology and services. We also want to make sure that local companies will be able to recruit talented individuals in the near future and for years to come,” said Thane Hathaway, President & CEO, EAC Product Development Solutions
Program Details:
- This is a new program EAC is launching in MN
- EAC pledges to donate 1% of Engineering Software and Support sold in MN during 2016
- Minimum 2016 cash donation of $5000
- $20,000 hardware donation
- Bridgeport CNC Mill
- 3DSystems Printer
- In addition to a minimum cash donation and percentage of sales, EAC will provide a mechanism for customers to donate directly by “opting in” when placing an order.
Learn more about Lakeville South High School’s STEM Academy here.
In 2015, PTC created a new award to celebrate one of the most significant, and often overlooked roles in the entire PTC ecosystem. The award honors an instructor that consistently exceeds expectations, elevates the reputation of the Authorized Training Partner network, and delights students. Jeff Fulciniti, Senior Director North America Interim PTC University, presented The PTC University Instructor of the Year award to its premier recipient January 6th, 2016.
This award was given to Joel Cartwright, one of the 138 eligible instructors across all of PTC Americas business. “PTC has a vast ecosystem of very well regarded partners and instructors. Some with substantial years of experience and product knowledge that could simply not be replicated,” said Alister Fraser, Authorized Training Partners and Academic Programs, Americas, PTC.
Joel’s passion for education, product expertise, and un-matched client-facing skills has allowed him to thrive throughout his tenure in the PTC and EAC ecosystem. Joel loves to meet new students, welcome previous ones, and consistently impart the educational tools allowing individuals to improve their own position and skills.
“The instructors at EAC, and Joel specifically, are critical to the value EAC provides its customers. Effective instruction on the technology allows our customers to innovate and optimize without software getting in the way,” said Thane Hathaway, President & CEO of EAC Product Development Solutions.
When asked about what this award means to him, Joel responded, “The Instructor of the Year award stands for many things. It starts with PTC’s commitment to quality within their software options, their Learning Management System (LMS), and the instruction manuals we use in class. The entire PTC University community tries very hard to uphold quality. Here at EAC my fellow instructors and I take educating our customers very seriously. Our standards are very high and I am truly honored to receive this award and recognition.”
A number of factors contributed to selecting the award recipient. Members of the PTC University staff evaluated instructor certification and course mastery scores, student evaluations of course content and customer satisfaction, the volume of students trained, and the number of courses taught by an instructor.
For more than 15 years Joel has been a front-runner in most, if not all, of the award criteria and 2015 was no exception. He has been a full-time PTC Certified instructor since 2000 and joined EAC Product Development Solutions in 2004. Cartwright delivered an astounding 70 classes during 2015. That’s an average of more than one per week. Despite this high volume and a nearly perfect certification record he maintained the highest overall customer satisfaction score among all PTC Americas instructors.
Joel explained that the key to success is simple. He treats all of his students with the same respect, eases them through struggles, and makes them excited to learn more.
“For a large majority of our end users, an instructor might be the only person from PTC they interact with throughout their entire CAD or PLM career. The instructors in our network are very often the public face of PTC. They carry on their shoulders our credibility as a company and the perception of our solutions depends in large part on the experience customers have with their instructors,” said Jeff Fulciniti, Senior Director North America Interim PTC University, PTC.
“I am incredibly proud of Joel. I don’t believe there is a more worthy recipient of PTC’s Instructor of the Year Award. It’s good to see that his demeanor, professionalism, expertise, and consistent focus on creating value for the students does not go unnoticed. Joel is dedicated to staying on the leading edge of product development education. This is why students ask for him by name. I’m honored to have him on our team,” said Hathaway.
