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Autumn 1997
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Elkie Holland is a Pick specialist recruitment consultant with over 12 years experience. Prospectus is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 1997.
Via Systems is an international software publisher in the MultiValue industry. Their product line includes: ViaDuct, the popular terminal emulator for Windows; WinLink, a developers' middleware tool and UniVision, Via's own object-oriented database management system. Via Systems is also a reseller for Citrix Winframe technology, which provides remote network computing solutions.
Via Systems has had a Web presence since 1995. With an average of 4,000 hits per day, it now now has a reputation for being one of the busiest sites in the MultiValue Community. We decided to try to learn from the successful "Midas Via Touch" as to what makes this site so popular.
The philosophy behind the site from Simon Lainglais is: "Of course we want our site to promote our products and services, but we also want to provide a place where the MultiValue industry can look for computing solutions and network with each others."
The Site Investigation
Navigating around this site, you immediately notice that it has been planned and well laid out with the ease of the visitor in mind as well as incorporating a goldmine of interesting information. The site is split into a number of sections:
Via Homepage: A good homepage as nearly every section of Via's web site can be accessed directly from it using the Homepage Highlight menu or by scrolling down through section headings. The "Via Touch" bit here is that it also has a Java-based 4-line "News Ticker" which is updated continually to provide the latest breaking Via News.
About Us: Here you find the company profile, a Via Systems mission statement, content information for all the company departments. The "Via Touch" here is a form to send an e-mail message directly to Via Systems' president, Robin White.
Via News: This provides company press releases, Related links of interest section which provides links to industry-related vendors and organisations, and a section dedicated to the MultiValue Ring which provides vendor crosslinking of computer products and/or services in the MultiValue Community. The "Via Touch" here is that it is obviously frequently updated. I visited and the page had been updated only 6 days prior!
Products: There is an "At a Glance" page which is excellent. If you ever wish to visit a page that has web design at its best, check it out. The "Via Touch" here is certainly evident on the page which is well laid out, concise, comprehensive with some graphics but still fast.
From here visitors can go to dedicated product pages that provide more detail on features and benefits. Users can download the WinLink or ViaDuct Presentation Files and view interactive demonstrations of those products. As in almost every section of the Via web site, users can submit a form to request more information. Users can also view an on-line demo of the Citrix WinFrame remote networking technology. The demonstration provides the necessary client software to run a "live" application remotely over the Internet from Via Systems' application server. There are plans for more of the "Via Touch" when this section will also provide product tutorials.
Support: This section has a host of resources available to its current customers including: on-line technical bulletins, update files and patches for their products; and also an overview and sign-up form for the Via Customer Support Plan. The coming "Via Touch" is a section to include an on-line support forum and FAQs.
Training: With the new in-house training facility in place, Via is using the Web to promote product related technology training to its customer base. Included in this section is a handy Class Schedule and Description table that gives an overview of upcoming and past courses, class schedules, instructor info and links to more details course outlines. Visitors can also sign up for a class or get more info through the form on the page. The "Via Touch" here was that they included details of courses here not run by themselves but of interest to their community.
Partnerships: This section provides an overview on their reselling program, a sign-up form to join or request more information on becoming a Via Reseller, and contact information on their major worldwide distributors.
Search: A nifty search engine for this site so that users can find information fast. It uses Microsoft's Index Server technology and provides many search options. The "Via Touch" of thinking about speed and ease for their visitors.
FTP: Users can also FTP to Via Systems Through the following address: ftp.via.com. Using a anonymous login, users can download upgrades, patches, drivers, product presentation files and other Via Systems materials.
Banner Advertising: The upper right hand corners of pages have rotating banner ads which are 280 pixels x 60 pixels and in GIF format. There are only 6 slots available and these are charged at $250 per month (a 25% discount available for a 3 month commitment). The monthly fee includes the design of a custom banner ad (or provide your own) and an expanded crosslink company description in Via's MultiValue links section. The banner ad would be hyperlinked to your own homepage. The "Via Touch": although making a small charge, they are giving people within the community a chance to enjoy some benefits from their busy site.
The Inquisition: In an interview with Simon Langlaise of Via Systems, we asked him what the main business reasons were for having a web site. He responded: "Two reasons really: to promote our products and support our current customers."
The site was designed from the ground up with an HTML editor and graphic software. The original site took 2 months from when the business decision was taken to a fully functional site. However the latest re-design took about 4 weeks. Simon tries to keep the maintenance of their site down to half a day a week.
We asked Simon for his opinion on frames and graphics on a web site and he said: "Frames are tricky. If done correctly they can provide really functional front ends for web sites; otherwise stay clear. Graphics should be used to support the text, add visual impact and be used as sparingly as possible."
Simon is an advocate of the web as it is becoming a standard part of marketing for any business in the computing industry. "The Internet's ability to provide instant information, products ad services over a global network is just to good to pass up." What originally started for Via Systems as a service and benefit to their customers has "generated sales leads on a daily business, as users can request to be contacted or receive more information through our web forms. It has provided us with tangible leads."
We also asked Simon for his opinion on the 5 most important things when designing/developing a web site. Here they are:
Conclusion
Some of the components making up the "Via Touch" seem to be: a well-organised site plan; easy navigation throughout; attention to small details evident throughout; frequent updates; pages not over complicated or packed; print small and readable; background loading graphics for speed; and keeping the comfort and ease of visitors forefront in their minds. The fact that Via Systems is a major player in the MultiValue market with its products may also have something to do with the success of their site! Congratulations on having a hot cool site.
Elkie Holland
Last Updated: 28 July 1999