DeskWork

DeskWork is a corporate portal of development of Softline company. Means of interaction of employees and organization of a collective company performance. Using DeskWork labor productivity as search time of necessary information is repeatedly reduced increases and routine business processes are automated. The solution DeskWork is intended as for the enterprises of medium and small business, and for the large companies.

As the industrial DeskWork platform uses Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 which is the functional, qualitative system of development of portal solutions. Features of this platform – the thought-over architecture allowing to develop, scale and increase functionality of a corporate portal and also to provide compatibility with wide range of products of Microsoft: both server, and office.

Standard services in the product DeskWork are provided in three options:

• Basic standard implementation. Enters it: installation of DeskWork on the equipment prepared at the customer, setup of sending electronic e-mails from the product DeskWork via the SMTP mail server, data loading about structure of the company and data on users from Active Directory MS in the DeskWork portal and also loading in a product of a logo of the customer and summary of the company;
• Standard standard implementation which the packet of basic standard services and also setup of authorization by means of MS of the Active Directory or Forms Based Authentication enters;
• Expanded standard implementation – a packet of basic and standard standard services and also the publication of a node of the portal in the Internet.

In August, 2010 Softline announced a release of new versions of a corporate portal: DeskWork 3.0 on the SharePoint Foundation 2010 and DeskWork 2.2 platform on the SharePoint Services 3.0 platform. Now the functionality of products contains seven design templates of the internal portal with new design, the add-on module of video conferencing allowing to connect at the same time up to fourteen video participants, the module of the organization of the general chat, the system of automatic update and activation of DeskWork on the Internet and many other things.

On September 20, 2010 it was announced a new possibility of acquisition of the DeskWork corporate portal – as the "cloud" application. Now the complete functionality of a product can use far off as a hosting-application, at the same time, having saved the budget on purchase of licenses and the equipment, not distracting the current technical resources of the company on installation of a product.

On September 23, 2010 the Microsoft Corporation announced assignment of the official status Works with Windows Server 2008 R2 to the DeskWork corporate portal, development of Softline company. This type of certification of Microsoft guarantees sure and safe work of software products on the Windows Server platform 2008 R2 at heavy loads of a system. Microsoft provides to the applications which passed a test, absolute compatibility.

On October 15, 2010 the Softline Company announced assignment to it Microsoft corporation of competence Software Development for development of the DeskWork corporate portal based on the latest Microsoft SharePoin Foundation 2010 platform. For obtaining this status DeskWork successfully passed tests of different level of complexity and received positive reviews of the clients using a product. Participation in the program of such level - the sign of recognition by Microsoft corporation of quality and value of a corporate portal for clients.

December 06, 2010 The 4th version of the product DeskWork is announced the Corporate portal gives the chance to unroll the whole system of notifications at office in a format audio-, video, email - and Sms. Never before internal interaction was such easy and available.

The DeskWork corporate portal is successfully used already more than in 400 companies across all Russia. The product is simple and convenient means of the organization of workflows in office: with its help it is possible to organize execution of requests, approval of agreements, to collect the knowledge base in the company, and with a release of the new version of a corporate portal it became easy to unroll the whole system of notifications for employees and simply. "Everything occurs on one-two-three: any message can be sent instantly the Sms via the portal on the colleague's phone, and for those to whom bothered to write long letters or there is not enough emotionality in communication, there was an opportunity to write the video message and also to send it via the portal, – Svetlana Hapankova, the head of department of marketing projects and advertizing of Softline company tells. – Now you can reach the colleague by all possible methods and in any formats! Besides, in the fourth version of a product we added features:

• connections to the portal of "external" users;
• separate selection of new employees on the homepage of the portal;
• sendings voice messages for normal phones, call-back;
• loadings of video files, organizations of "video galleries";
• the organizations of the notification about the delivered, carried out and overdue tasks;
• creations and managements of "electronic archive of documents". The software product allows to configure settings of archiving, structure, synchronization of documents with external file stores, recovery of files and cleaning of the portal according to the schedule;
• works with the portal directly from Microsoft Office applications of 2010. The user can register, approve, reject documents directly from Word, Excel, Power Point".

The opportunities given by the module "Video conferences": the module allows to implement management of the company with big geographical distribution of branches and employees. On the screen you can see up to 14 of your interlocutors at the same time that it is more, than offer even very expensive hardware conferences. At the same time the cost of the module of video conferences is about 100 times less. At the organization of video conference you will be able not only to see the interlocutor and to correspond with him in a chat, but also to do demonstrations directly from a desktop, to load and discuss documents, to make entries on an electronic board, to show videos and the presentations, to organize online-polls. At the same time the full-function version of video conferences to five simultaneous participants is delivered complete with the DeskWork portal free of charge that is the offer, unique, only in the market.

In February, 2011 the status Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Platform Ready confirming compatibility of a corporate portal with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is given. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is the database management system (DMS) used in the DeskWork corporate portal.

Within the program of testing of Microsoft the DeskWork corporate portal of development of Softline received the statuses SharePoint 2010 Platform Ready and Microsoft Office 2010 Platform Ready. DeskWork successfully passed a number of the qualification tests and tests which are carried out by Microsoft company, having confirmed compatibility of a product with the SharePoint 2010 platform and a packet of Microsoft Office 2010.

In March, 2011 it was announced the beginning of sales in the USA. In the USA the product will be available in three editions Basic, Standard and SaaS. The first turns on 4 design templates of a corporate portal, 27 software modules and basic functionality of the SharePoint platform. Edition Standart in addition contains 9 configured system modules of electronic document management. In the SaaS option the portal is established and serviced on servers of Softline, in "cloud", and the client is given an opportunity to purchase in lease access to this software on the Internet.

In May, 2011 the DeskWork "Obratnaya Svyaz" service within which users of a corporate portal can offer the idea on improvement of the solution, to leave the opinion, a wish or gratitude, to take part in discussion of functionality of DeskWork is started. The Obratnaya Svyaz service will allow to create the open knowledge base on a product and also to analyze customer satisfaction degree the solution. Users can not only express the opinion and a wish or to ask the interesting question of DeskWork, but also to give an assessment to a product.

DeskWork 5

The system of carrying out video conferences DeskWork allows to plan conferences in the calendar, to notify participants through Email, including through mailing of invitations on the beginning of a conference in the iCalendar format, to hold at the same time several independent conferences with the number of listeners to 500 people, and speakers – up to 16 people. The module also supports the mode of the opened and closed conferences, holding the presentations, a chat, vote. Completely processed system of requests, with ampler opportunities of setup of appearance and routes of approval, allows to create the request with any number of approvals now.

Using the module of creation of any workflows of document flow even the users who do not have skills of programming will be able independently to create and configure any chains of document flow, and the administrator – to automate business processes of any level of complexity. The new module gives now an opportunity to create the fixed approval routes in document flow. The final version of the DeskWork 5 corporate portal will be available at the beginning of August, 2011.

DeskWork 5.1

Since November 23, 2011 Softline released accumulative update of DeskWork 5.1. Free expansion of functionality of the fifth version is a peculiar New Year's Eve gift from the DeskWork command for the clients whose wishes – an incentive for development and improvement of a product.

Improvements are added to all main modules of a product. The modules "Address Directory", "Structure of the Company", "New Employee" and "Birthdays" are reversed externally and implemented on the basis of standard lists of Sharepoint, also all are respectively remade the modules DeskWork, dependent on them. The new functionality allows to create independently new columns of any types, to create any representations and selections, to programmatically expand opportunities, using SDK (a set of development tools).

The new module of delegation of user rights is created: now one user can be duplicated by the rights or to replace with another. It gives the chance to appoint all incomplete and complete tasks of the former user new, to replace in all lists all references of the old user new, to provide all permissions of the old user to new, to add the new user to groups of security old, etc.

The newly created mechanism of deputies/secretaries in document flow allows to perform any operations on the portal on behalf of the head. Functions of document flow are taken out in the ribbon-menu on all pages of the website for more convenient and quick access. Stability of video conferences on high loads is also improved, information messages about the arising problems in a communication channel are added. Preserving of a logo of a node when changing of a design by that is implemented, the new menu of quick and convenient access to settings of basic functions DeskWork is developed.

Advanced functionality of the module Archive, it will be possible to recover from archive necessary elements even in case of removal now from the portal of the folder, list/library or a website in which the archived element was initially stored.

In January, 2012 Softline announced start of the module "Video conferences" for the cloud version of the DeskWork corporate portal. This functionality was available in the box version of a product, earlier now – and to users of cloud option. About 16 speakers and up to 220 listeners can participate in video conference. Now the new service "Videokonferentsii" using which it is possible to organize webinars and round tables "in a cloud" is available to users of DeskWork according to the SaaS model. The client who purchased a packet has an opportunity to organize video conference with participation of one speaker and 20 listeners. To increase if desired the number of participants/speakers, it is possible to purchase packets which allow to add to a session five speakers and on fifty listeners. In general, service gives the chance to carry out video conferences in which about 16 speakers and up to 220 listeners can participate.

DeskWork 6.0

The Softline company announced in April, 2012 the beginning of testing of the sixth version of the DeskWork corporate portal. The fact-finding functionality of DeskWork 6.0 is available only to the clients using a corporate portal in a personal account.

"The most part of new functionality of the sixth version is performing joint work both our development team, and our clients who told us about the wishes and made offers. While we invite to testing of new functionality only of our clients, later, after a release of the beta, access to testing will be open for all comers", – Valentin Kudryavtsev, the director of the department of DeskWork and program developments of Softline company told.

In the new version of DeskWork there were essentially new features, already existing options were improved. So, the functionality of a corporate portal was replenished with new, long-awaited modules, such as electronic digital signature (EDS) and Center of tasks and also Graphic composer of workflows based on HTML5 technology.

The center of tasks is a convenient tool for setting and tracking of a status of tasks, all tasks of one contractor in one interface are collected here.

The graphic composer of workflows allows to create any number of workflows (a set of activities and a route of the movement) visually in the form of flowcharts. Except innovations, the Module of mailing of messages, the Personal website and Structure of the company, express approval Modules underwent processing, complete or partial redesign.

Additional changes happened in the Video conference module – such function as broadcast of a desktop to all conferees was added here, the diagnostic system of functioning of video conferences was considerably expanded and improved.

DeskWork in the form of a set of business blocks

On January 30, 2013 the Softline company provided the DeskWork corporate portal not only as a ready set, but also in the form of a set of business blocks, each of which solves a specific objective.

This offer does the DeskWork portal much more available to those organizations which do not need a big product at once. Such companies can define the business challenge major at the moment and terms of its implementation and, in connection therewith, to purchase blocks, each of which can be purchased separately. Thus the organizations have an opportunity to collect the portal as the designer and to supplement it eventually with functionality necessary for them.

Gradual product introduction "in parts" represents big benefit and for users as at the same time there are less difficulties with training and mastering of large volume of information. Employees understand better, what problems they can solve with the help of the specific block (for example, Video conferences) and therefore are interested in their solution. Significant reduction of time of implementation and adaptation of a corporate portal becomes result of such step-by-step input, so, the effect of use of the solution becomes the most complete.

"The benefit in such approach consists, first of all, in integrity of a system: all business blocks are established on a single platform of SharePoint. This platform has free edition Foundation and is one of the most used platforms in the world which allows to increase functionality gradually and without loss of quality. We offer not the list of functions, but ready-made solutions of business challenges and we consider that it is the most perspective direction in business process automation which gives to our product serious advantage over similar products", – Valentin Kudryavtsev, the director of the department of DeskWork and program developments of Softline company says.

The minimum mainframe "DeskWork Base" includes Platform, "The reference book by employees" and Infomoduli and also all powerful functionality of SharePoint Foundation for collective work. This block allows the companies cheap, quickly and just to begin implementation of means of collective communication at itself in the organization. In addition to it it is possible to purchase the following business blocks: Management of requests, Express document flow, Center of tasks, Business processes, Video conferences and Universal messages.

Blok Upravleniye requests allows to create any number of different requests, to maintain their register, to monitor execution. 10 preconfigured requests which it is possible to modify or create their new types are included in the package.

Express document flow allows to register documents with filling of necessary attributes, to create and keep any number of magazines, to appoint deputies and to approve documents along a consecutive, parallel or universal route.

Blok Centre of tasks collects data on all tasks from all portal (including from all enclosed websites). Its work area displays information grouped in types of tasks, giving an opportunity to execute and control the status of implementation on one screen. For the head it is the fine tool of the organization and control of work of the division.

The graphic composer of Business processes automates workflows of the enterprise in the convenient graphics editor. The employees who do not have skills of programming can create workflows as sets of activities and a route of the movement visually in the form of flowcharts.

Video conferences are intended for the organization using video conference of the online meetings, trainings, negotiations planned and created in the calendar by means of the simple visual interface with automatic sending e-mail notification about the beginning of conferences.

Universal messages are the automated system of informing users intended for mailing of notifications in text, sound and video formats on several channels of delivery.

DeskWork Q1 2014

The Deskvork company released in the spring of 2014 upgraded version of the corporate portal – DeskWork Q1 2014. The functionality is in the new edition expanded and a number of additions and improvements is entered.

All business blocks of the portal – Basic, Management of Requests, Express document flow, Universal Messages, Video conferences, Center of Tasks and "Graphic Composer of Business Processes" – represent the complex using possibilities of SharePoint 2013.

In the new version the "Graphic Composer of Business Processes" block allows to transfer the created workflow from one node, the list, or library to another where the similar solution is set.

In the Video conferences block there were possibilities of opening of the presentation on the full screen, managements of switching of slides from the keyboard (and from special panels of the speaker). Each participant at the event can estimate the report then on the page of information on a conference the GPA of its assessment by audience appears.

One more innovation of DeskWork Q1 2014 – performance improvement of operation of the module "Center of Tasks" on large volumes of data. This opportunity is already tested under operating conditions at a large number of clients.

The functionality of the DeskWork portal allows to apply it as an information warehouse, knowledge and documents as means of remote work of employees, for creation and management of workflows of the company, for the organization of document flow, effective corporate communications and also for the purpose of cost reduction using a simple video conferencing.

2014: DeskWork 2014Q2

On August 19, 2014 the Softline company announced release of upgraded version of a corporate portal - DeskWork 2014Q2.

The functionality is in the new edition expanded, a number of additions and improvements is entered. There was an additional model of licensing of the solution.

Developers worked over system performance - it is considerably optimized for work on heavy loads and a large number of users of the portal. The effective mechanism of caching of data is added to a system that resulted in increase in productivity and speed of opening of pages for 80% for some scenarios of work of the portal.

Licensing of a product is significantly simplified. Distinctions of a design for SharePoint Foundation and SharePoint Server are removed. Now the client selects with what edition SharePoint it is more convenient to it to work.

"In the new version of DeskWork we implemented functions about which we were asked by big customers. With a large number of users the Microsoft company requires the qualified implementation of the Microsoft SharePoint platform, creation of a farm from several servers and load distribution between them. Further on this prepared platform our product DeskWork which effectively works now with a large number of users in the load distribution mode between servers and caching is installed, – Valentin Kudryavtsev, the director of program developments of Softline company noted. – Besides, big customers asked us about an opportunity to evenly distribute purchase costs on financial years therefore we added a new type of licensing. Now clients can not spend the big budget for one-time purchase, and pay a product considerably with the smaller amounts annually".

New edition of a system is available to users on a developer's site.