Tuesday, 13 April 2004
Optimal Decision Technologies
Latest Software Developer to Benefit from KiwiStartUp.net
Product Redevelopment Will Support Company's Global Expansion AUCKLAND, New Zealand
Optimal Decision Technologies Ltd has been chosen as the sixth round winner of the KiwiStartUp.net programme, a joint
initiative designed to assist software start-ups. Sponsored by Hewlett Packard, Microsoft New Zealand, TelstraClear and
Vodafone, the programme provides Optimal Decision Technologies with free technology resources for a period of 90 days to
enable the company to enhance and extend its emergency services simulation programme, SIREN.
Jeff Meyer, a founding Director of Optimal Decision Technologies, says that while SIREN has already enjoyed success in
Australia since the product's inception in 2002, re-developing the existing application will support the product's
expansion into New Zealand, UK, US and Canada.
"With the KiwiStartUp tools, we'll re-develop SIREN on the Microsoft .NET platform and enhance the product's
functionality," says Meyer. "It's a far better platform for future growth and expansion.
"We'll be able to offer new and current clients a more scalable, integrated solution that will save them money. We are
already in negotiations with emergency services in Canada, the US and the UK." Melbourne's Metropolitan Ambulance
Service (MAS) is the first customer to use SIREN.
"SIREN has enabled the Melbourne emergency response team to identify and prioritise strategies to improve performance
and better service their local district. The advantages of being able to accurately simulate the performance of
'what-if' scenarios before the idea is implemented are very obvious.
"For the first time, MAS have the evidence to back up their decisions, so that only the most effective strategies are
implemented." He adds: "With the annual operating cost of one 24 hour ambulance being around $1 million, there are big
gains to be made from improved efficiency.
Based on evidence from our SIREN simulation program, the Ambulance service is reviewing its future plans to identify
areas where they can improve performance and reduce costs." Doug Pratt, Group Manager Developer and Platform Strategy at
Microsoft New Zealand, says the KiwiStartUp programme provides invaluable support for local start-ups that want to
expand their applications and achieve growth in new markets.
"Since KiwiStartUp was introduced, the programme has strived to provide an environment which encourages software
start-ups to prosper and grow," says Pratt. "Several previous winners have continued to achieve success and have
expanded into overseas markets."
ENDS