Quick Facts:
- Project Type: Implementation
- Domain: CMS/Intranet Portal
- Time frame: 6 months
- Technologies Used: Drupal CMS, PHP, Apache web server, MySQL
Scope:
HC Securities and Investment's growth had spurred the need for a new dynamic employee workspace with an internal portal acting as its customer interface. The portal would function as a more efficient and flexible medium to improve sales, operations, and client / partner communications. The required system would provide the following feature:
- Document Sharing: To organize files intelligently to match the way HC works, and make them accessible with the appropriate security levels.
- Coordinate Activities: To provide system users with the ability to coordinate and monitor the status of their work in the different phases of the project life cycle. Also guide users to the different documents and templates to be used in each phase.
- Research Center: To amalgamate all the necessary information about countries, industries and, public and private companies and thus assist HC-IBD personnel in their work.
- Search Capabilities: To make information retrieval easier and faster and make available to employees news, tips, and valuable information.
Execution:
The extensive information classification features of Drupal were used to produce news items and research articles that fit within the different thematic sections of the portal. Drupal's powerful theming mechanism was used to achieve a usable look-and-feel that was adopted by the users. OpenCraft also developed several custom modules to fit the client's needs, including a full project management suite including resource allocation, task/subtask assignments, Gantt chart rendering, and per-user to-do list. Another module was developed to allow documents to be checked-out and checked-in by the users, thereby reducing the possibility of document corruption and re-work.
Client Profile:
HC Securities and Investment (HCSI) was established in 1994, as an Egyptian Investment Bank. Its activities include raising capital, advising clients in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, divestitures and spin offs, capital-market service, project finance, securities brokerage and real estate. HCSI's asset-management services include mutual-fund and portfolio management, with assets under management in excess of L.E. 1.2 billion. Finally, HC Brokerage is the third largest brokerage firm in Egypt, it also currently owns a subsidiary in the UAE and plans for an aggressive regional expansion.