Managing email tasks just got easier

Media Statement 31 October 2007

Managing email tasks just got easier

Never enough hours in the day to get the job done and constantly swamped by email demands? A New Zealand company has developed a software product focused on saving time and promising to help work teams get work done on time.

The ActionThis solution recognises work challenges, such as tighter deadlines, shifting priorities and increasing competition, and provides a simple process aimed at tracking tasks and finishing jobs on schedule.

The product is a next generation, web-based task management tool that concentrates on improving the control of day-to-day work using a centralised system.

“At its heart, ActionThis helps teams and small businesses get things done on time. But the difference is that, along with great planning and collaboration features, the software focuses on execution – what needs to be done next,” says Chief Executive Officer Ed Robinson.

Workload and slippages are quickly and easily identified and the system delivers continuous reporting.

Following the initial creation of an action item or task, the service ensures ongoing communication between team members, showing how each task is progressing and encouraging participation at all levels. Work status can be checked from anywhere in the world, with team members able to see what other jobs a particular worker or team has on, whether they are overloaded and the task needs to be reassigned, and other aspects relating to each project. The ActionThis software integrates seamlessly into Microsoft Outlook so it is easy to use and available on or offline.

The software is targeted at small businesses, and teams and departments in larger organisations where there’s a need to manage a set of tasks and ensure those tasks are performed.

The Wellington-based company behind ActionThis was incubated and launched by Intergen, a New Zealand systems integrator and IT services provider. The team working on ActionThis has done a lot of preparation to ensure a steady pathway into world markets ahead of launching shortly.

The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology invested $100,000 for feasibility and technical assessment in two areas of the project, ensuring a world-class product targeting international markets from day one.

“The investment gives the company a demonstrable difference in the market, allowing it to quickly compete globally,” says Foundation Business Manager Joseph Stuart.

“New software development doesn’t necessarily have real technology stretch so rather than support the whole project, the Foundation may consider investing only in the ‘stretchy or scary’ bits that give a project international scale,” he says.

The Foundation gears investment towards international competitiveness and Mr Stuart says ActionThis stacks up solidly as internationally capable.

ActionThis Chief Marketing Officer, Tim Howell, says the Foundation investment helped the company accelerate its entry into the market.

“In this sector, timing is everything. The Foundation’s support enabled us to be more aggressive in our drive to market and execute the project more quickly,” he says.

“We believe ActionThis has significant potential worldwide and its ability to help people finish what they start is a novel function not seen in other products yet.”

Mr Howell says the ActionThis goal is to focus on the United States market, followed by United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, creating a business where the significant majority of income is generated from offshore customers.

“We’ll invest this income back into the business, building capability and creating opportunities that help establish us as a global software company,” he says.

ENDS

Note to Editors: The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology invests over $460 million a year on behalf of the New Zealand Government, in research, science and technology. These investments are made to enhance the wealth and well being of New Zealanders.

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