There are many great Marketing and Business Platforms that provide Software hosted on robust and resilient Infrastructure and supplied on a fully managed basis.
HubspotThe ultimate 'Light Touch" Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Platform on the market that cover everything from Marketing, Sales, Service and Messaging
ShopifyIf you are selling products online then a Shopify store is a great alternative to traditionally hosted Software solutions that are expensive and quickly outdated.
MailchimpManage all your Contacts in one place and apply powerful Campaign Management capabilities so you can optimise your Sales.
G Suite, Search and AnalyticsCloud Native business that use G Mail can definitely benefit from a move to G Suite where a full range of Productivity Apps are available. Google for Search Engine Optimisation, Advertising, Mapping and Analytics are also highly recommended
Social MediaGet the most out of your Social Media presence by integrating it with your Website and CRM system to create a vibrant leads pipeline
We design and deliver a highly tailoured website platform complete with Content Management and Website Production. We can provide Domain Names, Hosting, Support, Free Updates and bespoke development services for Modules and Components. We tightly integrate this with your Marketing systems and Social media accounts for maximum impact.
We assist with the selection and migration of Online Applications that provide critical Business Capability to Customers, Staff, Suppliers and Partners. Based on t=your needs and Target Operating Model we will design and deliver Customer Relationship Management, Marketing Campaigns, GEO Location, Self Serve portals to your users.
The ultimate platform for managing every aspect of an intelligent and proactive Digital Experience is most definitely Adobe Experience Manager and the Marketing Cloud. Covering all aspects of digital capability and enabling highly intelligent user journey routing techniques using advanced targeting and personalisation based on evidence based analytics and predicative algorithms - A bit of a mouthful? Yep - We can help put this into context for your Business.
Digital Technology StrategyOnce your Business Strategy is agreed and approved we will develop a Digital Technology Strategy that will allow you to design and deliver the environments and applications to launch the capability to your users.
Service |
Definition and Description |
Deliverables |
Technology Strategy |
We will create and document a bespoke Technology Strategy for your Business based on a series of discovery events that engage your key stakeholders in the journey. |
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Reference Architecture |
The Reference Architecture will guide all future Application and Integration investment and will seek to re-use, sweat and contain your existing business assets while adding powerful digital and business platforms where Cloud adoption makes sense. |
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Implementable Roadmap and Program Estimates |
A fully implementable and high impact Roadmap that will break the Reference Architecture into series of cost effective projects that maintain business continuity while rolling out new Technologies that deliver benefits and uplift to the business immediately |
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Request for Proposal |
We will develop the bid documentation and host Technical Labs for the vendor participants with probity and an emphasis on due diligence and getting the best price for every service and product required. |
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Proof of Concept |
Develop a low cost implementation of the key components you wish to implement so that key business and technology concepts are proven before investment |
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Program Kick Off |
Once the project is funded we will develop a plan of engagement and orientate the teams and suppliers into the project framework using Agile or any other project methodology required. |
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Full Service Advisory |
A comprehensive Advisory service that starts with the Concept and delivers a coherent Blue Print and Roadmap that is immediately implementable |
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At the large end of the scale and for major Corporations and Governments with millions of customers we highly recommend Adobe Experience Manager and Marketing Cloud as a 'Best of Breed' platform for Digital Experiences. Find out more here
The heart of any Digital Business is its Content Management System that style and presents your content and assets to users while allow your staff to update and iterate features into a well organised operators console.
Based on the nature of your Business there maybe specialised and modular applications that you need to service the demand without using manual processes. We have hundreds of extensions to our Web CMS available including eCommerce, Payments, Bookings, Listings, Appointments, Advertising, Events, Search and Social.
If you are expecting to offer online users access to your data then their is a need to secure it and only allow access if the user is Authenticated and Authorised to create, read, update and delete it. We work with a range of Single Sign On and Authentication Hubs and can apply them to your software through configuration.
Once the user or system has Authenticated and possesses a Token then it is time to retrieve the data from an API and present it back in a timely fashion. This system to system communication requires a highly level of Cyber Security to thwart robotic attacks and ensure all consuming applications only get what they are entitled to.
All our websites and online applications deliver responsive experiences on Mobile Devices which mitigates the risk of not having a dedicated cross platform Mobile App - We can even 'wrap' the Website as a Mobile App and load it into the Apple Store and Google Play with very little technical modification. Responsive by nature, Responsive by design
Ahead of the Curve has integrated the leading SaaS providers for eCommerce, Payment and Accounts into a very low cost and automated ecosystem.
Ecwid is a sophisticated and easy to configure eCommerce platform that is easily integrated with your website. It manages all aspects of your online shop and has shopfronts for Facebook, eBay and Amazon.
The heart of any Digital Business is its Content Management System that style and presents your content and assets to users while allow your staff to update and iterate features into a well organised operators console.
Having a wide range of payment options for the Customer is a key way to maximise revenue. There are hundreds of good payment providers that can process Cards, Direct Debits and Paypal transactions on your behalf
With a FREE CRM to get started HubSpot can provide an integrated suite of tools that cover Sales, Marketing and Operations. The service is low cost and powerful when iintgerated with your website and online shop
Having a multi currency Business account is a key enabler of expanding your business reach into new and exciting markets. With a a sophisticated self service App and Website and a Direct Debit Card this is a full feature account.
XERO Provides a robust and easy to use Accounting service that manages all aspects of your finances. Automate te collect of financial data from your bank and POS systems while creating PDF invoices and orders complete with your brand graphics and promotional material
All our eCommerce websites and online applications deliver responsive experiences on Mobile Devices which mitigates the risk of not having a dedicated cross platform Mobile App - We can even 'wrap' the Website as a Mobile App and load it into the Apple Store and Google Play with very little technical modification. Responsive by nature, Responsive by design
Based on your needs and what is important to you we will select a Cloud Platform for you to adopt and design and implement your Virtual Private and Virtual Public Clouds.
With the biggest range of packaged application servers and the front-runner for market share AWS is a great way to manage your adoption of the Cloud.
With tight integration to MS technologies like Active Directory, Office 365 and .Net server technology the MS Azure offering is a logical next step. We can assist with establishing your Virtual Private and Public Clouds.
If you are planning on going Cloud Native then GCP could be the right fit especially if you use G Suite for your Business applications.
AOTC are a reseller and System Integrator for Site Ground in the United Kingdom and TPP Wholesale in Australia - We are expert in design and deployment of dedicated or shared hosting for your Virtual Public Cloud.
Ahead of the Curve has been involved in several high profile Government and Corporate projects that deliver mission critical systems to mass markets.
The past 15 years has been an exciting time for Telecommunications with the maturity of several access network technologies continuing to exceed user expectations. From the progression of Wireless through 3G, 4G and now onto 5G, same with Broadband through Dial Up, ADSL and now Fibre, the speed and the bandwidth to access a huge range of Internet based services is a reality.
The sector has been through a barrage of turmoil but remains very healthy commercially and with a great expansion in technical capability under construction. From Risk, Regulatory and Compliance uplift through to the digitisation of the Banking environment for Customers their has never been a better time to Transform.
The mandate for Government is to provide services to the population through automated and digital experiences that are cost effective to execute. This is a balance between changing the Ways of Working and introducing Technology platforms that are Secure, Reliable, Integrated and Highly Available.
The first stage is to consolidate your planning into a design stage that defines what will be delivered and when:
| Activity | Description |
| Requirements Definition Workshops | 1 x 2 Hour Business Requirement Workshop on Zoom |
| Technology Strategy and Design | 1 x 2 Hour Technology Strategy Workshop on Zoom |
| Solution On A Page | A high level design for the project that guides development teams and stakeholders |
| Backlog and Timeline | A document that defines the agreed scope (Backlog) and time frame for delivery |
Based on an agreement that the Design stage is complete the project will move into the Build phase with the following activities:
| Activity | Description |
| Website Installation, Design and Layout | Integration of your brand and content into a Web CMS |
| Content Migration and Production | Population of the website with the Content and Media |
| Copyrighting and Media | Producing copy for the site or obtaining imagery, video or other licensed material |
| Website Production | An expert edit to ensure the Customer Journeys flow into the data capture and call to action elements efficiently |
| Get Connected | Integration with Social Media – LinkedIN, Facebook, others as required |
| Be Searchable | Search Engine Optimised for high visibility and a plan to target reciprocal links with Industry. |
| Analytics and Insights | Web Based Analytics to profile web traffic and demonstrate success |
Once the Website platform is launched the following ongoing support services are provided as part of the Fully Managed Service.
| Activity | Description |
| Website Hosting | 12 Months Web Hosting on AOTC Infrastructure at Site Ground (UK’s Leading Hosting Provider) |
| Evergreen Upgrades | Latest JOOMLA Website CMS installed and customized to the Clients Content, Products and Services |
| User Training | Full Training of Web Administrator on running a Digital Business using a sophisticated CMS and Search and Social and Industry platforms |
| Self Serve Consoles | Console Access to all Domain and Software Tools for Web Administrator |
| Free Email | Unlimited Email Accounts – 10GB+ Storage |
| Support - Operations | Priority Technical Support for Domain, Website and Hosting |
| Support - Updates | Basic Web Content Updates (Configuration Only) |
| Support - Development | Access to inexpensive Development teams for new projects / major features |
The first stage is to consolidate your planning into a design stage that defines what will be delivered and when:
| Activity | Description |
| Requirements Definition Workshops | 1 x 2 Hour Business Requirement Workshop on Zoom |
| Technology Strategy and Design | 1 x 2 Hour Technology Strategy Workshop on Zoom |
| Solution On A Page | A high level design for the project that guides development teams and stakeholders |
| Backlog and Timeline | A document that defines the agreed scope (Backlog) and time frame for delivery |
Based on an agreement that the Design stage is complete the project will move into the Build phase with the following activities:
| Activity | Description |
| Website Installation, Design and Layout | Integration of your brand and content into a Web CMS |
| Content Migration and Production | Population of the website with the Content and Media |
| Copyrighting and Media | Producing copy for the site or obtaining imagery, video or other licensed material |
| Website Production | An expert edit to ensure the Customer Journeys flow into the data capture and call to action elements efficiently |
| Get Connected | Integration with Social Media – LinkedIN, Facebook, others as required |
| Be Searchable | Search Engine Optimised for high visibility and a plan to target reciprocal links with Industry. |
| Analytics and Insights | Web Based Analytics to profile web traffic and demonstrate success |
Once the Website platform is launched the following ongoing support services are provided as part of the Fully Managed Service.
| Activity | Description |
| Website Hosting | 12 Months Web Hosting on AOTC Infrastructure at Site Ground (UK’s Leading Hosting Provider) |
| Evergreen Upgrades | Latest JOOMLA Website CMS installed and customized to the Clients Content, Products and Services |
| User Training | Full Training of Web Administrator on running a Digital Business using a sophisticated CMS and Search and Social and Industry platforms |
| Self Serve Consoles | Console Access to all Domain and Software Tools for Web Administrator |
| Free Email | Unlimited Email Accounts – 10GB+ Storage |
| Support - Operations | Priority Technical Support for Domain, Website and Hosting |
| Support - Updates | Basic Web Content Updates (Configuration Only) |
| Support - Development | Access to inexpensive Development teams for new projects / major features |
Azure DevOpsAzure has a full suite of tightly integrated Development Operations tools that allow you to easily manage your application source code and its deployment to the test and production environments using a sophisticated and automated 'Tool Chain".
If you have adopted the Atlassian tool set for workflow management then we can assist to upgrade and reconfigure this investment so that it integrates with SecDevOps and is far more effective for your teams.
If you have a good hands on capability for managing applications then there are a myriad of Open Source tools that are suitable for underpinning SecDevOps - We can always offer this as a Solution Option in the planning so you can understand the potential for savings with a little extra effort.
Agile in ActionMoving to Agile delivery of Digital products is a key outcome of any Digital Transformation. We assist with the planning, implementation and and uptake of Agile in your organisation and how you can move to a remote working model without loosing output or quality.
The new unit of productivity is a sprint delivered by a Squad. We will help you to structure the flow of work artifacts, activities and outputs out of carefully constructed Squads that work on discreet outcomes.
With remote working becoming prominent the adoption of the following capabilities and tools is paramount to productivity - we will show you how to use: Slack, Teams, Zoom, Trello, Azure DevOps Boards, JIRA, Confluence
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If you are planning a move to Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) for your website Content Management System(CMS) then you are best served developing a Reference Architecture and Implementable Digital Roadmap. Ahead of the Curve consultants are well versed in AEM and its integration to the Marketing Cloud where the intellect and smarts of the solution reside
Once you have committed to your move to AEM then the next step is to integrate with the Marketing Cloud and the following marketing Capabilities:
| Software Service | Description |
| Adobe Launch | Next Gen Tag Management for the Adobe Experience Manager and a highly granular and integrated capability that gains insight into every scroll and click |
| Adobe Analytics | Powerful insights into your users and their interactivity through Work Spaces that have in depth analysis and curated views for your colleagues |
| Adobe Target | Deliver highly personalised experiences for your users based on their profile or segmentation |
| Adobe Forms | The windows to Customer originate can be crafted with tracking and dynamic interactivity to ensure you capture well qualified leads and customer data (GDPR Compliant) |
| Adobe Campaign | Tightly integrate your Marketing Campaigns with AEM and receive detailed analytics on consumption and how to improve your penetration. |
| Adobe Audience Manager | A document that defines the agreed scope (Backlog) and time frame for delivery |
| Adobe Marketing ID | A document that defines the agreed scope (Backlog) and time frame for delivery |
There are numerous ways of hosting your AEM platform on both Cloub Based or On Premise environments depending on your appetite for management of the complexity.
Adobe Managed Service is an excellent fully managed service and is recommended for organisations without a development and engineering capability.
Organisations that have a technical capability that can deleiver and operate a robust, reliable and resilient Software Platform may be suited to a Cloud or On Premise deployment.
| Software Service | Description |
| Adobe Managed Services on Amazon Web Services (AWS) | Establishing your AEM Platform as a Semi Managed Service on Amazon Web Services |
| Adobe Managed Services on Microsoft Azure | Powerful insights into your users and their interactivity through Work Spaces that have in depth analysis and curated views for your colleagues |
| Cloud Hosting on AWS or Azure | Deploy your own AEM in the Clouds on PaaS or Iaas so that your existing engineering team can operate it and keep the services costs to a minimum while leveraging your existing Cloud investment |
| On Premise Hosting | Deploy AEM On Premise or in a private Data Centre environment using clustered JVM's and F5 or similar Load Balancing. |
| Design and Build | AOTC will produce all technical build documentation for your teams or can engage engineers to build it out for hand over. |
If you require connectivity to be establishing between your On Premise and Cloud networks then we can help you to design and implement one of the following patterns
If the criticality and sensitivity of the information flowing between the networks is low then a Virtual Private Network connection may be suitable. Let us design, plan and execute this for you.
For industrial strength Cyber Security and high performance Network connectivity the best option with AWS is Direct Connect. Let us design, plan and execute this for you.
For industrial strength Cyber Security and high performance Network connectivity the best option with Azure is Express Route. Let us design, plan and execute this for you.
Google have a robust network integration capability that is lightning fast and highly secure and scaleable.