Application services

• IT strategic assessment
• Application development services
• Application portfolio maintenance and management
• Program and project management services

Quality services

• QA/QC processes
• Integration testing
• Performance testing
• Process improvement
• User acceptance
• Test automation

Web Development:
Microsoft .Net technologies and Java J2EE technologies. We use Microsoft ASP.Net together with C# and SQLServer to provide robust applications for our clients who prefer Microsoft solutions. For clients who prefer the open-source paradigm. We also develop Java J2EE solutions on Apache/Tomcat, in combination with advanced messaging systems using JBoss, or alternatively using application servers such as BEA WebLogic or IBM Websphere to provide Java based solutions. We use XML to define our databases, providing for portability between SQLServer, Oracle or DB2 databases, depending upon client needs and preferences>

Client/Server Development:
We recommend web solutions to clients in the majority of application development cases, but some business problems still lend themselves to client/server applications today. Client/server applications for customers are developed using Microsoft Visual C , Visual Basic, C# or C on UNIX, depending on requirements for operating system support, performance and maintainability.

Application Migration:
Legacy applications written for platforms that a client no longer plans to support often need to be ported to a new environment at minimal cost. We have experience and processes to migrate applications from mainframe, client/server, UNIX, Microsoft and other environments to current state of the art platforms including .Net and Java J2EE. Business rules discovery, existing process and transaction flows are captured, documented, migrated, tested and implemented on the desired platform.

Application Integration:
Our Application Services have experience with application integration using many commercially available middleware solutions. Our capabilities in application integration include:

• Traditional application integration (API, middleware, Application wrapping, ODBC, JDBC)
• Cross platform technology (M/F, AS/400, C/S, and J2EE) application development, implementation and maintenance
• Distributed Object Technology (CORBA's IIOP, COM/DCOM, ORB)
• XML based custom B-2-B integration and EDI (earlier generation)
• Internet technologies (Web services, security)

Testing Process Management:
We conduct assessment of the processes followed during the testing lifecycle. Process maps are drawn and mapped against best practices. The institutionalization of the processes at department and/or enterprise level is ascertained. The gaps gleaned from the assessment are quantified. Measures are discussed to bridge the same. Roles and responsibilities are defined based on rectification measures and time duration set to achieve a particular standard. Review mechanisms are set in place to check the adherence to the measures decided.

Test Management:
Comprehensive testing is a highly collaborative process involving various business and technology groups. Teams have to deal with multiple environments. Project management plays a crucial function assembling the concerned parties at the right time. ARK Solutions Inc brings experienced project managers and in-house tools for making projects successful.

Test Planning and Execution:
ARK Solutions Inc testing life cycle model has been adapted from the waterfall model. In conjunction with the development life cycle it forms the V-model. The defined model does not mandate that a phase should be completed fully before the next phase begins, except when the entry criterion is dependent on the previous phase. ARK Solutions Inc may improve the model when more information is available on requirements and with experience in the Client's business environment. Based on the applications business and technology area, deployment environment and users, various types and level of testing will be required.

Defect Management:
The main goal of testing is to prove that the system functions according to requirement specifications. Since testing efforts are geared toward uncovering defects before they end up in the production environment, a robust defect management mechanism is important to our ability to assess the quality of the product being tested.

Business Case Development:
ARK Solutions Inc Application Services utilizes industry proven techniques and tools to perform thorough cost benefit justifications. Our services include:

• Development of formal business case justification for proposed IT initiatives/projects.
• Providing the right methodology to forecast and measure economic value for IT investments and initiatives.
• Providing the expertise to assess the benefits, costs and risks of IT initiatives/projects.
• Providing the service and/or tools to forecast, compare and track the economic value of IT projects throughout their entire life cycle.