Optimal
Technology & Configurations
Optimal Technology
While optimization technology is quite sophisticated, Optimal applications are designed to enable users to have the benefits of the technology without having to understand its complexity. In a sense, Optimal is a GPS for decision support; provide the data, say what you want to know, optimize, and the solutions will be presented. Of course, the more data associated with the problem the more tables and records to manage.
Overview
The Optimal interface has many features to facilitate ease-of-use. While these features vary by application, generally, the following apply:
- Menu-driven. Optimal applications have a menu to guide user operations.
- Data tables. Optimal data is presented in tables (formulas and references are not hidden as in spreadsheets) that can be configured by the user.
- User privileges. Optimal applications enable administrators to assign appropriate privileges to users.
- Hosting. Optimal applications are hosted in the cloud on Microsoft Azure.
- Database. Optimal applications use the Microsoft SQL Server database.
- Languages. Applications include English and one other language.
- Package Applications. Applications are packaged; no custom code required.
Configurations
Each Optimal application is tightly designed for a specific industry with a set of optimizing models, problem specific mathematics, and other essential features. The result is a system that exactly meets your needs.
Entry Level to Enterprise Configurations
Applications developed for an industry and problem (model) type include a series of configurations that increase the scope of the optimization and features in the application. This provides for less expensive entry level applications as well as more sophisticated configurations that scale up to enterprise level applications.
Configurations for most applications include the following:
- Simple. An educational application.
- Basic. A minimum feature application for optimizing small problems.
- Standard. A configuration suitable for small and medium problems.
- Corporate. A configuration with features required by larger companies.
- Enterprise. A configuration suitable for multi-site deployments.
Product Pricing
Most Optimal Solutions are sold as annual or multi-year subscriptions. Subscriptions for a specific application are priced based on the set of models included in the subscription, special constraints for the problem addressed, territory factors, the number of users and sites, and other factors.
Subscriptions include the following:
- Hosting
- Updates and enhancements to the licensed software
- Use of the software per the terms of the subscription
- Assistance in construction of the Optimal database
- Training as provided in the Subscription Agreement including as available tutorials, references, as per the subscription agreement
- Various means of support including email, chat, email, web conferencing, and telephone support per the contracted support terms