Ad 1) No new investments
The Metatude Solution can be deployed without making additional investments in IT-infrastructure. The solution utilizes existing resources. It requires resources that every organization already owns: 1) a database, 2) a directory, 3) a web server and 4) a SMTP server. When no directory is available, the database can be used to serve as a directory.

Ad 2) Fast implementation
The implementation of the Metatude software is relatively easy. It doesn’t require integration with other applications. Only two central applications need to be installed: the Dialogue Server and the Channel Component. Installing is done with customized installers and only a few items need to be configured. After installing these two applications users of the system and administrators can use the two client side applications to design dialogues and to manage projects. An administrator can use the Metatude Project Manager to connect to the central server and manage users on the system and connect to directories. All intelligence for making connections is incorporated in the software. The administrator only has to fill out where a directory is located and how he wants to connect, using the LDAP protocol of via a JDBC connection (in case of an SQL database).

Ad 3) Flexible solution
The architecture is very flexible. All the elements can run on different machines in different locations and components are developed for all the major platforms. Layout of dialogues can be changed quickly by using style sheets and the central server holds all intelligence needed to easily connect to new directories.

Ad 4) No duplication of data
Duplication of data is avoided by making use of existing directories. There is no need to duplicate information on employees and customers in a separate place or in an application. You avoid using outdated data by directly tapping into the source data.

Ad 5) Minimizing manual labor
After the central components are installed and the necessary directories are hooked up, managers and consultants can execute their own stakeholder feedback projects without the help of market research firms or the IT-department. The complete process of defining questionnaires, defining target groups, collecting data and retrieving results is automated and can be managed by the end user.