Escher Grp Share Discussion Threads

[knackers] 18/1/2014 14:59

I see on indeed.com that QA implementation engineers are now being recruited to the second and third shifts [1600-0001 and 0001-0800] which suggests to me that things are ramping up.

In the near future, deployment QA will therefore be around-the-clock - a clear positive i.e. we can take it that coding work is well and truly complete. Given this intel I'd stick my neck out and say with a fair degree of confidence that the licence payment trigger to be realised late Q1/early Q2 i.e. potentially coinciding with year end results. Remember, payment is only conditional on a threshold % of workstations being upgraded not full implementation. Also bear in mind this is a nationwide programme effecting critical national infrastructure, so the deployment effort must be 1) very carefully phased/planned/co-ordinated and 2) expedited. They also need to be extremely confident in the robustness, performance and functionality of Riposte version for USPS (it will have been customised), irrespective of its track record elsewhere.

Hugely ambitious/high profile programme. 40,000+ workstations to be upgraded aka an Enterprise-scale project with a capital 'E'.

I'd like to have seen SAP AG develop and manage this project!! The cost would have been tens of millions - and it would have taken years to complete IMO. This is the critical edge Escher have, they understand both the current/future needs and challenges of their clients better than anyone.

Just one more point on the s/w being deployed; I'd think it highly likely (indeed, a given) this latest version of Riposte will be modular, which opens the door for business digital mailbox 'services' to be added in the future (i.e. Riposte TrEx)...
;o)

One of the best kept secrets on the market - but I see that Escher's CFO is speaking at MSM Conf (Shares Mag) on 4 Feb. Turning up the vol...?

Escher wanting to draw attention to themselves whatever next ;o) and at this time - close proximity to results. I think we can take that as a positive.

[deuchar] 17/1/2014 17:28

I agree any news on UPS?

[edwardt] 17/1/2014 15:55

knackers - any feeling on where we are at with the USPS contract? i must say the share price action and lack of any volume is sending me to sleep!
Ed

[knackers] 17/1/2014 15:24

RNS, further extension of patent for digital mailbox solution to the business setting. Could be a nice fit with the USPS deal, in that TrEx might in the future be added to that more conventional 'Riposte' implementation.

[knackers] 08/1/2014 11:06

No lack of ambition here:

[deuchar] 21/12/2013 09:14

Surely this is the most underrated tech share in the market. Could someone explain why this seems to have been totally overlooked by the market.

[knackers] 20/12/2013 11:48

This one's flying well under the radar.

Have to say my attention has been elsewhere. Probably time to tweak the focus....

[knackers] 18/12/2013 08:50

More local media coverage which provides further texture to this deal and what will ultimately be delivered. Looks very much like an eBusiness and digital mail box service going forward. Huge potential. Impressive scope - kudos to Escher.



SAPO awards eRigistered mail tender

The South African Post Office (SAPO) has awarded a tender to have eRegistered mail services provided to SA's more than 51 million citizens.

SAPO spokesperson Johan Kruger has confirmed that a tender for an eRegistered mail solution has been awarded to Escher Group Holdings, a provider of outsourced, point-of-sale software to the postal industry. Escher says its solution, RiposteTrEx, is a secure, scalable, high-performance platform for "digital correspondence".

According to Pauline Kenna, director of digital services at Escher Group, the company has focused a lot of time and investment into understanding the rapidly changing communications landscape, and how citizens are looking to be connected in a secure and accessible manner.

Kruger says the eRegistered mail solution forms part of the SAPO e-business roadmap. "Businesses, government and the citizens will now have a consolidated, secure and trusted platform to exchange and store digital communications and transactions, which also – at the same time – complements the current postal communications in a country that still experiences a huge digital divide."

...and the juicy bit:

He explains that consumers will in future have access to a single "secure electronic post box" for all their electronic communications, without having to worry about security, spam, storage and retrieval of their digital communications.
The project will form part of existing SAPO e-solutions such as hybrid mail, where SAPO receives data from large customers for their bulk communications. The post office routes these communications electronically to decentralised print sites around the country that print, envelope and post these communications from sites closest to the addressee. SAPO can cater for mobile delivery, e-mail and electronic bill presentment and a payment channel delivery to complement the physical delivery of mail.

"More information about the eRegistered mail solution will be made available during the course of 2014," says Kruger.

In June, SAPO officially joined the information security game after launching its Trust Centre. The centre provides, among others, digital certificates that identify a server (SSL certificates), or an individual (personal certificates) to encryption keys and identification data to protect electronic communications or transactions from been intercepted by unauthorised parties, to authenticate the user and to digitally sign communications. The strongest authentication certificates also allow online users to communicate and transact online with clear legal status.

"The post office's electronic bill presentment and payments platform makes it possible for businesses to enable their customers to access their bills and statements online via their own Web sites, Internet banking Web sites, mobile apps, or post office branches," says Kruger. "It allows for quick, real-time validated payments."

[knackers] 06/12/2013 16:20

Some interesting insight on what the platform will provided by this local press coverage. Hybrid mail services - intriguing. I'd have thought this will position Escher very well for the Norwegian ePost tender next year.

[knackers] 06/12/2013 11:42

Morning Battle - wow these guys are good with their bids/pitches - they're a machine! Sorry not to have picked up this news any earlier... attention elsewhere.

This is significant, as I think I'm right in saying it's Escher's first RiposteTrEx sale into their core postal market. Escher is making a smart and bold move now delivering this [new] digital messaging technology to their clients. Gather the USPS deal was a traditional Riposte sale but no doubt with the potential for TrEx, at some time in the future, to be bolted on.

Same here, Deuchar - v m looking fwd to final 'delivery' news on that USPS roll-out. Big old project with Riposte being deployed across about 80,000 workstations!

The share price will catch-up with developments all idc. Plenty of promise and potential in 2014, could be quite a year...

[battlebus2] 06/12/2013 07:29

Some good news today..


Escher Group Holdings PLC The South African Post Office licenses RiposteTrEx
Print
Alert
TIDMESCH

RNS Number : 8642U

Escher Group Holdings PLC

06 December 2013

6 December 2013

Escher Group Holdings plc

The South African Post Office licenses digital mail offering, RiposteTrEx

Escher Group Holdings plc, (AIM: ESCH, "Escher" or "the Group"), a world-leading provider of outsourced, point of sale software to the postal industry, announces that the South African Post Office has selected the RiposteTrEx(TM) platform to deliver its eRegistered mail solution following a rigorous tender process. The South African Post Office will, through this platform, provide eRegistered mail services to the country's more than 51 million citizens.

Escher's solution, RiposteTrEx(TM) is a secure, scalable high preforming platform for "digital correspondence". The RiposteTrEx(TM) platform heralds a new phase in the evolution of secure e-services and digital communication.

Pauline Kenna, Director of Digital Services at Escher Group said:

"We at Escher have focused a lot of time and investment into understanding the rapidly changing communications landscape, and how citizens are looking to be connected in a secure and accessible manner. The whole Escher team is looking forward to delivering RiposteTrEx(TM) to the South African Post Office".

RiposteTrEx(TM) will allow South African Post users including, citizens, government, business and SME's to send eRegistered and confidential mail to secure digital mailboxes, or as registered hybrid letters.

Liam Church, Chief Executive of Escher Group said:

"Consistent with our goal to help Posts provide more services to Government, I am delighted that the South African Post Office has chosen Escher's RiposteTrEx(TM) platform to deliver digital services to the country's citizens.

"RiposteTrex(TM) is our solution for eGovernment, allowing citizens, governments and businesses to communicate and transact with each other anytime and from anywhere. This capability will be key as more governments evaluate their digital services provision."

[deuchar] 04/12/2013 18:15

No but hugely under priced especially taking into a/c the technology and $6m coming in next quarter-an accident waiting to happen on the upside

[edwardt] 04/12/2013 15:45

all gone to sleep here - any material updates anyone seen??

[battlebus2] 13/11/2013 15:11

Yes pleasing to see a move in the right direction.

[battlebus2] 06/11/2013 16:28

Oh dear! Switching the screen off :))

[knackers] 06/11/2013 15:15

Looks that way for the moment Battle, but with year end fast approaching.

[battlebus2] 06/11/2013 14:20

Bottom drawer for a while it seems Knackers.

[battlebus2] 01/11/2013 11:54

LOL patience will reward us eventually :))

[knackers] 01/11/2013 11:52

Way more activity than accompanied the interims - that's fickle for you, "...what we'll do is ignore your wins and successful progress but punish any hint of delay. Seem OK..?"

Inst'l holders will have been made fully aware of the narrow deployment/year end window. Incredible that such a lowly valued company can be responsible for such a mega project, which is ERP scale (and I bet SAP pitched for this work!). The code has been delivered - Escher punching way above their weight.

Don't let the bu$$ers get you down ;o)

[knackers] 01/11/2013 11:03

Posted 23 days ago. One of a number of deployment resources that have been/are being recruited.

GWI has an immediate need of QA Tester/ Deployment Support Resources to work in Raleigh, NC. The job description is as under:

The client has a requirement for two System Engineer resources with experience supporting the planning, development, installation, testing, integration, implementation and support of the hardware, software, and communications components that comprise a large, multi-platform technology infrastructure.

In support of an Enterprise wide deployment to retail point of sale systems, resources are needed to plan, develop, test and document the process for conversion to new software in a computer development laboratory. Once tested, the support will be required for the installation and integration of the software, hardware and telecommunications components during the production roll out to over 40,000 terminals.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

- Microsoft's Active Directory, Windows POS_Ready operating system and security patch management.
- Scripting processes to automate tools and utilities are essential in developing efficient conversion processes.
- Enterprise wide conversion processes.
- Deployments to distributed systems.
- Software packaging, developing and supporting images.
- Testing and working in engineering lab environments.
- Troubleshooting, identifying, analyzing, and solving problems at customer sites for POS hardware, software, and telecommunication related issues.
- Develop and test a process to monitor and report on the progress of terminal conversions.
- Knowledge of Escher software or other Retail System software.
- Knowledge of .net framework, C++, NCR XRT80/82 a plus.

System Engineer Function:

- Experience writing automated scripts and automated software conversion processes.
- Ability to work in multi system, multi-vendor environment
- Ability to test automated scripts and automated software conversion processes for distributed software deployment to Point of Sale terminals.
- Experience working in a test lab environment, developing and testing multiple end user scenarios
- Ability to provide end user support and troubleshoot deployment conversion issues quickly.
- Ability to develop and document procedures and processes.

Hours of Support:

- Initially the support hours will be during regular business hours but off hours support will be required to support the deployment to include nights and weekends.

[battlebus2] 01/11/2013 09:57

I see a couple of late reported sells this morning 3 and 4k which seems to have knocked us. Anyway the future is always in front of us :))

[knackers] 01/11/2013 09:31

Buy, yes indeed, but to sell - at this price...? Incomprehensible!