Local systems integrator IQ Logistica has won the OutSystems International Innovation Award for 'Best Deployment Speed'. The program recognises those enterprises using the OutSystems Platform to transform IT and drive innovation, efficiency and productivity in the process. OutSystems South Africa director Craig Terblanche says the candidates from across the globe were evaluated on the business impact, business results, user adoption and experience rates, and measureable IT benefits. "We are delighted by a South African company winning one of these prestigious awards."

When IQ Logistica set out to build a hosted, cloud-based platform linking South Africa's textile and apparel industry value chain, they estimated a two-year development timeframe. The application does full traceability and sustainability compliance from farm to retail. Using the OutSystems Platform and just nine FTEs, analysis and development time was reduced by more than 50%. In the first year, the program met 100% of its KPIs and is on track to meet the following five years' objectives. This includes creating jobs for 7224 people and increasing local beneficiation of cotton from 7% to 80%.

IQ Logistica executive director Chris de Wet is ecstatic about this accolade. "What makes 108 weeks effort possible in 38 weeks ? We were fortunate that we did not have to fight legacy and the industry was on its knees. This helped us to avoid bells and whistles and to focus only on the real core objectives. OutSystems makes it really easy to focus on the business needs because the fundamentals are already taken care of."

“This year we received an unprecedented group of applications that demonstrated exceptional approaches to aligning enterprise needs and goals with IT. The competition was stiff, but these organisations rose above the rest for their pioneering initiatives and applications,” said Darcy Kurtz, vice president of global marketing for OutSystems. “We would like to congratulate each winner on the creative and forward-thinking approaches to rapidly delivering mobile and web applications,” he concludes.