Beta Program Overview Page

Beta Program: Overview

This document will give you a basic understanding of the beta program. Read the document first as it is intended to answer some of the most common questions. If you are interested in participating, you will find instructions in this document.

What is the ECSI Beta Program?
Why did you start the program?
What are the advantages of a beta program?
What projects are currently active?
If I join, will you listen?
If I don't join, can I monitor a project's progress?
How can I join?
I have more questions.

What is the ECSI Beta Program?
In brief: "A chance for you to voice your opinions". That may sound like a glib answer but it is closest to the truth. Who knows our business better then our clients? Nobody! Everything we produce is ultimately for you, the client.

The beta program gives you a chance to review products or features before they are released to the general public. The review process is not intended to be 'one way'. We want your feedback. Tell us what you like and don't like. If something is missing, speak up.

Your opinions are fed back into the development process and will have an impact on future products and services.

While ECSI has always tried to be responsive to user's suggestions and comments, we've never had "an official" vehicle for distributing materials and collecting responses. The beta program is our attempt to make this a formal process.

Why did you start the program?
In the past, there have been several people who offered to help review and test new products and services. We approached a couple of them during the 1998 User's Conference and asked if they were still interested. When they agreed, that started the ball rolling.

During Tuesday's session, we hinted that we would attempt to address some of the communications issues. We knew that ECSI would have to carefully determine what could be done in a reasonable time frame. We were cautious not to announce anything that couldn't be delivered in a reasonable time frame. We decided to ask a lot of questions and pose a few suggestions during the Technology Session.

That's when the discussion really got going. In Wednesday's Technology Forum, we received many good ideas and some strong, positive responses to a few ideas. We talked about a couple of approaches to take advantage of the offers without overloading our clients time.

Since the conference, ECSI management and staff have worked hard on establishing the guidelines for a successful beta program. This program is long overdue. Responding to your comments, we decided that is was the right time to start.

What are the advantages of a beta program?
For the client, you get a product that more closely matches your requirements. You get the chance to ask (via a formal method) for things that you think may help you and our community in general.

For ECSI, your participation helps us ensure that we develop and deliver the tools you need to succeed.

What projects are currently active?
Check the Beta pages in the Technology area. That page will contain the most current information. You will also find the results of past projects, and a list of future projects.

If I join, will you listen?
The intention is to collect all opinions. Then, try to make a consensus and establish a decision. We honestly could never include every suggestion made. We hope to take the most popular and the most important ideas and somehow get them on our schedule.

If I don't join, can I monitor a project's progress?
There will be periodic postings in the public areas of the site. When decisions are reached, the intentions will be published for general review when appropriate. Even if you don't actively participate in the beta process, your comments and suggestions are still important to us. Drop us an email or a phone call if you have comments you would like to discuss.

How can I join?
Instructions will be placed on the beta pages of the Technology area. Briefly, you find a project that has interest to you and sign up. The instructions to join a beta project are described on the project's page.

Sometimes we will have to limit the number of participants due to time constraints or other factors. Don't be discouraged if you can't get into a project - there will be plenty more.

I have more questions.
If you have any questions not addressed in this overview, forward them to Webmaster@ecsi.net. We will try to provide the information you need.