Software

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Over the next 12 months, MicroMax wants to expand into avionics and white goods.

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Filed under: Automotive | Canton, MI | Defining New Markets | MicroMax | Rachel McCormack | Software

Looking over the next 12 months, Rachel McCormack, President of MicroMax, is looking to expand into avionics and white goods. Avionics represents a good fit. Mike, MicroMax's CEO, got his start in avionics and so is familiar with the industry. Further, mission critical avionics components require stringent testing much as in the automotive industry.

The market for MicroMax's products in white goods like refrigerators and washing machines is less clear. While these products have embedded systems, the extent to which testing is necessary is less apparent.

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MxVDev is Micromax's answer to software project management in a global environment. The system essentially removes bottlenecks in software project communication by moving the focus in requirements from verbal expressions to software tests.

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Filed under: Automotive | Canton, MI | Enterprise Software | Finding Gaps | Globalization | MicroMax | Rachel McCormack | Software

MicroMax developed MxVDev as a response to the demands of software project management in a global economy.  MxVDev is MicroMax's product for testing embedded software systems.  As mentioned in an earlier segment, embedded software systems are those where software enhances an already existing function. For instance, embedded software is what enables anti-lock braking systems.

Given the importance of embedded systems like anti-lock braking, testing is critical. MxVDev attacks testing differently in a few ways:

• It eliminates communication overhead by expressing the requirements into software tests that are either passed or not. Both parties agree that the requirements are met when the tests are passed.
• It emulates the embedded system itself in software eliminating the need to ship expensive equipment around the world for testing.
• It allows multiple tests to occur at once, thereby accelerating the testing process.

Rachel McCormack, MicroMax's President, introduces us to how the company was founded, and its current markets. In future segments, we'll explore its innovative response to globalization.

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Filed under: Automotive | Canton, MI | Finding Gaps | MicroMax | Rachel McCormack | Software

This segment is the first in our series with Rachel McCormack, President of MicroMax (download 7 minute ipod compatible video, 36MB). MicroMax is a 40 person software engineering services firm founded in 1997 in Canton, MI. What makes MicroMax interesting to Michigan Innovators is its response to the decline in its traditional market, the auto industry, and its innovative approach to globalization.

In this segment, Rachel introduces us to MicroMax, how it was founded, and its current markets. In its brief 10 year history it has undergone a few transitions:

• Rachel originally founded the firm to do legal services. Within the year, her husband Mike joined and added the software engineering component directed toward the auto industry.
• Ultimately, Micromax evolved toward a specialization in testing embedded systems (software that enhances a product, like anti-lock braking systems) with additional expertise in developing said systems.
• With the decline in their market in the auto industry, MicroMax has been actively seeking other markets in avionics, defense, and white goods (i.e., household appliances).
• MicroMax has recently opened a branch office in Huntsville, AL.

In future segments, we'll explore MicroMax's new software product offering that is allowing it to play a role in the global testing market.

Victor Naidu discusses how he has managed Ramsoft since 1992 when he founded the company with his wife. He describes the process as anticipating the technology sweet spot sufficiently ahead of the curve of mass adoption. At that point, the need for the technology is clear but exactly how it fits in with individual businesses is not. Innovation comes in discovering the nexus between business needs and technological capabilities.

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Filed under: Finding Gaps | Information Technology | Ramsoft Systems, Inc. | Software | Southfield, MI | Victor Naidu

In this 8 minute podcast (download iPod compatible, 42MB), Victor Naidu and I begin a fascinating conversation regarding how his company, Ramsoft, has innovated in IT consulting. Victor and his wife began Ramsoft in 1992, initially focusing on a cutting edge software methodology, rapid application development. Later in the 1990s, Victor moved on to the Internet and Enterprise Resource Planning software.

After outlining the company's history through the 1990s, Victor reflects on when it is best to enter a market:

• Being a market leader is good because customers perceive you as an expert and are willing to hire you as such.
• However, it is not good to create the market because you will have to wait too long to actually get a return on your investment.
• Entering the market near the stage of mass adoption guarantees low returns as the service is commoditized.

In our next conversation, we will discuss how Victor applied this philosophy to entering the ERP market.

Additional Links

• Wikipedia provides a description of Rapid Application Development.
• This Wikipedia article provides a good account of ERP software, used to integrate enterprise systems.