Emerson to Help Customers Anticipate Support Service Needs with Vista Gadget Created by Catapult Systems

AUSTIN, Texas – October 30, 2007 – Catapult Systems, a leading Microsoft consulting firm and nationally managed Microsoft Gold Certified partner, today announced that it has developed a gadget for use by Emerson Process Management. The Guardian Gadget will enhance the easy-to-use window that Emerson’s SureServiceSM support services provides for customers to manage and maintain their DeltaV™ digital automation systems. The new Guardian Gadget will be available with Vista versions of the award-winning DeltaV system. 

Gadgets are applications that can integrate with other solutions and attach to the Windows Sidebar on the Microsoft Windows Vista desktop. SureService services are part of Emerson’s global Guardian Support customer care program.

“Automation professionals need on-time, pinpoint information to maintain their DeltaV systems at the highest level of performance. At Emerson Process Management, we continually seek better ways to help our customers more easily stay ahead of the game,” said Jim Cahill, marketing manager and Emerson Process Experts blogger. “The Guardian Gadget provides an always-on, highly visible way to flag problems and give users quick direction on actions to take.”

As one of its many functions, the DeltaV system monitors the health of a plant’s production process and alerts users to problems via operation workstation, telephone, pager and email. The SureService team, seeing in the popularity of the new Vista operating system an opportunity to anticipate its customers’ needs, wished to create a gadget that integrates with the Guardian Support to provide an easy desktop view for users with pinpoint system management notifications.

To develop this process industry first, Emerson chose Catapult for its unparalleled Microsoft expertise and its application development experience. Responding to Emerson customers’ top process manufacturing concerns of application, availability and sustainability Services, Catapult created the gadget to change colors and pulse at varying rates of speed, depending on issue type and severity. Additionally, flyout messages provide users with further information and action items.

“Catapult’s understanding of our needs and those of our users ensured that this tool will be relevant to our customers for years to come,” noted Guardian product manager Kim Van Camp.

“The Guardian Gadget is a demonstration of Emerson Process Management’s vision and customer focus,” said Mark Grimes, director of sales and marketing, Catapult Systems. “Vista is the way of the future, and with the Guardian Gadget, Emerson is showing a prescience that continues to set it ahead of its competitors.”