Project Management

Project Management covers the organisation and management of all the various components required to install or upgrade your SPEC2000 system, including:

• Procurement of the IATA Communications Network. (ARINC, SITA or other).
• Advice on upgrading your hardware.
• The SPEC2000 software and its installation, either on-site or via a remote capability.
• Delivering any training required.

Project management will be provided at cost and can be quoted for individually.

Installation & Training Service

Installing SPEC2000 is normally a straightforward process but some users may feel more comfortable with Blue Flag Technologies assisting directly.

Should you require detailed assistance, the current preferred method for Installation and Training is via remote access software, such as Microsoft Teams or GoToMeeting.

Training should ideally take place in groups of about three people. If a large number of users require training, there are two options.

1. Train a selection of two or three staff to a high level and allow them to train the other users. This way, key people have a detailed knowledge of the system and can help and support other users within your company.
2. You can opt for a lecture-style training session, which imparts the knowledge but has less hands-on experiential learning during the session.

For companies with no SPEC2000 experience, we recommend two days of training. On the first day, we will install the software then spend the rest of the day taking the users through the fundamental use of SPEC2000, how to add customer/supplier details and the basics of message sending and receiving. The second day concentrates on more detailed functionality of the software – the `bells and whistles’ which make the use of SPEC2000 quicker and more efficient. The second day will also focus on any issues raised by users.

If the basics of SPEC2000 have already been mastered by your users, you may decide to opt for just one day or more detailed training.

Training Content

We tailor each training program to suit a company’s individual requirements. Any combination of standard modules can be chosen:

Broad topic	Topic Detail
A global overview of SPEC2000	The relationship of the component parts – the ATA, Continental Data Graphics, Blue Flag Technologies and ARINC/SITA.
The scope of SPEC2000	Explanation of the different SPEC2000 modules and their application, including SPEC2000 Database and EDI capability
Software functionality	An overview of the component parts of the software.
Software functionality	Setting up a member of staff.
Software functionality	Setting up trading partners.
Software functionality	Sending and receiving messages and message turnaround.
Software maintenance	Managing your SPEC2000 traffic and message summaries.
SPEC2000 Message content	The application of each message type within your business.
SPEC2000 Message content	The explanation of individual fields.

SPECCOMM Plus Configuration

Please note: Training can cover as many or as few message types as you wish. The number of training days will depend on the modules chosen, the number of messages to be covered and the number of people to be trained.

Prices available on application.

Consultancy

This service is invaluable to any company looking to integrate SPEC2000 with host applications using SPECCOMM Plus.

We will work closely with you to ensure that we fully understand your requirements and will endeavour to provide clear and concise advice. Our areas of expertise cover the initial procurement of a communications transport method for your SPEC2000 system, right through to interfacing your messages to your host system.

We can also advise on the right choice of hardware setup, operating system, including the intricacies of setting up and using MS Remote Desktop Services for your SPEC2000 environment, should this be your preferred operating system choice.

We will work with you to ensure that your installation is the perfect fit for your organisation, including customising areas of the software to ensure it’s just right.

Our Message Configuration Service is available to assist with your configuration needs.

When SPECCOMM Plus is purchased, and the software has been installed, configuration or message mapping can be carried out to your specified requirements. All we need is the required incoming and outgoing file format, or database structure for each message beforehand, and we will set up SPECCOMM Plus to change each SPEC2000 message into your chosen file or database format.

We can provide a complete mapping service at our site in East Sussex. All you need to do is provide us with the specifications of the files that we are required to produce, plus examples of the files themselves to validate the process. Our in-house configuration service will reduce your lead-time in going live, as the only remaining programming will be how you wish to handle the SPEC2000 messages within your Host Application.

Software Upgrades

Whenever the ATA SPEC2000 Committee approves modifications to the SPEC2000 Specification (an SMR), we will amend our software accordingly, update any necessary documentation and send the updated version of the software and documentation to every customer with a current Annual Support and Upgrade Contract.

Our Development Team are continually enhancing our SPEC2000 software. We keep a “Wish List” where companies can suggest modifications to the software that will make it more effective in use. When released, the updated version of the software will include all enhancements to all customers with an Annual Support and Upgrade Contract.

Support Team

The Annual Support and Upgrade Contract purchased with the product gives unlimited access to our Support Team. We ship our software with a defect-free warranty and will speedily resolve any issues that may arise.

Historically, most of the issues have arisen from hardware or interface problems but nonetheless, our Support Team is available to give as much help as possible to make your use of SPEC2000 as smooth as possible.

Disaster Recovery Assistance

In the event of an unforeseen catastrophe, Blue Flag Technologies can quickly assist in disaster recovery procedures to help you get your SPEC2000 system up and running again in the shortest time possible.

Blue Flag Technologies can be on hand throughout the restoration process either on the telephone or remotely using remote control applications or both. 

Please note that Blue Flag Technologies Ltd can only assist, where you have a current Upgrade and Support contract.