COMDDAP

COMDDAP is an association of the country's top information technolgy businesses. Its primary objective is to promote the sustainable development of the of the country's information technology industry through voluntary collaboration of its member companies. It is the goal of COMDDAP to be able to provide its members general views and updates from different sectors - private and government, and highly regarded individuals to further uplift the morale and knowledge of its organization.

The vision of promoting and elevating the standards of Information technology (IT) in the Philippines fueled a group of prominent computer companies to form the Computer Distributors and Dealers Association of the Philippines or COMDDAP. Its initial member-companies represent the world's leading makers and providers of computer product solutions and peripherals.
In 1997, the manufacturing sector - represented by industry leaders Hewlett Packard, Epson and Compaq, among others - was integrated into the COMDDAP membership, making the association a more diverse representation of the IT sector and thus the new name, COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND DEALERS ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES.

It is a three-day expo (July 2-4, 2009) that showcases Information Technology (IT). The expo was held at the Apo View Hotel on the July 2, 2009. Inside the Hotel, are numbers of companies were there to display their products in their respective booths. There as displays of best and latest products offered by different company that is connected to Information Technology.

This is the following sessions I joined on Thursday, July 2, 2009:
*The HP Thin Clients that was during 2:00pm up to 3:00pm
*Retail Management System Overview that was during 3:00pm up to 4:00pm
*Open Source for Business Application that was during 4:00pm up to 5:00pm

The first session I joined introduces the HP Thin Clients. Thin Client is a computing device without the hard drive and fan. The speaker discussed that It has a very low power consumption that ranges about 11W to 20W, which is 80% lower than a desktop computer and also discussed the advantages of the hardware. The hardware was enabled with a higher data security in both hardware and software. It has no moving parts, so therefore every thing inside the hardware is attached to it securely and it will never budge no matter how hard you shake it and it is really is thin. Its height and length is half that of a normal system unit and its width is a quarter.

Retail Management System developed by Microsoft. This software offers the following for its users:

• Streamline Operations- lets the owner view and update the inventory and track the inventory while the user id offline, reserve shipments, purchase order and share reports.

• Improve Profit Margins-easily adjust pricing, identify best selling items, track the return of investment and is employee productivity.

• Build Customer Loyalty-customize receipts, flexible pricing structures, which mean it would be easy to adjust the price if the customer has a discount or any other related.

• Manage Business, Not Technology-easy install and training of employees will not take a huge amount of time. It can also access online help and managing different inventory types is not a problem.

• Have a life outside your business-it eliminates the hassle of always being onsite thus, enabling the user to check his business’ branches or establishments anywhere and anytime.

Next was the Retail Management System Overview

The following are the key features of the RMS:
• Inventory control and tracking
• Purchase order
• Pricing, sales and promotions
• Sales tracking
• Powerful, flexible reports

The major significance is that application of the IT/IS systems are very useful in the business. Especially in dealing with business transactions, manipulation and data security.

The last session I had attended was the Open Source for Business Application. The person who talked in front was Ben Aligre, a Project Manager of Spin Web. Open Source is an approach to the decision develop, it is no vendor lock in the source is open and free to use. It is license software that is free for distribution and access to the source. There was confusion with the word of “free”. Because when you heard the “free software” they find it free as in free beer. And that’s why they change it to Open Source. There are softwares that are non-proprietary or do not need license. These softwares are Open Office, Mozilla Fire fox, Lime wire, Transmission, Ubuntu, Thunder Bird, Pidgin, Gimshop, VLC and many more.