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EAFIT students, development motors in project with Aleriant

Medellin Software for the world

System Engineer students from EAFIT University were the ones selected for an alliance between the university and Aleriant, in order to design software that is sold around the world.

It is hoped that these offices expand to other cities in the country.

BY: GUSTAVO A. ZABALA BERRIO / gzabala@elmundo.com
NEWSPAPER: EL MUNDO /Tuesday, February 15, 2005

How many institutions around the world have software being developed by engineers from Antioquia? The exact number has not yet been established. The important point is that these types of programs have been exported to different countries around the world for the past three years.

Why this question? Because many young people, all from EAFIT University, are being "recruited" by Aleriant, a Miami based company that gives system engineer students a chance to work and gain experience.

Carlos Hernandez, International Operations Director for Aleriant, affirmed that this alliance also seeks to project and internationally connect EAFIT with other universities.

The Chosen

Aleriant selects students coursing their sixth and seventh semester and gives them a chance to learn English and to work. They are then taken to the Unites States where they are given a job, salary, an apartment, a car, obtain "training and work on real and strong projects, afterwards come back to Colombia with a better understanding of the company, the type of client that we handle, they speak better English and go back to work in the offices," explained Hernandez. This past weekend, 6 of them left for the United States where they will stay for a year of internship.

Up to date the process has worked pretty well. This has given them ideas to open offices in Barranquilla, initially, and then in Bogotá and Cali (Colombia), all with personnel from EAFIT. These projects may also be carried out overseas in some countries in Europe, as well as in Canada, the United States, Argentina and Brazil.

Custom-made

Aleriant works under a system for developing custom made software, that is, what their clients want. They have strength in education software development and also work in health and banking application development, among others.

Some of the software projects have been developed for companies in the United States, Brazil and Spain, "and, these projects are developed here, the company's epicenter," he adds.

This student "seed plot" has yielded fruit, so much that it will be enlarged to include students from their third semester on.

"In the United States, it is important, since the development we carry out here is based on the marketing over there. We are doing a type of franchise where we sell the license and make an Aleriant office with low costs but with an amazing potential. It is not something that is limited to a region or territory. The offices are small, portable, may be brought from one city to another and may do business around the world, not limited to regions," commented Carlos Hernandez in relation to the business model used.

Johan Bedoya, Operation Director for Aleriant in Medellin, explained that software sales reach up to US $ 2 million in the country, while it has not yet been measured overseas.

Bedoya says "we have developed several processes and communication methodologies that allow us to have a model similar to India's Technological Outsourcing."

ALERIANT

Markets

The biggest client for Medellin-produced software is the United States. Other projects are being done for Canada, Brazil, Panama, Argentina and Singapore.

The software being developed may reach prices up to US$10,000 depending on the source, and there are projects that reach into US$500,000 and US$1 million.

"We have several projects that are underway and of vast size such as a Virtual Education System for the University of Miami, and we have developed systems for other companies that also specialize in education. We have worked for banks like Conavi and Bancolombia in Colombia and for other companies in Venezuela and the United States; we look for insurance projects," affirmed Carlos Hernandez, International Operations Director for Aleriant.

Aleriant is an international technology services company that provides customized software solutions, technology outsourcing and consulting services. The company has been serving fortune 500 companies, middle market and small businesses to boost their productivity, improve quality and reduce costs. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Aleriant has offices in Hollywood, Florida, Medellin, Colombia and Sao Paulo, Brazil.