Based in the Netherlands, Inter Access is one of Oracle's strategic local software development and systems integration partners for the Dutch and Belgian public sector. With 900 employees and a 25-year pedigree, Inter Access has one clear aim: to be the country's best provider of technology and IT services to government and public organisations.

Within the public sector, Inter Access focuses on three types of organisation: local governments, central government and social security. Its customers include the city administrations of Arnhem, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Dutch Ministry of Justice, the Dutch police force and organisations like KLIQ and UWV, which help the unemployed find work.

Inter Access draws on its close partnership with Oracle to create public sector-specific solutions that help its customers streamline their operations, work more efficiently, deliver better service to citizens and help government organisations of all shapes and sizes to make the transition to e-government.

One of its key solutions is called Web+, which helps customers to integrate different applications using a service-oriented architecture. It draws on the most advanced integration features of Oracle Application Server 10g to offer standard integration functionality for web services. The inclusion of Oracle's BPEL Process Manager in Inter Access Web+ means that front offices can be integrated very quickly with the back-office applications to create automated end-to-end processes.

Web+ offers a package of more than 500 automated processes that are common to many government organisations, allowing online services to be implemented and rolled out quickly to citizens. The types of service that can be automated with Web+ include applying for planning permission, registering for a parking permit, applying for a dog licence or making an official complaint. Oracle's BPEL Process Manager plays a major part in integrating the different web services required to make up each process, and Inter Access has been very pleased with its ease of use and stability, according to the company's Edwin van den Thillart.

Inter Access is deeply committed to its partnership with Oracle and committed to using the best of Oracle technology to enhance its public sector solutions. "Oracle is very scalable, which means we can use it for all sizes of customer, from those that deal with just a few civilians to those that deal with large numbers of people," says van den Thillart.

As an Oracle Certified Advantage Partner (the highest level of partnership), Inter Access enjoys a close working relationship with Oracle. The two companies regularly involve each other in their marketing activities, including direct mail campaigns, telemarketing efforts, conferences, seminars and events. "We're also working really hard together on the sales side," says van den Thillart. "Our public sector sales teams work together on RFPs and pitches, we have joint business plans, and we're also working on a number of joint business development initiatives."

For Oracle's forthcoming fiscal year 2006, the two companies are planning to expand their joint business further, particularly as regards Oracle E-Business Suite of applications. "We are one of Oracle's biggest applications partners in the Benelux, and we are looking for more sales opportunities in that area, especially in the hospital sector," van den Thillart says.

Another growing opportunity for on-demand solutions based on Oracle technology, which is where Inter Access sees the public sector market heading. "We can offer a predictable monthly fee to provide on-demand services for our solutions and for the Oracle E-Business Suite. We are also seeing more and more demand for standard government solutions that we can develop once and which can be used by many different government organisations," he says.

Inter Access would advise other public sector ISVs to investigate the benefits of working with Oracle. "Oracle has so many possibilities to offer its partners," van den Thilllart says. "You have to go to Oracle with a proposition, but once you have convinced them that you can add value, they will always reciprocate." Forging relationships with individuals within Oracle is the best approach, he advises, as well as making use of all the partner-focused programs and tools that Oracle has to offer.

"Basically we help Oracle and they help us," he concludes. "We do a lot of work together and that is highly beneficial for both of us."

Where Next?

Read more about Inter Access at www.interaccess.nl (Dutch language)

Find out more about becoming an Oracle partner at partner.oracle.com