Quantrix is an alternative to two-dimensional spreadsheets and modeling tools. Quantrix is based on the same novel concepts and layout as the seminal Lotus Improv and Javelin Software. Like Improv, Quantrix has been adopted primarily by the financial industry, where its ability to manipulate various “categories” or "dimensions" makes it easy to view forecasts, budgets, and financial projections under many scenarios. In this particular usage, it may be assumed that category or dimension is synonymous with class, a mathematical term. Quantrix allows a user to model financial systems by computing relationships between many classes of data. This capability is a key differentiator which separates it from traditional spreadsheets. Quantrix is used for business planning, forecasting, budgeting, risk analysis and all types of complex data modeling.
A similar Quantrix product was developed by Lighthouse Design for NeXTSTEP and OPENSTEP in the early '90s, which was discontinued when Lighthouse Design was acquired by Sun Microsystems in 1996. Peter Murray, founder and CTO of Quantrix (Subx, inc. dba Quantrix), led the Lighthouse Quantrix development team at the time, but did not go to Sun. He decided in early 2002 to rejuvenate the concept from scratch with modern day technologies, which is when the current Quantrix (Modeler) began to take shape.
Quantrix was acquired by ID Business Solutions in August 2010.
People commonly perceive the cost of spreadsheets to be minimal since they come preinstalled
on their corporate desktop. However, the true cost of spreadsheets to businesses
would be a surprise to most. One way to calculate these costs is by using the “Total Cost
of Ownership”, or TCO, approach by incorporating a set of factors over a certain time
period. Factors include ongoing overheads for maintenance, the time and effort spent
recovering from errors in business-critical models, opportunity costs associated with a
loss of productivity, lengthened turn-around times for model changes, to name just a few.
There are other less tangible costs and risks such as errors which lead to diminished
customer service (and retention), professional reputation, and competitive positioning.
Quantrix today announced that Gartner Lee, a Markham, Ontario-based environmental consulting firm, has expanded its use of the desktop quantitative modeling software application Quantrix Modeler. Gartner Lee has used Quantrix Modeler since 2003 to develop financial decision support models, but used to export the data into traditional spreadsheet technology before delivery to its customers. Now the company delivers models directly to customers in Quantrix, and can turn projects around faster, reduce errors, and make client-requested changes on the fly.
Gartner Lee uses Quantrix to develop financial decision support tools for public and private sector organizations, A recent model of a county wastewater system calculates land use growth potential out 20 years, and ties those data to water and sewer requirements. It calculates net cash flow for the 20-year period based on growth rates of the municipality, operating costs, capital costs, and recovered tariffs. Gartner Lee developed the model in Quantrix, and delivered it directly to the customer in Quantrix, bypassing the step of exporting all of the data into a traditional spreadsheet.
"A project that size normally would have taken us two months to deliver," says Andy Keir, VP of strategic management for Gartner Lee. "Now, we can deliver it in two to three weeks." In addition, Keir says a huge benefit of Quantrix is its ability to "accordion" the model: "Any time you want to add another variable into a matrix, users just hit the 'enter' button," says Keir. "Clients always ask, 'can you add this?' In traditional spreadsheet technology, that is an onerous task; Quantrix is much more adept at this type of expansion."
According to Keir, purchasing the Quantrix Modeler technology for customers is significantly less costly than developing or exporting models to spreadsheet technology because the company can turn projects around significantly faster. "Expanding our use of Quantrix has already opened up more business opportunities for us, because the project price for clients is considerably reduced," says Keir. "Quantrix allows us to be much more responsive, to have less error, better quality, faster turnaround, and better client service. Quantrix is providing us with a competitive edge."
"It's hard for companies to break away from familiar technology, even when it no longer meets their needs. But once companies start using Quantrix Modeler, they don't look back," says Chris Houle, Chief Operating Officer of Quantrix. "It's a tool that was designed for real-world decision making."
Quantrix Modeler incorporates a unique approach that separates the logic of a model from the structure, which allows users to create and use formulas outside the confines of the cell. Formulas are expressed in words rather than by cell coordinates so they are easy to understand, trace, and audit. Users can make changes, incorporate new dimensions, and view multiple scenarios dynamically without redesigning or reworking their model.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, Quantrix develops financial and quantitative modeling software for professionals pushing the limits of traditional spreadsheets. Through intuitive architecture and a powerful, multidimensional calculation engine, Quantrix software enables users to reach new levels of business insight. Its flagship product, Quantrix Modeler, enables users to explore multiple dimensions simultaneously, define formulas with words rather than coordinates, and easily explore new scenarios without rewriting or restructuring models. Quantrix has customers in more than 20 countries. Quantrix has received funding from several sources, including the Maine Technology Institute
Quantrix Modeler is designed for dynamic businesses that need insight into their financial and business data,” says Els Scholten, Customer & Partner Relations Manager, Quantrix. “Our customers throughout the world appreciate the benefits and convenience of service and support from local management consultants and solution providers. We are excited to add to our network of international partners. They will enhance the delivery of our business and financial modeling solutions around the world.”
MISNet is a consulting firm that provides business intelligence and enterprise performance management services for medium to large organizations throughout the Philippines, Australia, and Singapore. It uses Quantrix Modeler for financial modeling, price and margin analysis, revenue management and business intelligence. It chose the solution to provide a versatile tool that its customers can easily bring into their organizations and immediately receive benefits.
A similar Quantrix product was developed by Lighthouse Design for NeXTSTEP and OPENSTEP in the early '90s, which was discontinued when Lighthouse Design was acquired by Sun Microsystems in 1996. Peter Murray, founder and CTO of Quantrix (Subx, inc. dba Quantrix), led the Lighthouse Quantrix development team at the time, but did not go to Sun. He decided in early 2002 to rejuvenate the concept from scratch with modern day technologies, which is when the current Quantrix (Modeler) began to take shape.
Quantrix was acquired by ID Business Solutions in August 2010.
People commonly perceive the cost of spreadsheets to be minimal since they come preinstalled
on their corporate desktop. However, the true cost of spreadsheets to businesses
would be a surprise to most. One way to calculate these costs is by using the “Total Cost
of Ownership”, or TCO, approach by incorporating a set of factors over a certain time
period. Factors include ongoing overheads for maintenance, the time and effort spent
recovering from errors in business-critical models, opportunity costs associated with a
loss of productivity, lengthened turn-around times for model changes, to name just a few.
There are other less tangible costs and risks such as errors which lead to diminished
customer service (and retention), professional reputation, and competitive positioning.
Quantrix today announced that Gartner Lee, a Markham, Ontario-based environmental consulting firm, has expanded its use of the desktop quantitative modeling software application Quantrix Modeler. Gartner Lee has used Quantrix Modeler since 2003 to develop financial decision support models, but used to export the data into traditional spreadsheet technology before delivery to its customers. Now the company delivers models directly to customers in Quantrix, and can turn projects around faster, reduce errors, and make client-requested changes on the fly.
Gartner Lee uses Quantrix to develop financial decision support tools for public and private sector organizations, A recent model of a county wastewater system calculates land use growth potential out 20 years, and ties those data to water and sewer requirements. It calculates net cash flow for the 20-year period based on growth rates of the municipality, operating costs, capital costs, and recovered tariffs. Gartner Lee developed the model in Quantrix, and delivered it directly to the customer in Quantrix, bypassing the step of exporting all of the data into a traditional spreadsheet.
"A project that size normally would have taken us two months to deliver," says Andy Keir, VP of strategic management for Gartner Lee. "Now, we can deliver it in two to three weeks." In addition, Keir says a huge benefit of Quantrix is its ability to "accordion" the model: "Any time you want to add another variable into a matrix, users just hit the 'enter' button," says Keir. "Clients always ask, 'can you add this?' In traditional spreadsheet technology, that is an onerous task; Quantrix is much more adept at this type of expansion."
According to Keir, purchasing the Quantrix Modeler technology for customers is significantly less costly than developing or exporting models to spreadsheet technology because the company can turn projects around significantly faster. "Expanding our use of Quantrix has already opened up more business opportunities for us, because the project price for clients is considerably reduced," says Keir. "Quantrix allows us to be much more responsive, to have less error, better quality, faster turnaround, and better client service. Quantrix is providing us with a competitive edge."
"It's hard for companies to break away from familiar technology, even when it no longer meets their needs. But once companies start using Quantrix Modeler, they don't look back," says Chris Houle, Chief Operating Officer of Quantrix. "It's a tool that was designed for real-world decision making."
Quantrix Modeler incorporates a unique approach that separates the logic of a model from the structure, which allows users to create and use formulas outside the confines of the cell. Formulas are expressed in words rather than by cell coordinates so they are easy to understand, trace, and audit. Users can make changes, incorporate new dimensions, and view multiple scenarios dynamically without redesigning or reworking their model.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, Quantrix develops financial and quantitative modeling software for professionals pushing the limits of traditional spreadsheets. Through intuitive architecture and a powerful, multidimensional calculation engine, Quantrix software enables users to reach new levels of business insight. Its flagship product, Quantrix Modeler, enables users to explore multiple dimensions simultaneously, define formulas with words rather than coordinates, and easily explore new scenarios without rewriting or restructuring models. Quantrix has customers in more than 20 countries. Quantrix has received funding from several sources, including the Maine Technology Institute
Quantrix Modeler is designed for dynamic businesses that need insight into their financial and business data,” says Els Scholten, Customer & Partner Relations Manager, Quantrix. “Our customers throughout the world appreciate the benefits and convenience of service and support from local management consultants and solution providers. We are excited to add to our network of international partners. They will enhance the delivery of our business and financial modeling solutions around the world.”
MISNet is a consulting firm that provides business intelligence and enterprise performance management services for medium to large organizations throughout the Philippines, Australia, and Singapore. It uses Quantrix Modeler for financial modeling, price and margin analysis, revenue management and business intelligence. It chose the solution to provide a versatile tool that its customers can easily bring into their organizations and immediately receive benefits.
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