- Nikkei Industrial Daily (16 June 1999)
Introduced Groupmax Enterprise Version 5 in a groupware related reports "New Product Research".
- Nihon Keizai Shinbun (31 May 1999)
Printed an advertisement focusing on Toyota Motors Inc. as a user.
Introduced Hitachi open middleware, such as Groupmax, OpenTp1, JP1, NETM/DM and HiRDB.
- The Business and Technology Daily News (19 May 1999)
Hitachi has developed a new version of integrated groupware with a linkage facility conforming to international standards.
- Denpa Shinbun (19 May 1999)
Hitachi will release the latest groupware with enhanced workflow facility and conforming to the WfMC standard.
- The Japan Industrial Journal (19 May 1999)
Hitachi will release the newest groupware with enhanced facilities for enterprises.
- Nikkei Bizteck (18 May 1999)
- Nikkei Computer (24 May 1999)
At the end of June, Hitachi will release a new Groupmax version that enables you to construct large-scale workflows.
- BCN/Computer News Inc., (18 May 1999)
[New Products] Hitachi's groupware with enhanced workflows.
- ASCII24 (18 May 1999)
Hitachi Ltd., will release Groupmax Enterprise Version 5.
- Nikkei Net (19 May 1999)
Hitachi will release integrated groupware to develop enterprise workflow systems.
- Nikkei Industrial Daily (19 May 1999)
Hitachi will release the latest groupware which enables companies to link to other companies.
Hitachi Ltd., will put Groupmax Enterprise Version 5 on the market.
- Windows NT World (May 1999)
- Introduction to Groupmax Workflow
Groupmax presents an enterprise business solution
- Report on solution
Linkage with Groupmax Workflow and ERP package enables flexible system construction.
- User cases
Central Motors Ltd., Tokai Rika Ltd., and Horipuro Ltd.
- Nikkei Industrial Daily (11 January 1999)
Hitachi HISOFT developed a template series to create application programs for efficiency in the General Affairs Department
Hitachi HISOFT developed a template series "Ebisu 30-sen for Groupmax" to create user application programs for Groupmax. Expects to find a new market in smaller businesses.
- The Japan Industrial Journal (4 Janaury 1999)
Trend Micro cooperated with Bull France, NEC and Hitachi
Trend Micro, Inc., one of the largest anti-virus software makers started providing products for Bull France, NEC, IBM and Hitachi.
- Nikkei Computer (21 December 1998 (No. 459))
The 4th Customer Satisfaction Survey reveals:
Groupmax was ranked No.2 overall.
In the "Facilities for linking with RDBs and other applications" category, Groupmax was ranked No. 1. This result shows that customers evaluate Groupmax highly.
- The Japan Industrial Journal (1- December 1998)
Hitachi Software Engeneering Co.,Ltd. sells management software to read email easily
Begins selling Mail Controller for Groupmax with the headline "Easy email reader".
- Nikkei Computer (23 November 1998) Trend
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. renovated their whole information system by spending 30 billion yen.
The company is expecting a return of twice the amount they invested.
- ASCII (A monthly magazine of home & office computer science) December, 1998
95Reader3.0, software that vocalizes contents of a window, will change the environment for blind workers.
This article contains a comment about Groupmax adopting 95Reader.
- The Sankei Shimbun (1998/11/20)
Release of new software for visually impaired people! The software helps by vocalizing the contents displayed on a PC window.
- BackOffice Magazine (November 1998)
MCSP News - No.3 by Meitetsu Computer Service Co., Ltd.
Introduces the groupware developed by Meitetsu Computer Service Co., Ltd. using Groupmax.
- The Business and Technology Daily News (1998/09/04)
Hitachi has licensed part of its integrated groupware to a South Korean software company.
- Nihon Keizai Shinbun (1998/08/07): Article about the second meeting for Groupmax advanced users
Groupmax users (mostly large companies who use Groupmax) had a meeting to exchange information such as the technology of using large groupware system and know-how about operations.
- Windows NT World (July 1998): Techniques of creating Groupware using ASP
Introduces Groupmax as packaged software for constructing a workflow system using ASP (Active Server Pages).
- PC-Webzine (26 June 1998) Part 1: The Trends and Strategies for Introducing Groupware
Groupmax Supports the Japanese Style of Business by Hiroshi Fujise (Open Network Computing Software Department, Software Division & Software Development Division, Hitachi, Ltd.)
- Homepage of Nikkei BizTech (24 June 1998): Information Systems
Hitachi enhances the groupware Groupmax for supporting the Web.
- Impress Internet Watch Digest News (24 June 1998): Product Information
Hitachi will release a new Groupmax groupware product supporting the WWW on July 1st.
- Homepage of Akita Kennan Nichinichi newspaper (1998/06/01)
Omagari city used Groupmax to develop a new system for managing documents. This system improved the acuracy of document management. (Monday, June 1)
- Homepage of Nikkei BizTech (1998/05/18)
ARACO Corporation started to use Groupmax Workflow, and reduced working time by 250 hours per month, resulting in the elimination of a management group.
The article introduces the reasons why they decided to use Groupmax (reasons such as comprehensive workflow facilities and good response).
- Network Computing (May 1998) Special Issue: Envolving Groupware Products
Introduces some major groupware products including Groupmax Version 3, and provides some articles about Groupmax users and related software products.
- netPC (May 1998)
- Talks about Groupmax in a special section by comparing several groupware products from different companies.
- The Nikkei Industrial Daily (6 March 1998) Groupware
Hitachi's competitive pursuit of Lotus Notes in groupware system construction
- The Business and Technology Daily News (30 March 1998) Groupware
Hitachi begins sales to small and medium enterprises, strengthening partnerships and opening local support centers.
- Nikkei Computer (30 March 1998)
[What's Hot?] Hitachi's Groupmax
Groupware suited for Japanese companies, but do they really need the enhanced version?
- Nikkei Information Strategy (May Volume) Forefront of Groupware
Introduces Groupmax Server in the article "Marketing in Small and Medium Enterprises"
- NT WIZARD vol.1 (1 May 1998)
The groupware products suited for a system that has 20 to 100 clients
Introduces an overview of Groupmax, the system organization, and the distinctive Workflow product in pages featuring Hitachi and other companies' groupware products.
- Monthly Intranet (April 1998) Groupware of 98
Strengthening related sales and developing customers among small and medium enterprises
- BackOffice Magazine (April 1998)
- Nikkei Information Strategy (April Volume (no. 72)
- Contains a separate issue that introduces Groupmax
- Nikkei Computer (2 March 1998 (no. 438))
- Contains a separate issue that introduces Groupmax
- Monthly Intranet (March 1998) contains a special issue about Workflows.
- Nikkei Communications (2 February 1998)
- Nikkei Computer (2 February 1998 (no. 436))
[NEW PRODUCTS] Software for servers: Hitachi's Groupmax Version 3, groupware that can be used on a World Wide Web browser.
- Nikkei Computer (22 December 1997 (no. 433))
The 3rd customer satisfaction survey reveals:
Groupmax was ranked No.4 in the overall ranking.
The rankings in the individual categories were:
| Reliability | No.1 |
| Productivity for developing applications | No.2 |
| RDB and linkage with other applications | No.2 |
| Ease of system management | No.2 |
| Price | No.2 |
| Usability | No.3 |
| Ease of installation and initial settings | No.4 |
In the "reliability" category, Groupmax gained 68 points, greatly leading other
groupwares.
- NIKKEI Windows NT (December 1997 (no.9))
[NEWS] Hitachi has adopted a strategy that emphasizes the WWW in their software business.
The first approach is with groupware and management tools.
[NEW PRODUCTS] Hardware: Hitachi's PC server that includes pre-installed groupware and environments for developing and operating applications.
- PC WEEK (21 November 1997)
Groupmax Version 3, groupware made entirely in Japan, has arrived.
Equipped with an enhanced version of a workflow system. The workflow system
reinforces an infrastructure that uses web-based collaboration information.
- Denpa Shinbun (7 November 1997)
Hitachi introduces Groupmax Version 3, which includes an improved workflow system
for intranets. Improvements include the application of Java technology.
- The Nikkei Industrial Daily (7 November 1997)
Hitachi enriched integrated groupware for intranets
- Denpa Shinbun (22 October 1997)
"Installing Windows NT and integrated groupware
Hitachi introduces FLORA S Groupmax Server"
Hitachi, Ltd. introduces PC server, FLORA S Series Groupmax Server. As soon as it is installed, you can use groupware, where Windows NT Server 4.0 and Hitachi integrated groupware Groupmax are already installed. This combination is 30% lower than systems where the PC server and other software are purchased separately.
The FLORA S Series Groupmax Server (consisting of one server and ten clients) has a list price of 1,530,000 yen. Sales of three thousand servers are projected for the first year.
Groupmax Server is shipped with necessary settings already completed. Formally installing and setting up Groupmax (consisting of one server and ten clients) requires about one day. Because Groupmax Server comes with these settings, you can save money. When you expand the system, you can also save money because the procudures for expanding the system, as well as for installing the system, are already built in this model.
Hitachi has established Groupmax Solution Assist Center to help customers install groupware and, at the end of October, provided the Groupmax Management Deputy Service to promote its services.
- Nikkei Mac (November 1997)
"10th Annual Best Software selected by 1,300,000 readers"
| Groupware: |
1. | Lotus Notes |
| 2. | Microsoft Exchange |
| 3. | Groupmax |
- The following Nikkei magazines for personal computers sponsored this award:
- Nikkei Mac, Nikkei Personal Computer, Nikkei Byte, Nikkei Click,
- Nikkei WinPC, Nikkei Best PC, Nikkei PC21, Nikkei NetNavi
- Nikkei Computer (1 September 1997)
- Fundamentals of Workflow -
"Workflow operations and benefits"
Nikkei Computer introduced Workflow in its September 1, 1997, issue. The article explains the fundamentals of Workflow, one of the main special features of Groupmax.
- Nikkei Computer (4 August 1997) - foldout volume
A 20 page brochure for advertising Groupmax was included in Nikkei Computer. It presents the latest trends in groupware, and descriptions and user implementations of Groupmax.
- OA Business Personal Computer (September 1997)
Quest for '97 innovation in groupware:
- Groupmax
- Enlarging its openess, ready for intranet, promoting large-scale operability
Minimum customization required in configuring application systems
- Nikkei Open System (15 June 1997)
"Solution: Intranet-based purchasing system, NTT Data Communications Systems"
We compared seven products to analyze an electronic payment system in a purchasing department. After we sent several vendors a questionnaire covering operability, standard features, customization, system linkage, multi-platform, support, and cost, we looked into the results, then chose Hitachi Groupmax Workflow as the best system.
We have tested overloading the Web server that configures the system. We had a hard time writing a test script because we could not prepare an appropriate product that controls sessions on HTTP where Cookie is adopted. As a result, we found no problems with overloading the server, which was simultaneously connected to the maximum number2 of one hundred clients at peak capacity. Although we expected the response via Web sites would be delayed, we did not see much difference as compared with existing host terminals.
- Nikkei Computer (17 February 1997)
"Hitachi promotes groupware
To integrate with the Internet and Exchange"
Hitachi, Ltd. promotes its Groupmax groupware product. The mailbox is integrated among Groupmax Workflow Management and Microsoft Exchange e-mail software.
An end user who operates the workflow system in Groupmax need not monitor the mailbox exclusively used for Workflow, because tasks are automatically entered in the Exchange mailbox.
- Windows NT World, January Special Issue, Back Office World
"Groupmax for Exchange, Hitachi
BPR tool which effectively supports reengineering staff and divisions"
Groupmax Exchange can help analyze, improve and automate the mail-circular processes. It helps users visualize the mail-circular process and collects information to automatically execute, manage and analyze mail-circular process.
- The Nikkei Industrial Daily (1 December 1 1997)
"Hitachi groupware and workflow ready for the Internet"
Hitachi, Ltd. introduced Groupmax Version 2, groupware for the Internet. Workflow jobs formerly exchanged via LANs are ready for the Internet. Hitachi foresees sales of 500 thousands sets the first year. Groupmax can utilize workflows by using the Web browser; and it integrates with Lotus Notes and Microsoft Exchange. The standard list price for the Web version is 58,000 yen.
- CYBIZ (December 1996)
"How far can they close in on The Giant, Lotus Notes?" Analysis of the seven main Japanese groupware products
From among all groupware features, the Hitachi Groupmax product gives special priority to the workflow features.
In effect, this product combines groupware with a workflow system.
- Network Computing (October 1996)
Intranet created by groupware
"Introduce groupware in UI and integrate core systems and information systems"
Hitachi presents "Global Network Computing" as the concept for future business information systems. This concept indicates a new style of business information system, in which core systems (OLTP), information systems (data warehouses), and collaborative systems (groupware) work together and merge with the Internet as the infrastructure.
- The Nikkei Industrial Daily (24 October 1996)
"Hitachi establishes support center. Develops sales promotion"
Hitachi Ltd. is strengthening its support and sales strategy for the groupware product Groupmax. Hitachi Ltd. has established a support center which can handle tasks from consultation about introducing a system, to troubleshooting after the system has started. The support center presents forums for users, and carries out sales campaigns.
These moves enable Hitachi Ltd. to strengthen its support system and, at the same time, to establish a presence, thereby ensuring a share in the fast-growing groupware market.
- Nikkei Communications (15 July 1996)
"New standard developed for directory management for intranets."
Lotus development announced the June release of the WWW server and software package DominoII, which will be able to link to Lotus Notes. DominoII can support LDAP. Novel is also scheduled to support LDAP in NDS. Among the Japanese vendors, Hitachi and Fujitsu intend to support LDAP in their groupware products. Hitachi plans to support LDAP in Groupmax Version2 at the end of 1996.
- Nikkei Communications (1 July 1996)
"Japanese makers hurry to put easier intranet construction tools on the market"
From among groupware that works with the WWW, a product which can use a WWW browser as a client appears. ... One uses the dedicated gateway software method, which connects a WWW server and groupware by the gateway.
Hitachi used "Increasing safe applications" in Groupmax V2
The number of applications that can be used safely by working through firewalls is increasing. These applications include e-mail software like cc:Mail, or groupware like Notes or Groupmax.
- Nikkei Computer (24 June 1996)
"Within the year, Hitachi Ltd. will equip Groupmax with a standard protocol for directory management"
Hitachi provides intranet products: Tools for Java and groupware
In quick succession, Hitachi Ltd. is providing development tools for intranets using WWW servers and browsers, and is providing groupware products.
The latest version of the Java development tool APPGALLERY will be released this fall. Also, from June through the end of this year Hitachi will strengthen the intranet features for the groupware product Groupmax.
Vendor's product strategy: "Merging"
Hitachi product manages workflows from a browser
Hitachi's Groupmax Version2, released in June, provides the most complete set of groupware features for groupware that can be used from WWW browser.
- Nikkei Communications (17 June 1996)
"Hitachi equips Groupmax with a standard protocol for directory management"
Hitachi Ltd. will equip the groupware product Groupmax with LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol).
- Nihon Keizai Shinbun (7 June 1996)
"Hitachi releases groupware for intranets"
- The Nikkei Industrial Daily (7 June 1996)
"Hitachi enables browsers to access groupware features in intranets."
- The Business and Technology Daily News (7 June 1996)
"Hitachi releases new model of groupware with features usable by browsers"
- The Japan Industrial Journal (7 June 1996)
"Intranet and groupware established: development speed increases up to tenfold"
- Denpa Shinbun (7 June 1996)
"Hitachi's integrated groupware Groupmax strengthens intranet features"
In addition to the above, the Nikkei BP homepage contains the latest news and user reports.
