Valori, a service provider in the field of Business IT Optimization, and USoft, known for its namesake Language Based Process Management Suite for modeling and building custom information systems, have entered into a partnership for joint marketing of USoft's URequire software. The partners are convinced that together they are in a position to accelerate and improve application development processes, by getting projects off to the best possible start; in the requirements analysis phase.

Three out of four software development projects exceed their budgets by far, in terms of both time and money. "In nearly all cases, this is due to defective requirements. Defective because they are either incomplete, or still open to discussion. Our partnership takes requirements analysis to a new high level of quality," says Roel Spans, managing director of USoft. "We complement each other perfectly. We supply the people and the expertise, and USoft, with URequire, the tools," says Michel Koning, managing director of Valori.

URequire is a software tool that offers support when collecting and managing high quality business requirements. The software is provided as an online service. URequire is special in that it is based upon natural language. This makes it easier to determine and define the client's demands and wishes. Above all, natural language improves unambiguity and understanding of the terminology that is used.

"Valori is specialized in the definition of the requirements that are needed to successfully adapt business processes and develop IT applications, and in the testing of whether the adapted processes and delivered applications actually comply with the requirements. URequire is a particularly powerful tool for the definition and management of consistent, high quality requirements," says Koning. "URequire is an excellent companion for our LEAN REQUIRESmart method. The tool provides an indispensable addition to our toolkit." In practice we see that the over-use of synonyms threatens the understandability and unambiguity of requirements. LEAN formulation, version control and sharing of information is then complicated. URequire removes this problem by providing an easily managed, central repository of definitions and concepts. Koning: "Working with natural language is unique. It is not without reason that USoft was proclaimed as named 'Cool Vendor'"

USoft are no less enthusiastic about the partnership. Roel Spans: "Our view of IT and our company culture are very similar. USoft and Valori are both highly focused on providing added value to our clients. Our clients can count upon their package of requirements being available more quickly, and with higher quality. This translates to lower costs and a shorter time to implementation. We know that a cost reduction of at least 20% is attainable, compared with traditional methodologies and tools."

Valori is also involved in the further development of URequire. "Valori is not only strong at the front end of IT projects - the requirements, but also at the back end, testing and quality assurance. This expertise in the field of testing is something that we are keen to include in our functionality", says Spans.