A service originally developed to ease data migration to JD Edwards’ ERP software is to be used to allow car buyers to check the background of prospective purchases.
LemonCheck, which will be launched at the National Motorshow this week, features a back-end software engine built by New Zealand developer Slik Software that queries government databases for information about a vehicle and processes the data based on rules built into the software.
The buyer enters the car registration number and, according to LemonCheck director Mike Nelson, the service will gather 300 to 400 different pieces of information about the vehicle. If anything is amiss, such as that money is still owed on it, the buyer will be alerted. Lemon-Check will also provide information on the highest known odometer reading for the vehicle, if the car is diesel and if the registration tax is paid up, the engine, VIN and chassis numbers, and if it’s been reported stolen.
Christchurch web developer Avatar Productions built the front end of the service. The service, which costs $25 per check, will compete with the Vehicle Inspection Report service.
Slik Software’s Slik (systems legacy interface kit), which is behind the service, is a data migration tool created by former Fisher & Paykel systems analyst Chris Wenzlick. He developed the software to provide interfaces between F&P’s legacy systems a newly implemented JD Edwards ERP system. It generates and executes scripts and handles file transfers.
Apart from F&P, which uses it to interface with dealers — including across a WAN to one based in Australia — it is used by Sky Television to post programming information collected from legacy systems to the Sky website and subscribers’ TV screens. It is also used by W Stevenson & Sons, which is part-way through a JD Edwards implementation. W Stevenson & Sons IT manager Jim Swanson describes Slik as a good tool.