Discover what creates the magic in our work.

Jan 26, 2011

Happy Birthday, XTOPIA!

XTOPIA's websiteXTOPIA is officially 1 year old (blow the candle, yeah!).

XTOPIA has come a long way since 2004 when XiMnet first launched our own Content Management System (CMS) for our first client, BP PETRONAS Acetyls Sdn Bhd (BPPA). I still remember the days back then when we tried to hack and assemble the open-sourced CMS to fit into the BPPA's Intranet design. With the tight deadline looming, the open-sourced CMS was giving us headache in customizing it as it contained too many functions that cannot fit into the portal design.

On that one fateful day in 2004, when we were reviewing the BPPA's project progress report, we made the decision to build our own CMS. Since then, we have been deploying XiMnet's CMS for various clients across the industries. XiMnet's Content Management System is given interesting names as we go through several upgrades, such as XiMnet CMS, SWiRL, iCube, JoyCube and finally XTOPIA.

Today, XTOPIA consists of several modules:

There will be more functions to be made available in XTOPIA, so stay tuned to our blog for updates.

Jan 25, 2011

XIMNET & Digital Alchemy in 2011

2011 is going to be a special year for XIMNET. Yeah, I will explain, but before that, some backgrounders.

2011 is the 11th year XIMNET has been in the web development business. I will, from now onwards, no longer refer to XIMNET as a web development company but simply as a Digital Agency. I think a digital agency not only sounds a lot better, but also because the work we do at XIMNET are no longer limited by the web.

So XIMNET is a Digital Agency, and we are going forward riding the waves of exciting change brought about by constant technological and societal changes in the new millinieum.

Hi there, my name is Wiley Chin. I am the Chief Alchemist of XIMNET MALAYSIA, a digital agency that's focused on delivering quantifiable, exciting results to our clients in Malaysia and across the region.

Looking back, what a journey it has been for my team and I over the past 10 years. XIMNET was founded in San Jose, USA on 2000. I remember sitting in our little office putting ideas together and reviewing them with Patrick K, and Esmond G, who is always running too far ahead and changing his mind about what is needed for this client and that.

And yes, I remember one winter morning in 2000, I made a remark about how bad the "Columbian Coffee" was in the pantry, and Luisa B, who is incidentally from Venezuela, thought I was mad. Apparently Columbian Coffee is gourmet coffee. I didn't know that, and to me, Aik Cheong Coffee from Malacca is 10 times better.

But all those heady dotcom dayscame crashing down after September 11, 2001.

When it became clear that we were headed for closure, I made up my mind to take the company to a different direction. With some funding from a friend, I bought out the company from my VC friend, Esmond G. And so around September 2002, XIMNET MALAYSIA with its focus on web development got started.

And we've been operating in Malaysia for 8 years going to 9, not counting the founding years when I was an employee. In my mind, however, XIMNET is 10 years old.

2011 is our new decade to take XIMNET, the digital agency and run the distance in creative digital exploration, developing a powerful suite of apps that will form an exciting e-commerce platform , results-based digital engagement consultancy, and most of all, "digital alchemy".

2011 is our year to paint bold strokes against this vast canvass of possibilities called the digital space!

DIGITAL ALCHEMY @ WORK will feature all of my team-members with their respective roles and insights in our business.

1. Florence Wan will be focusing on digital Sales & Marketing consultancy.
2. Lydia Lai & Hui Sheng will be talking about XTOPIA and our software exploits
3.Deborah Sze and Team will be creating innovative designs and user interface ideas.

NOTE: I used to maintain a blog called THE ALCHEMIST'S LAB . It's been a little dormant after more than 6 years of being a place where I collect my thoughts. You can go there to take a look at where I come from, but going forward, this is the new home for my ideas and thoughts.

Till then,

ENJOY!

Wiley Chin a.k.a. Chief Alchemist