OREANDA-NEWS. September 20, 2012. GE (NYSE: GE) announced the official release of Smallworld™ Office Suite 4.3, the latest version of its industry-leading, utility-specific geospatial application for managing complex network infrastructures. The updated software features innovations specifically designed to reduce cost, improve decision-making and demonstrate bottom-line benefits for global utility customers managing today’s expanding and evolving infrastructure.

GE’s Gas Distribution Office, Electric Office, Water Office and Global Transmission Office products are key components of the Smallworld Office Suite 4.3 and offer a variety of innovative features. The new Quality Manager feature provides robust data quality analysis and reporting, enabling customers to reduce data quality related costs. Improvements to the Upgrade Framework include a graphical user-interface-driven management tool for use with any Office Suite or custom application. In addition, updated risk management tools address needs and regulatory mandates experienced by many Office Suite customers.

“The new Smallworld Office Suite 4.3 demonstrates GE’s commitment to parallel our solutions with the evolving needs of our customers,” said Bryan Friehauf, product line leader—smart grid solutions for GE Energy Management’s Digital Energy business. “The 4.3 Office Suite provides an off-the-shelf software solution that allows utilities to manage their costs and risks in large-scale utility projects.”

The full Smallworld Office Suite 4.3 portfolio provides industry-specific functionality. The features enable growth in both the technical capability and subject matter coverage for electric, gas and water utilities around the world. It offers industry-proven functionality available “out-of-the-box” for quick installation and implementation. It also integrates with other GE software products such as outage management solution PowerOn Classic™ and distribution management solution PowerOn Fusion™, to provide a full end-to-end solution for utility companies.

Included with Smallworld Office Suite 4.3 is the latest release of GE’s Smallworld Core Spatial Technology™. This offering focuses on the productive management of geospatial data. New features include automated conflict resolution extensions and a user interface transition to Smallworld Application Framework architecture and Smallworld Interface Framework Toolkit presentation layer—engaging interface development via the new Quality Manager and Upgrade Framework.

The new update will provide GE’s Smallworld Design Manager, a product often used by utility companies to automate the design of new assets. Additional upgrades to the software include easy-to-use design layout tools with CAD-based precision placement features and improved support for formation and costing of designs. Other key features include compatible units, macro assemblies, points and spans, usability improvements to the design summary, menus and user interface framework and an administrative application with streamlined new project and design.

“All the software is connected to our core Smallworld network, providing enhanced integration and functionality,” added Friehauf. “We are happy to announce these latest products are now available from GE.”