Advanced Data Integration -
Business Case for Success
Presented By:
Allan Sonkin – Project Manager, Blackboard Consulting
Kent Leonard – Director, Blackboard Consulting
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
2:00pm - 3:15pm

• Any statements in this presentation about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our most recent 10-K filed with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of April 11, 2005.
The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the
Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to April 11, 2005. Blackboard, in its sole discretion, may delay or cancel the release of any product or functionality described in this presentation.

• Session Objectives:
– Integration Technology
– Implementation Process
– Defining The Value
• Innovation
– Maturity of the ADI Technology &
Experience
• Results/Outcomes
– Client Case Studies

Better Integration is Possible

Networked Transaction Environment™

Residential Life
Securely enters and leaves facilities
BbOne SM
Local merchants accept
University ID Card as payment
The Online Campus
Check your account balance, order items online
Bookstore
Purchase goods and services
Campus Activities
Purchase game tickets
Parking
Pay for garage fees
Food Service
Cafeterias and vending machines

Multiple Interfaces
+
Vendor confusion
+
Unrealized ROI
+
Dead ends  Support Issues
________________________
Ubiquity challenge

=

• Two categories
– Transaction Integration
• Transaction Integration Agent (TIA)
• Point to Point Interface
• Financial Information $
• TIA Host
– Data Integration
• Data Integration Agent (DIA)
• Database Integration
• ASCII Data
• Building Blocks™ Manager

3 rd Party
Point of Sale
3rd Party
Server
Transaction Integration
Agent
Blackboard
Transaction
System™
Blackboard Building Blocks
Application
• Third Party Point of Sale Systems
• Campus Bookstore
• Campus Convenience Stores
•
Controlled Printing
• Fee Payment
• Parking Solutions
• Arena Concession
• Print Management

Data
Information
Data Integration Agent
Data Integration Agent
Blackboard
Transaction
System
Blackboard Building Blocks
Application
• Student Information Systems
• Door/Event Access Systems
• Residential Management
Systems
• Video Imaging Systems
• Blackboard Community System

Blackboard
Transaction
System
$ Blackboard
Learning
System™
Student Information
Systems
Bookstores, 3 rd Party
Transactions
Blackboard Building Blocks
Application
$
Print/Copy Management
Blackboard
Community
System™
Video-Imaging
Residential
Management

Building Quality Tools & Documentation

Advanced Data Integration Process
Document, Design, Build, Test & Support
Business Rules
& Data Mapping
Technical
Design
Configuration
& Integration
Testing &
Production
Project Management
Ongoing
Support

Business Rules
& Data Mapping
Technical
Design
Configuration
& Integration
Testing &
Production
Ongoing
Support
• Documentation of the business requirements of the various stakeholders in the system
– Identify Desired Data
– Locate Databases
– Unique Users
– Multiple Data Sources
• Identification of the rules which govern the relationship between data on various systems
– Duplicate Records
– Privacy

Types of Data to Exchange
Card
Production
Card Data
Other POS/ POA
Systems
Privilege Data
Transaction Data
Update
SIS/HR
People Data
Add
Delete
Blackboard Building Blocks Application
Translate
Blackboard
Transaction
System
Privilege Data
Transaction Data
Advanced Data Integration provides the ability for the automatic and near real-time update of people, card, privilege and transaction data between systems on campus ensuring the effective management of campus business requirements and rules.

Business Rules
& Data Mapping
Technical
Design
Configuration
& Integration
Testing &
Production
Ongoing
Support
• For each data type, identify:
– Rules of exchange
• Data Management
– Master data source, permissible updates
• Event Triggers (Translation)
– Based on data exchanged, what events need to occur
» E.g., Student no longer enrolled  card deactivated; student assign to dorm a  assign privilege a, plan b
• Timeliness
– Who set the rules (authoritative oversight)?
– Who manages/reconciles the exchange?

Business Rules
& Data Mapping
Technical
Design
Configuration
& Integration
Testing &
Production
Ongoing
Support
• Technical design
– Data Flow
– Data ownership
• Integration Tools
– Blackboard Building Blocks Manager & Integration
Agents
– Blackboard Extract
– Custom Scripts
– File Exchange (format, locations)
• Third-Party Systems
– File Exchange (format, locations)
– System Administrator

Business Rules
& Data Mapping
Technical
Design
Configuration
& Integration
Testing &
Production
Ongoing
Support
• The technical design of the advanced data integration is then used as the basis for the configuration of the
Blackboard Building Blocks
Manager (Integration Agents)
• In cases where Blackboard
Building Blocks Manager cannot fulfill the Business
Rules, integration customization services are performed

Business Rules
& Data Mapping
Technical
Design
Configuration
& Integration
Testing &
Production
• Testing Plan
• Launch Sequence
• Approval and Sign-off
Ongoing
Support

Business Rules
& Data Mapping
Technical
Design
Configuration
& Integration
Testing &
Production
• Documentation
• Hand-Off Call
• Integration and Customization Support for
Advanced Data Integration
• Information and Support Requests
Ongoing
Support

Work Smarter Not Harder

Activity
Business Rules &
Data Planning
Tasks

Kick-off Call

Review Planning Workbook

Collect System Data

Collect Field Data

Define Split/Combine
Requirements

Define Translation
Requirements
Owner
Blackboard/Campus
Blackboard/Campus
Campus
Campus
Campus
Campus
Technical Design
Configuration &
Integration

Hardware Installation
(if required)

Software Installation

Collect Sample Import Files
(from External Systems)

Present Final Data
Configuration

Obtain Campus
Approval for Design

Agent Configuration

Provide Sample Out Files
(to External Systems)

Document Data Flow
Blackboard
Blackboard
Campus
Blackboard
Campus
Blackboard
Blackboard
Blackboard
Due Date
Week 1
Week 1
Week 2
Week 2
Week 3
Week 3
Week 3
Week 3
Week 4
Week 4
Week 4
Week 5
Week 5
Week 5

Activity
Testing &
Production
Integration &
Customization
Maintenance
Tasks Owner

Closed Systems Testing
(using sample data)

Controlled Open Testing
(limited and monitored)

Obtain Campus Approval for
Production

Initial Production Period
Review

Presentation of Final
Documentation

Hand-off Call with Support

On Going Maintenance
Blackboard
Blackboard /Campus
Campus
Blackboard /Campus
Blackboard
Blackboard
Blackboard
Due Date
Week 6
Week 7
Week 7
Week 8
Week 8
Week 8
Ongoing

• Blackboard Consulting
Proposal
• Kick-Off Call Agenda
• Project Plan
• Data Collection
Worksheets
• Data Flow Diagram
• I&C Profile
• The ADI Planning
Workbook

Advanced Data Integration
Planning Workbook

Blackboard Building Blocks
Manager

Client Objective
•
Replace legacy General Meters system
• Develop automated connectivity between
Blackboard Transaction System , Colleague
SIS and Siemens Access on campus
Blackboard Delivery
• Implemented core system and dining modules
• Establish business-rule based near real-time integration with SIS and
Access System using Blackboard Building
Blocks
Client Outcomes
• Upgraded commerce program with a platform for phased expansion
• Ability to automatically update cardholder status and cards issued

Client Objective
• Replace Diebold system that had reached its limit
•
Provide
integration with financial,
department and retail systems
Blackboard Delivery
• Implemented automated integration with Athletics, Bookstore, Parking, Payroll, and Micros systems
•
Developed customized integration of account balances with My UW portal environment
Client Outcomes
•
Replaced previous system and custom integration in roughly 6 weeks
• Automated management of athletic debit funds to ensure NCAA compliance

Client Objective
• Give students more flex spending choices on and off campus
• Desire to tightly manage conversion to single account with increased deposits capability
Blackboard Delivery
• Business analysis, planning, change management controls, and system reconfiguration services
Client Outcomes
• Smooth and timely delivery of account reconfiguration
• 35% overall increase in deposits and commission revenue

Client Objective
• Eliminate the problems associated with processing hundreds of meal plan changes during the first month of the semester
Blackboard Delivery
•
Integrate web-interface with the Transaction
System to obtain existing meal plan data
•
Process necessary change in Transaction
System including update of privileges, plans and account balances
Client Outcomes
•
Elimination of long lines and wait times for students who want to change meal plans
• Elimination of manual efforts required of office staff to calculate and process required account change

General Ledger Integration
Saves Countless Hours of Work
Client Objective
• Eliminate manual reporting and accounting processes that required significant effort each month
Blackboard Delivery
•
Developed a web interface tool to automate merchant disbursement
• User interface provides for user authentication and report configuration
•
Data file creation integrates with GL system via automatic file transfer
Client Outcomes
•
Elimination of 24 to 36 person days of effort annually (disbursement compilation, authorization, error resolution)
•
Ability to expand vendor and merchant base without adding more accounting staff

Advanced Data Integration -
Business Case for Success
• Innovating Together in ‘05:
– There is great value to moving toward the Networked Transaction Environment
• A key component of which is seamless system integration
–
Blackboard has developed the Blackboard Building Blocks Program to facilitate that integration
– Blackboard Consulting has developed services to help campuses successfully implement and manage that integration
• Resources Available:
– Blackboard Web Site http://www.blackboard.com/
• Follow up Contact(s):
– Blackboard Sales Engineers 800-929-4244: Michele Neyers x2469, Duane Dalager x 1145, Paul DuBois x 2295
– Kent Leonard, Director of Blackboard Consulting, Blackboard Commerce Suite™, kleonard@blackboard.com
, x2492
• IF YOU ONLY REMEMBER 1 THING:
– Blackboard has the tools and expertise to integrate your campus, take advantage of it.