Sydney Internet developer and systems integrator Adaptive Technology has played a leading role in the design and development of an online order system for Barclays Global Investors. A spokesman said the order placement system will be used for large institutional investors placing high value orders. It will be rolled out to more than 50 institutional clients, first in the US then in Australia, Canada, Europe and possibly Japan. It is expected that the system will ultimately be used by up to 1000 clients.

A spokesman explained that the development was challenging not because of the volume of orders handled, but because of their size, complexity and sensitivity. The spokesman added that Barclays Global is the first investment firm to market in the US with an online order placement system for high value orders from large investors.

"Barclays Global Investors is now leading the market with this cutting edge service to its clients," claimed Mike Kelley, global technology manager of client systems. "We are keen to leverage the Internet to offer real benefits to our clients and reduce time and labour intensive processes internally."

Adaptive provided consulting in the fields of application server, Java and J2EE architecture and managed the Web-based application design, development and implementation.

"Adaptive Technologies consultants are clearly what consultants should be," Kelley said. "They are guiding us to the point that when they complete their project, we'll be completely self-sufficient. We now have experience with best practice in this technology."

Adaptive opened a US operation headed by director Andrew Liseenco early this year.