The VTR&D team wanted to create an e-commerce developing environment that ensured the right balance of work between clients and consultants. Too much work by the consultants would make projects prohibitively expensive; too much dependence on the clients would risk a shortfall in technical knowledge in development and consequently a project that would be lacking in quality. Therefore as much work should be undertaken by the clients as possible in a set structure that would ensure the project would not be put at risk. The environment should also allow consultants, from any reputable company, to easily assess the project's situation and fulfil advanced specifications and/or customisations needed by the client.

VTR&D has produced a complete environmental design that fulfils the design brief and has provided additional features not initially specified. By providing a unified developing environment, additional advantages have become apparent that will allow all clients to benefit. Advanced features that previously have required large amounts of customisation are easily achievable and controllable by the clients themselves. Multimedia and interactivity can be provided more easily and be generated without the need for consultants. This new environment still allows and expects consultants to implement changes where necessary but is able to keep them within so clients can continue to maintain their control of the system.

The design was constructed in UML which has allowed the VTR&D team to construct and test prototypes of many sections of the product. After further analysis is completed, the main construction will begin in Summer 2000. The expected development period is nine months, including a rigorous set of testing and beta submissions. An independent team of hierarchical test analysers will also examine the software to ensure quality.