Another RDKit support idea: installation/integration help and training
In addition to doing standard support/maintenance contracts for the RDKit, I believe that T5 Informatics could also generate revenue by helping people make effective (or more effective) use of the RDKit. We have a strong motivation to create happy, productive RDKit users. In order to do this we will offer services to help install the RDKit and integrate it into customers’ systems. We’ll also have a variety of training modules on offer to help get local users familiar with how to use the RDKit to accomplish common cheminformatics tasks. As with the support/maintenance contracts, being able to generate revenue with this type of service is still just a hypothesis that needs to be tested in real life.
What would these services actually look like? There are a number of possible scenarios. In the simplest we’d work with you to ensure that the RDKit and its dependencies are installed properly in your environment so that you can start working with the toolkit. At the other end of the complexity scale we could work with you to build on this installation and create scripts that solve standard problems in your environment. These scripts can provide the basis for your future work with the RDKit. After all, editing and adapting an existing script requires a much smaller investment of time than learning how to create your own from scratch. There are many possible variations between these two extremes.
These services can’t really be standardized; by their very nature they require customization. Like most consulting offerings, we will price these services on a per day basis. The price will depend on the scope of the engagement and the travel required. We’ll work with you in order to find an structure that makes sense for both your organization and T5 Informatics.
As I’ve already mentioned, this is still all at the hypothesis stage. I’m really looking for input and suggestions, so please let me know what you think by either posting a comment or sending me email.