Services
Who needs these services
Companies who already run their business on joined-up systems; and those who want to take that step. If you already have an IT infrastructure that is safe, secure and reliable, then you may be ready to use business systems.
Services
We help you to:-
- use your existing IT infrastructure more profitably
- choose software packages and/or bespoke software for new business systems
- carry out successful implementation projects on new business systems
"Local service in the Creedy valley"
Cost
Our fees are based on the conventional method of charging for professional experts. We charge for time at a rate per hour or per day, but within a budget. This enables the expert to act in the best interests of the client. The first visit is always free, and an estimate is made and a budget agreed before any chargeable work is done.
IT infrastructure
A basic IT infrastructure consists of a number of personal computers (PCs) that communicate with each other (via a local network) and with the world outside (via a broadband connection to the internet), and also use a shared information store (a local server). This supports a level of use of computers where people use PCs for their own work, but there is no company-wide system and database. People can use e.g. word processing, spreadsheet analysis, presentation software, internal & external email, and other organisations’ web sites both to find information and to transact business. Often there is an accounting system but it is used only by 'accounts'. The company’s web site is hosted elsewhere and has little to do with internal systems.
Business systems
Business systems enable you to do business administration with computers, for all or part of the company. Several accounting systems can provide invoicing and payroll as well as basic accounting, but an integrated system can provide for example sales orders, customer relationship management, a web site including a web shop (ecommerce), product records, purchase orders and invoices, and stock control. An integrated system means that a business transaction only has to be entered once. For example having entered a sales order, this would be reflected automatically in the stock record, customer record, delivery note, invoice and the accounts.
Integrated business systems have been used in large companies for some time: they are often known as ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems. Software packages are now available that support this range of business functions at economic prices for all sizes of company, even those that have only one or two computers.
Implementation projects
Implementation projects are business projects (there should be no such thing as an IT project). They involve management and staff in one-off tasks that are extra to their normal jobs, and in new ways of working once the system is implemented; there is a relatively small technical component, assuming that the software is ready. You need to make sure that the system works, and that the project is finished, i.e. that you realise the business benefits.
We manage the implementation project, and can carry out the following tasks. For smaller companies, it is beneficial that one person is able to do all this work. It is a pre-requisite to select the software that is to be implemented, and for any development project to have been completed.
- Plan the project
- Identify business benefits
- Design use of system-wide options
- Install software
- Configure & test installation
- Staff training
- User acceptance testing
- Enter standing data
- Convert existing data (if applicable)
Development projects
A need for bespoke software development is identified when you choose what software to use. The supplier or reseller of a software package may undertake “customisation”; or another software house may provide software to link a new business system with existing business systems. We are fully equipped to manage bespoke development projects, and to do business analysis and testing, but we are happy to leave this to the software suppliers.
