Frequently Asked Questions

When is the right time to update our ERP system?

When it comes to change, pain is a great motivator. Maybe it’s taking longer every month to reconcile your financials or you’re increasingly basing forecasts on guesswork. You have no real idea how much stock you have on hand, so it’s hard to be demand-driven. Increasing compliance regulations are tying you in knots. Here are five common signs we see from companies ready to consider a new ERP software system:

  • Decision time has doubled. Time spent looking for information has increased dramatically.
  • Working capital has increased. Too much money is tied up in inventory and inefficient processes.
  • Redundant, disconnected software programs. You need to reduce IT complexity and unify your various front- and back-end systems with a single database – and get to one version of the truth.
  • Customer experience is suffering. If you can’t deliver what customers want, as fast as they want, to the right locations, you could lose to competitors. The right ERP system can provide visibility and agility to be more customer responsive and reduce errors.
  • Growth and expansion. If your current system can’t scale up, handle global needs, or support new business lines, it’s time to consider a change.

Should I use a custom built application or an off the shelf solution?

You should always check what is in the market with the technology in that space. It will help you identify the requirements and key functions you
would like to use in your desired solution. Not all solutions are built the way we want and when considering whether to use custom applications
ask yourself these questions.

  • What are the off the shelf solutions being used with my internal company technologies?
  • Am I a business that needs to keep up with trends? (Meaning that the current systems in the market may hold back growth)
  • If I built a custom application would this system be supported by more than one vendor?
  • What is the roadmap for the off the shelf solutions and will this fi t my needs?
  • What development framework will the custom application be built on and is this platform supported globally?
  • What are the ongoing support costs involved with a custom solution and does this cover enhancements, upgrades, hosting, security?

You may be overwhelmed by the amount of different solutions in the market so seek some consulting advice before committing to any decision
as there are several pros and cons to all solutions.

Should I consider a internal position for Infrastructure support or outsource this service?

Depending on your business size you maybe considering hiring a staff member to support your end users and systems inside the company. You should consider several factors that make the decision easier.

  1. What kind of support do I need?
  2. Can a single person cover these services?
  3. How much time do I have to hire this person?
  4. What will the business do when the person is on leave or absent due to unforeseen circumstances?
  5. If this individual decides to leave the company am i able to replace this person without reducing the level of service needed in the company?
  6. What are the hiring costs involved to hire a person into the company?
  7. Will I pay market rates or should I pay more to encourage the person to stay longer?
  8. If the person is unable to deliver a high level of service what happens for any replacement service?
  9. Considerations around “what if” are always key to making decisions for hiring or IT services in general.

What can a technical consultant do for me?

The prime role of a technical consultant is to understand your existing environment ( software, hardware and business processes) and give validated and non bias advice on the actions you should take when considering changes to your organizations services, applications, IT spend and anything related to digital technology. The right consultant will provide you with the facts on why something is the right solution with consideration for people, processes and products. Finally, its vital to focus on ROI and consider ongoing support mechanisms.

What should I consider a Technical Project manager when moving my office?

The important decision to move and rebuild your office should be done professionally to ensure the day to day operation continues smoothly. Careful planning and design from the office layout to scheduling the different companies responsible for the different services in the business. A professional bilingual project manager with several office move projects or an office move company will ensure entering and exiting your existing premises has been scheduled and all aspects of the project has been considered. A good project manager will work with your IT department to schedule and deliver the service needed for the new offi ce to fully function after the move.

What is SEM and what are the benefits?

Search engine marketing, or SEM, is the practice of marketing a business using paid advertisements that appear on search engine results pages like Google or Bing. SEM is one of the most effective ways to grow your business. Compared to traditional marketing, precise return on investment is understood, and highly targeted campaigns are possible, focusing not only demographics but also preferences and online customer activity.

SEM offers advertisers the opportunity to put their ads in front of motivated customers who are ready to buy at the precise moment they’re ready to make a purchase. Last but not least, like other marketing efforts, great design and copy are still vital to convert customers.

SEM vs. SEO: SEM versus SEO: What’s the difference?

Generally, “search engine marketing” refers to paid search marketing, a system where businesses pay Google to show their ads in the search results. Search engine optimization, or SEO, is different because businesses don’t pay Google for traffic and clicks; rather, they earn a free spot in in the search results by having the most relevant content for a given keyword search. Both SEO and SEM should be fundamental parts of your online marketing strategy.

I have an idea for a customized Mobile app. What should I do to get that built?

Firstly, before any discussions on the app you should have a NDA with the company ensuring your idea and discussion on the technology will not be disclosed. The RFP process is probably the best approach to a cost effective mobile app creation as long as you have clear requirements and a documented vision of the final deliverable. If your not entirely clear about the requirements and the best way to approach the building of the app, using a consultancy that has proven app project experience across applications and common platforms like the Apple store is vital. References of other mobile projects and a discussion on the processes taken to develop those apps is a good place to start. Do your research early and take your time with the selection process. Once your requirements and design has been created the development process can be quick.

Have another question?