Our many years of experience in writing custom applications for various vertical markets (like real estate, petroleum, and healthcare) along with our knowledge of networking technologies enable us to create the perfect program to run your business. The problem with COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) software is that you must conform to the way it works, and if there is something it can not do then you must adjust even more. On the other hand, a custom program is built from the ground up to conform to your business. That means that it helps your business run more efficiently, without having to work “around” the computer system.
The Process
We start by sitting down with your company’s management. We discuss what type of business you are in, your special business processes and procedures, concentrating on specific workflow processes. At that point we quantify and prioritize all the processes. Management then identifies the key personnel involved in the priority workflow processes. We then discuss the procedures with the personnel (without management) to see how things are really accomplished and the perceived problems in the processes.
Our workflow experts then re-engineer those processes to optimize them for a computerized environment. Flowcharts are prepared, processes documented, and sometimes a rough prototype program is prepared to demonstrate the new procedures. Your management reviews these procedures, discusses changes with us and then we present the same procedures to the personnel. Note that your working level personnel MUST be involved in this process from the start to ensure its success.
Upon approval of all the new procedures, software development begins. Design reviews in the early stages are held regularly and frequently to keep the process on track. The alpha level code (the very first usable, but strictly non-production) is rolled out to the key personnel. Feedback is then correlated and the processes are adjusted accordingly. With those changes, the beta code (one step away from production level software) is deployed to a wider audience then before. Feedback is again correlated and the production level software is then prepared.
The software is then rolled out to all pertinent personnel with a full-scale training program. The software is used to the maximum extent IN PARALLEL WITH the existing business processes. While this does cause double-work for this period of time, it is a crucial step to verifying the operation of the new software. This parallel effort period is defined in advance based on the complexity of the program.
At the end of this final testing period, the software is placed in full production mode and the old processes are no longer used.
The Product
The software product that we create is totally customized for your business. It can do as much or as little as it needs to do. It can also interface with other software packages you may wish to use (like word processors, spreadsheets, accounting packages, NetWare, and GroupWise) to make best use of “best of breed” software.
As the customer you are paying for all development of the product. We provide you with the FULL RIGHTS to the source code. This is your insurance policy in case anything were to happen to our company, as you could still continue development and further update the product. Other software development firms who do not provide the source code ensure that you MUST continue going back to them for all your future needs. We ensure you come back to us only through our commitment to quality and customer service.
Cost
The cost of any program depends of course on the size and scope of the project. Small single-purpose work saver programs can start as low as a few hundred dollars while complex large system programs can run into multi-year development efforts at greater costs.
We will provide you with an estimate of the project after the initial planning stage and at each major step thereafter. All work is billed on an hourly programming rate based on the size of the project. Typically, large business process projects reach a Return On Investment phase about 18 to 24 months after full deployment. Your break-even point though will vary based on many factors including the size of the program, the number of employees, computer skills of employees, and most of all “management buy-in”. That is the willingness of management to change to a new and improved system.
Contact us for full details and pricing schedules.