Multichannel Business Systems
11 ways to plan for, select and implement effective multichannel business systems
F. Curtis Barry & Company has improved the effectiveness of multichannel businesses by assisting companies in defining user requirements, final system selection and project management of the installation of the multichannel business systems. Clients include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, West Marine, Cabela’s, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, Revival Animal Health, Campmor, Abercrombie & Fitch, Anthropologie, The Vermont Country Store, Sport Endeavors, 1-800 Flowers, Tiffany & Co. and Neiman Marcus Direct.
1. Project planning
Proper project planning and the appropriate staffing to support large complex implementation is one of the most critical aspects to reducing unnecessary risks, delivering the application on time and within the budget. A qualified consultant can either project manage or assist your staff in this critical activity.
2. Post implementation audit
At conversion, companies typically use 25% to 35% of a new system’s function effectively. Audit the implementation 30 to 60 days after conversion to evaluate what the software vendor still has not delivered; audit your staff’s responsibilities; itemize how additional training can improve system use; what additional functionality should be scheduled for implementation, what data conversion problems still exist, etc.
3. Return on investment
Understanding how applications will achieve an acceptable ROI will assist with the justification of new applications. Measure the expected or planned ROI against the actual ROI for both savings and intangible (soft) benefits.
4. Enhanced management reporting
By developing more targeted reports of key metrics and benchmarks, management will be able to stay in touch with what’s happening across the enterprise. Develop key performance indicators (KPIs), corporate dashboards and effective reporting for each function or department.
5. Enhanced systems integration
By developing more detailed integrations, manual processes and lack of data between systems can be eliminated, thus reducing errors and bottlenecks and decreasing expenses. Enhanced systems integration will also decrease the need for redundant data between applications.
6. Get more from your computer application
There is always personnel turnover, or companies lose key users of applications. Identify departments and individuals that can benefit from additional training. This will allow you to set up educational programs to address their needs and the company gets improved productivity and analysis.
7. Single source of data
This goes hand in hand with enhanced systems integrations. By reducing the number of times data has to be replicated in various systems, companies can reduce overhead and the potential for errors in redundant data.
8. Contract programmers
Where applicable, this can help reduce the costs of critical enhancements to applications. It can be difficult to find qualified people to hire, in which case, contracting with IT/programming professionals can be more cost effective then attempting to hire programmers.
9. Software As A Service (SAAS)
SAAS models can allow companies to reduce the initial investment necessary to implement and maintain applications. By not having to invest in hardware or staffing to maintain an application, companies can reduce their IT expenses. Typical SAAS models place the responsibility of hardware and software maintenance and upgrades with the vendor, reducing staff and expenses. A company only owns usage rights while contracted and does not own licensing rights to the product.
10. Outsourcing
Multichannel businesses have the option to outsource the hardware with various companies in order to reduce staffing and maintenance related expenses. Companies can choose to outsource their existing hardware or shift their applications to new hardware at the outsourcing facility.
11. Use of consultants for development
Using outside consultants and programmers for application development can reduce long term expenses. In addition, outsourcing programming and application development can reduce the need for recruitment and retention of qualified programmers.
