 |
|
DigitalShipper utilizes state
of the art team management techniques. Our project teams are
carefully matched by background and personal area of expertise
to anticipated needs.
Teams typically include:
- Account Executive; contact person for business functions,
i.e.: proposals, contact for purchasing, solution research,
billing, reporting, etc.
- Project Engineer; responsible for design of detailed functional
requirements
- Project Manager; the "Point Man", responsible
for DigitalShipper team direction, detailed functional requirements
- Systems Engineer; solution development, code generation,
documentation and training. DigitalShipper provides the
project management expertise and a "participatory"
project approach, which will accelerate and maximize the
benefits of the project.
DigitalShipper uses a project management methodology
whereby each step of the project is clearly defined. DigitalShipper
utilizes a detailed cost reporting methodology that tracks
on an hourly basis each personnel resource, the activity to
which the resource is assigned, and compares the time used
for that activity to the time allotted against progress to
date. Project vendors are required to meet these standards.
We employ a comprehensive compliment of project management
tools to enable full compliance with these reporting requirements.
E-mail and other communications media allow external team
members and us to coordinate internal within the project file.
Reporting on project deliverables, costs, and progress to
date is done on a weekly basis or as requested. Both DigitalShipper
and the customer are able to monitor exactly how the project
is structured, determine all aspects of the project implementation
requirements, and jointly monitor/control progress through
project completion. Our methodology is designed to provide
our customers with the most information possible upfront.
The benefits of this methodology include:
- A thorough, mutual understanding by the customer and DigitalShipper
of the activities required to meet the customer's operational
needs
- Increased user sponsorship, participation, and up-front
involvement
- Ability to prototype new processes with customer data
in an effort to eliminate potentially unnecessary efforts
- User identification of changes/enhancements, thereby avoiding
more costly changes madein subsequent phases
- Minimization of downstream surprises by performing detailed
data element mapping up front
This process results in the preparation of two
key documents: the Specification Document and Responsibility
Matrix. These two documents contain sufficient detail to set
the scope and task direction of the overall project.
In addition, the benefits of DigitalShipper's approach include
the initiation of up-front process training, which ensures
enhanced user-sponsorship and understanding. DigitalShipper
utilizes a training strategy that allows the customer to successfully
operate distribution systems without utilizing MIS personnel
on-site. To achieve this, DigitalShipper utilizes a "train
the trainer" approach.
The following methodology has been implemented successfully
in the past:
- At the onset of the project, appropriate customer project
team members are assigned as the future in-house trainers
- The trainers are then formally acclimated with process
changes and systems by participating in the Pilot
- It is also highly recommended that the trainers participate
in all phases of the implementation process; this includes
active participation in the comparative analysis, testing
and implementation phases of the project
- At the completion of the project, the trainers are then
empowered to train end-users
DigitalShipper will also provide additional training as requested
by the customer at the customer premises, and continues to
provide ongoing training services to all of our customers
on an as needed basis. However, it is still highly recommended
that all key project personnel actively participate in the
early phases of the project to maximize their understanding
of the system as quickly as possible.
BUSINESS ACUMEN
DigitalShipper principals have amassed over 25 years of experience
encompassing virtually all warehousing/ distribution disciplines.
DigitalShipper proactively evaluates its efforts in an ongoing
fashion to maintain "best business practices" in
all internal, process flow, systems analysis and customer
contact procedures.
COST EFFECTIVENESS
DigitalShipper's ability to deliver systems on-time and within
budget flows from our project management philosophy. Team
member selection is based upon criteria that meet or exceed
predefined low-level functional requirements. Potential solutions
are filtered against the elements of fit, functionality and
cost, and any anticipated modifications are quantified by
operational impact, timeframe, and associated charges. This
level of analysis coupled with proactive team management and
close communication with customer team representatives enables
DigitalShipper to effectively manage the intricacies of complex,
overlapping project requirements and deliver cost-effective
results.
|
|
|
