Archive pour la catégorie ‘Processus d’Affaires’

5 conseils pour l’intégration d’une Tablette à votre Force de Travail mobile… ou de votre Force de Travail mobile aux Tablettes

Lors de votre dernier CA, devant les multiples bénéfices et avantages qu’elles semblent conférer, il a été décidé de munir votre Force de Ventes, voire l’ensemble de votre Force de Travail mobile, d’une Tablette

Vous convoquez donc votre directeur TI et vous lui donnez le mandat suivant : « Montes-nous un bon Business Case avec ça et prévoit une livraison (intégration) en mars ! »

Sur ce, et devant un échéancier si rapide, il ne fait ni une ni deux et définit sa problématique ainsi :

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Posted from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada.

2012 – l’année de la Grande Guerre des Tablettes

Qui sait ?

Mais si vous hésitez avant d’acheter une tablette pour votre usage personnel ou professionnel ou encore pour votre entreprise; alors, hésitez donc encore quelques mois, le temps de voir quel grand joueur frappera le premier ou le plus fort !  Vous vous réjouirez sûrement d’avoir rongé votre frein… en période supplémentaire.

Google

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Posted from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada.

Mobile Worker, it’s time for Tablet Rasa and on the road you go!

You are a mobile worker and you have just got yourself the brand new iPad2 and it’s killing you… you just feel like not bringing your laptop on your next business trip or client meeting.  Now, is this a good idea?

Only 4-5 years back; I would have answered this: tell me about your IT systems and I’ll tell you how things will turn out because at the time, most mobile workers were greatly depending on the « back-end office » to do business; and then came the BlackBerry which enabled real-time business and conversation with the Clientele and afterwards, new Smartphone devices with stock and calculus and synchronization and display capabilities have made us all almost fully autonomous in terms of Mobility, but let’s be honest, it’s still not a laptop!

 

So what’s new with Tablets, really?  Well, many things but maybe first and foremost they are the best mid-term between working / display surface and easiness of transportation!!!  I don’t want to provide free advertising but the new iPad 2 is only 8,8 mm thick for a weight of 601 g, it can hold into your hands but with a display screen far more superior than that of a Smartphone.

 

And with a touch-screen tablet, iOS and Android that is (and a few others…), everything becomes so instinctive: launching an application, surfing the Web, consulting your emails, watching a movie or reading a book; it’s almost child play. Having doubts, take a look at this picture!!!

 

 

And then came the Cloud!

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Posted from Quebec, Quebec, Canada.

IT dilemma, of course! And what about Mobility?

Last week, we were discussing The Eternal IT Dilemma; tailor-made software development or commercial software solution?  How about this dilemma from a Mobility perspective; how does it go about Smartphones and Tablets?

The vast majority of enterprises that put into play a Sales Force are thinking about integrating Mobility to their IT development or among the needed IT solutions.  The laptop seems to be getting slower and slower to get started and not always easily « networked »; which can be accounted for the fact that more and more representatives leave them at the office and fall back to their Smartphones, even to get strategic information much needed for outdoors client activities.

Mobility, once you get a hold on our lives!

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Posted from Quebec, Quebec, Canada.

The true nature of tailor-made software development

When Analystik starts a new mandate with a client; the main goal is almost always to automate a business process and the methodology is, all things considered, quite simple:

  • Analysis of the process
  • Analysis of possible enhancements to the process itself
  • Creation of the software solution automating the process
  • Integration to existing related technologies and processes
  • Implementation

One spontaneously sees that a tailor-made software solution will fit more like a « glove » for the enterprise compared to a commercial software which is more of a « mitt ».

Shall we point it out over and over; although it calls upon a superior initial investment compared to a commercial software which answers roughly from 50% to 75% of requirements; a tailor-made software solution will always respond to 100% of requirements.  And let’s not forget, while adaptation to existing technologies and processes is always included with tailor-made software solution; it is always necessary as well with commercial software solution but never included !!!  We’re talking extras here; sounds like a story you’ve heard recently?

I’ve seen the face of risk

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Posted from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Travailleur mobile, fais tablette rase et hop sur la route !

Vous êtes un Travailleur mobile, vous venez de déballer votre iPad2 tout neuf et l’envie vous prend… de ne pas apporter votre portable lors de votre prochain voyage d’affaires ou rendez-vous client.  Est-ce une bonne idée ?

Il y a à peine 4-5 ans; je vous aurais répondu : dis-moi comment est ton infrastructure TI et je te dirai comment tu t’en sortiras parce qu’à cette époque encore, plusieurs travailleurs mobiles étaient grandement tributaires du « back-end office » pour faire des affaires; puis l’arrivée du BlackBerry en entreprise a permis la communication en temps réel avec la Clientèle et puis ensuite les dernières générations de Smartphones ont affiché des capacités de stockage, de calcul, de synchronisation et d’affichage assez impressionnantes pour nous rendre de plus en plus autonomes en mobilité mais avouons, que ce n’est tout de même pas encore un ordinateur portable !

Et qu’est-ce qui change avec les Tablettes au juste ?  Et bien, plusieurs choses  mais peut-être tout simplement au départ qu’elles représentent le meilleur « juste milieu » entre une bonne surface de travail / d’affichage  et une facilité de transport !!!  Sans vouloir faire de publicité gratuite, notons qu’un iPad2 ne mesure que 8,8 mm d’épaisseur pour un poids plume de 601 g, il peut tenir entre vos mains, pour un écran de loin supérieur à celui d’un Smartphone.

 

Et avec une tablette tactile, iOS et Android obligent (ainsi que d’autres…), tout devient aussi beaucoup plus instinctif : lancer une application, surfer sur le Web, consulter ses e-mails, regarder un film ou lire un livre; tellement que c’en devient presque enfantin. Vous en doutez, que pensez-vous de cette photo !!!

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Posted from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The eternal IT dilemma: custom-made software development or commercial software product?

It’s the burden of all enterprises at one point or another; we often meet with business prospects which have very precise business needs and requirements, and that are confronted with multiple options as much in terms of technology as finance, and this story unfolds itself on a landscape of functionalities and satisfaction.  Let’s put things out just the way they are: contrary to commercial software products, custom-made development frightens a lot of people, because commercial software products are concrete to start with which is both more appealing and securing for a decision-maker.  But when you take a closer look at it, you’ll see that reality is not that simple.

We will try in this post, and as much as we can, to identify the pros and cons of both IT options: custom-made software development or commercial software product.

 

 The Pros and Cons of Both Worlds

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Innover, bien sûr ! Plus facile à dire qu’à faire cependant…

J’ai été invité par Yves Sanssouci, ancien PDG du CRIM à un dîner bénéfice pour La Maison Tremplin de Longueuil où Réal Jacob des HEC nous a présenté une allocution sur le thème « Votre entreprise a-t-elle l’ADN d’une entreprise innovante ? »

Il en est ressorti que l’échelle d’innovation va de 0% à 100% et que le degré d’innovation est directement lié à la vision de l’équipe de direction; c’est de là que tout démarre.  Les employés doivent savoir, sentir que vous les appuierez dans cette voie, sur le chemin de l’innovation.  Si vous n’avez pas le droit à l’erreur dans votre organisation, il vous sera difficile d’adopter une attitude d’innovateur.

 

Miroir, miroir, dis-moi…

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La vraie nature du développement sur mesure en TI

Lorsqu’Analystik aborde un nouveau mandat avec un client; l’objectif en est presque toujours d’automatiser un processus d’affaire et la méthodologie en est somme toute fort simple :

  • Analyse du processus existant
  • Étude des améliorations possibles au processus lui-même
  • Élaboration / schématisation d’une solution logicielle qui automatise le processus
  • Intégration aux technologies et processus connexes
  • Implantation

On en comprend donc que la solution finale livrée tient plus du « gant » pour l’entreprise comparativement à un produit commercial qui, lui, relèverait plus de la « mitaine ».

 

Le vrai visage du risque

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Dilemme TI, bien sûr ! Et la mobilité, elle ?

La semaine dernière, on parlait de l’éternel dilemme TI : développement sur mesure ou produit tablette (solution commerciale) ?  Est-ce que ce dilemme se transpose au niveau de la mobilité, pour les téléphones intelligents et les tablettes ?

La grande majorité des entreprises que nous rencontrons et qui mettent en scène une Force de Ventes pensent intégrer un volet mobile à leur développement TI ou dans les solutions TI recherchées.  L’ordinateur portable semble de plus en plus long à démarrer et pas toujours facile à brancher à un réseau; ce qui fait en sorte que de plus en plus de représentants sont portés à le laisser au bureau pour s’en remettre à leur mobile et ce, même pour obtenir l’information stratégique dont ils ont besoin lors d’activités (clients) hors bureaux.

Mobilité, quand tu nous tiens !

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L’éternel dilemme TI : développement sur mesure ou produit tablette ?

C’est le lot de toutes les entreprises et nous rencontrons encore souvent des prospects avec des besoins d’affaires précis, confrontés à de multiples options tant sur le plan technologie que finance, le tout sur fond de zones grises en termes de fonctionnalités et de satisfaction.  Autant dire les choses comme elles sont; le développement sur mesure, ça fait peur à bien du monde et il ne fait aucun doute qu’un produit tablette, c’est plus séduisant parce que déjà concret et donc plus sécurisant pour le décideur; mais quand on y regarde de plus près, la réalité n’est pas aussi simple.

Nous avons essayé dans ce billet, autant que faire se peut, de faire le bilan de manière objective des avantages et désavantages des deux options TI : développement sur mesure et produit tablette

Produits tablettes

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Does Cloud CRM systematically answer all your questions / needs?

Many clients from medium and large enterprises that we meet have migrated their CRM in the Cloud or are seriously thinking about it. On the other, and as surprising as it may look, we have also met others who have set their CRM in the Cloud and are on the verge… of coming down from their cloud!!!  In fact, just recently, while attending the CFO Summit in the USA, we were quite surprised to find out that many enterprises were not that satisfied with a well-known Cloud CRM solution and are seriously looking to a tailor-made CRM solution!

This is the story for this post; why should you migrate your CRM in the Cloud and why should you look into a more traditional, some would say a more, personalized solution?

Pros and Cons of Cloud CRM

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Sales and Productivity – the case of CRM

Companies today have many means to use to increase sales and achieve corporate objectives! Moreover, several of these means (strategies, tools, tactics, etc.) are the heart of the managers and executives annual Strategic Plans.

Marketing for example can play within the entire range of tactics and tools, whether traditional marketing with advertising, media placement, direct marketing, promotions, etc., or Marketing 2.0 with a wide assortment of technologies for collaboration and profiles in Social Media… this, of course, if you’re an aficionado of Web 2.0 and already have an Enterprise 2.0 footprint – a digital footprint.

Human Resources may, for its part, contribute to the achievement of objectives by providing additional or better qualified resources, resource allocation, training, or help with developing and deploying a Knowledge Management strategy, etc.

And then there’s IT….

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Obsolete IT applications – issues for entrepreneurs

So let’s jump merrily into the depths of the nightmare of every entrepreneur: IT investment. I say nightmare because it’s a field of expertise for which the vast majority of entrepreneurs have absolutely no basis for appreciation or evaluation.  There is little or no reassurance for a decision-maker faced with a 100, 200, or even $500,000 decision, which choice will likely have a major impact on productivity, thus profitability and the future of the business.

So… to help the entrepreneur in this situation, and I believe there will be more and more who need help in the years to come, because the stakes are the same and are just as important as ever: Business Process Automation, increasing productivity, mobile workforce, accessible information, increased quality of Business Intelligence, improved decision-making processes, integrity and security of company data, etc., all of course with the ultimate goal; increase Profitability and improve Customer Satisfaction.

The Problem

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The Database – always at the heart of a company’s business reality

It might not make for hot button or buzzword heavy conversation today but sometimes one has to plant their feet firmly on the ground – get back to the basic so to speak, right?

Amazingly, 25 years ago, the only people who spoke of Databases (DB) were the IT folks and they were perceived within large enterprises, not just as geeks but as business gurus – they held the secret formulas, some sort of modern day sorcerers.

Over time, the variety of Database available has diversified greatly and in so doing, databases infiltrated the universe of many different departments of businesses; be it the Sales Force with its CRM, Human Resources (HR) with a homemade Access application, the Finance department with their multitude of Excel sheets (even if strictly speaking, they’re not really DBs, it must be pointed out that Excel still manages the largest amount of data stored globally), Production and Purchasing with their ERP, etc. And that’s without counting the best years of Visual FoxPro (certainly one of the best products ever from Microsoft), which has been replaced by SQL, Oracle and many others…

Since that time, we have widely bandied about the term across many levels of business, for example: “I think we have that info in our client DB”…

Good evening, tonight on Discovery: The Adventures of Data…

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Mobility: custom or off-the-shelf business apps?

Two articles on enterprise applications coming from the same publisher, businessmobile.fr, caught our attention recently. They’re interesting because they appeared less than a week apart and were in fact contradictory:

Mobility for business: complex business applications are slow to gain acceptance

In the first article based on a Forrester study, it says “the use of specific business applications is still limited and trails far behind the adoption of email or calendaring functions.”…

Hum…

We want “ready-for-mobile”

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Web or Windows? No, Web & Windows! (Part 2)

The debate has been raging for over a decade and the heights the confrontation and rivalries at the turn of the Millennium. So, what is it, Web or Windows? At the time, these two diametrically opposed visions each had hard core advocates who had sworn allegiance to the death. Much water has passed under the bridge since then and today we understand that reality is not quite so simple; not everything is black or white.

The vast majority of businesses – be they big, medium or even small – have purchased numerous office software programme licenses from Microsoft (Windows, Office, SharePoint, etc.) since the arrival of Windows and a great many of these have invested in the development of applications custom built in Microsoft’s .Net framework or other platforms. And today, almost all IT managers are turning to the Web where they are seriously considering or at the very least evaluating their options there.

Walking the Web / Windows high wire with my business

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Web or Windows? No, Web & Windows! (Part 1)

The debate has been raging for over a decade and the heights the confrontation and rivalries at the turn of the Millennium. So, what is it, Web or Windows? At the time, these two diametrically opposed visions each had hard core advocates who had sworn allegiance to the death. Much water has passed under the bridge since then and today we understand that reality is not quite so simple; not everything is black or white.

The vast majority of businesses – be they big, medium or even small – have purchased numerous office software programme licenses from Microsoft (Windows, Office, SharePoint, etc.) since the arrival of Windows and a great many of these have invested in the development of applications custom built in Microsoft’s .Net framework or other platforms. And today, almost all IT managers are turning to the Web where they are seriously considering or at the very least evaluating their options there.

Between the Web and Windows, my… company teeters

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Migrate my applications to the Web or die. Really?

The time has come to migrate the technology of many of your existing applications and your IT Management Director swears by the Web, he or she wants all new applications (or almost all…) to be Web-based. The main argument being made is that all these web applications will be much easier to deploy and maintain and that there will be huge savings in fees.

Oh Web!  Oh how we adore you!

Some of your current applications actually contain a lot of business intelligence and your users have gotten used to the way they’ve accessed it over the years.  Will your new Web-based applications allow you to preserve the integrity of your business intelligence and maintain the current level of usability?

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Seulement C# ou…

L’état des choses

La Bonne Information en Tout Temps et en Tout Lieu; concept, stratégie, nécessité, peu importe, cet objectif corporatif (et de plus en plus, individuel) cause de nombreux maux de tête aux sociétés TI qui développent des solutions logicielles sur mesure.  C’est là l’enjeu de la Productivité aujourd’hui mais il y a parfois loin du rêve à la réalité…

Le client veut de plus en plus des données accessibles en tout temps à partir de n’importe quelle plateforme et le développeur doit proposer des solutions qui « roulent » sur celles-ci.  Mais cela implique une analyse très poussée car en arrière-plan, des choix technologiques impliquant de nombreux processus doivent être faits.  Sont-ce vraiment les bons choix ?  Comment les valider ?

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