Archive pour la catégorie ‘Productivité’

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

3 février 2012

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

16 janvier 2012

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!

11 novembre 2011

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.

The true nature of tailor-made software development

28 octobre 2011

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 !

21 octobre 2011

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?

17 octobre 2011

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…

7 octobre 2011

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

3 octobre 2011

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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iPhone – le couteau suisse du voyageur

8 septembre 2011

Je reviens de voyage et, vous me direz que je suis peut-être un peu trop méthodique, mais avant de partir, j’ai « équipé » mon iPhone d’une dizaine d’applications qui ont tout simplement transformé mon voyage en une agréable et très ludique expérience de découverte.

 

Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir… à poing !

ATTENTION : danger d’itinérance !   Lorsque vous partez en voyage, malheureusement pour tous les Canadiens, aucun opérateur mobile du Canada ne vous met à l’abri des coûts faramineux de nomadisme si vous ne faites pas attention (plusieurs centaines voire plusieurs milliers de $$$); alors voici la procédure à suivre afin de revenir de voyage heureux.

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Tendances Techno – à quoi donc pensent les entreprises en 2011 ?

17 juin 2011

Sur quelles solutions technologiques les entreprises vont-elles se jeter en 2011 ?  En quoi seront-elles intéressées en 2011 pour augmenter leur productivité et leurs ventes ?  D’ailleurs, est-ce là leurs priorités en 2011 ?

Ce billet se veut une réflexion d’entrepreneur qui offre des solutions TI à ses clients et qui s’interrogent sur ce que les décideurs envisagent d’investir pour conserver ou améliorer la croissance de leur organisation… à la lumière de informations qui lui sont tombées sous la main !

À la lumière de récentes rencontres que nous avons eues avec des clients et prospects tant au Canada qu’aux États-Unis, il appert que les technologies suivantes suscitent beaucoup d’intérêt :

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Sales and Productivity – the case of CRM

23 mai 2011

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

17 mai 2011

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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Mobility: custom business application or off-the-shelf software? – Final Thoughts (Part 2)

11 mai 2011

As we mentioned in our previous post, it’s clear that, mostly for economic reasons, companies want applications that are « ready-to-mobilize ». The demand is there: 75% use standard applications and 20%, custom business applications. Further, we continued on to show that developers see positive opportunities for both options – off-the-shelf as well as custom-made business applications…

One in the hand, is better than two in the bush

Recently however, a senior mobile developer confided to me that he had seriously considered dropping some mobile development platforms (there are 7 major mobile OSs) because customers were just not ready to absorb the costs of cross-platform development. Instead, in order to save money these clients were asking him to select THE platform (or sometimes two) with the greatest reach and potential, to evaluate the costs for it and to eliminate the others! While this is understandable, it’s not necessarily an elegant solution and very often proves problematic because there are few companies or homogeneous target audiences that use only one model of mobile device, let alone a single OS.

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

4 mai 2011

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)

28 avril 2011

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?

7 avril 2011

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…

29 mars 2011

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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Enterprise 2.0 – Integrating Relationship Management in your process

17 mars 2011

In a previous post, “SharePoint vs SalesForce:Content Management vs. Relationship Management” (available in French only), I concluded by saying that you don’t need to choose between a Relationship Management application and a Content Management System (CMS) because the truth is, you need both.

Incidentally, this analysis / vision / dichotomy between web 2.0 and IT applications that I’ve covered in other posts (Facebook peut-il jouer le rôle de CRM ? – SCRM ou ce que le « Social » peut apporter au CRM - Chatter : Facebook + Twitter pour collaborer en entreprise ) (available in French only), has been all the rage of late, as a growing number of bloggers and vloggers have been publishing about the subject recently. Among others, TechCrunch and ZDNet; more precisely, were talking about the nature or the role and contribution of social style applications like Yammer, Chatter, SocialText, Chatterbox, etc., and to a lesser extent, SharePoint.

Why so serious?

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Client Database vs CRM – 12 fundamental questions

17 février 2011

Many businesses implement one and/or the other but not always for the right reasons; this can turn out to be costly not only in terms of dollars spent but also in terms of Productivity and Business Development. As well, one doesn’t necessarily go with the other. At least not always or not necessarily.

It seems that everyone has been in CRM mode since the beginnnig of the New Millennium; CRM 1.0, CRM 2.0, Social CRM, CRM-in-the-Cloud, etc., it’s the Buzz word of the moment. Surprisingly, we forget that the 90’s was the Golden Age of Database; at the time every business invested heavily in a Database. Who doesn’t recall VisualFoxPro, the technological feat of Microsoft that was both a Database (data-centric object-oriented) and used a procedural programming language. But that was another time…

The fact is that it’s all well and good to put into place a sophisticated CRM with advanced management functions, with or without plug-ins for Social Media; it will never compensate for the deficiencies or the absence of a Database that properly reflects the reality of your business situation. Equally, you are no further ahead if your CRM system database needs to interface with other IT systems used to run your business.

When it comes to choosing between a CRM and a Database, one must evaluate needs that vary depending on the size, industry sector, and above all the size of the Sales Force/ Customer Service and customer base of your company.

Customer Profiles vs Customer Activity

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CRM or Client Database? – 10 fundamental questions

11 février 2011

Many businesses set up either one or both and, not always for the right reasons; this can turn into a costly venture, not only in out-of-pocket dollars but also in terms of Productivity and Business Development costs. One does not necessarily follow the other. At least, not always and not necessarily.

These days since the start of the new millennium, everyone is in CRM mode; CRM 1.0, CRM 2.0, Social CRM, CRM-in-the-Cloud, etc. Talk about a buzz word! Surprisingly, we forget that the 90s were the Golden Age of the Database. Every company invested heavily in their database. Who doesn’t recall Visual Fox Pro, one of the technological feats of Microsoft which contained both a Database (data-centric object-oriented) and used procedural programming language. But that was another era…

The fact is that we can’t dictate a general rule for all companies in terms of CRM or Databases. Requirements vary depending on the company’s size, sector of activity, and especially the size of the sales force/ customer services and the given customer base.

So, even before comparing CRM or database solutions, we must return to the basics and evaluate needs!!!

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