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Needs
Identification Profile
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Needs
identification profile
Personal
Information
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Indicates required field
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First and last name |
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Title |
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Email address |
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Company
Information
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Company name |
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Street
address |
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City |
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State/Province |
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Country |
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Zip/Postal
Code |
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Phone number |
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Extension
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Fax
number |
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Website
address |
http://
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Business
size and needs |
Small/medium size with standard needs
Midsize with complex needs
Fast growing with rapidly changing needs |
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Describe
your business type |
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Goals |
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What
parts of your business have the greatest potential to benefit from the
new system you are looking for? For example, you might feel that
your current system is doing a satisfactory job on your general ledger
but that if fails miserably to address your customer price management
and discounting. Another example might be that you believe that a customer
loyalty or points program would provide real payback.
Clearly identifying the areas that are likely to provide real payback
will not only assist you to select the right product but it will help
your prospective supplier qualify or disqualify themselves.
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Can
the exected benefits from the new system be translated into annual revenue?
If so, how much can you reasonably expect the new system to payback
over time?
Examples
of this might be improved turns thru better control of inventory minimum/maximum
values. Another example might be the staff time savings you would see
from automatic PO generation or streamlined receivings.
Remember,
when calculating payback from staff time savings, make sure to use your
"loaded" shop rate and not your estimate of wages paid. Your
loaded shop rate will usually be at least twice the actual wage rate.
Identifying the financial benefits from improved systems can often show
that you are better off paying more for a system that fits well than
saving a few thousand dollars and buying a system that falls short of
your needs in several areas.
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Recent studies on the impact of automation on small business
has repeatedly shown that your business would be in good company if it
spent a total of 2% of gross sales on automation over the next 5 year
period. That budget should cover everything from support to training over
the 5 year period. You will probably find that when viewed in terms of
your gross sales and spread over several years that price is really not
the issue when selecting a PC based automation system.
Mainframe Associates collaborated with the Royal Bank of Canada several
years ago and developed a cost justification work sheet
and is available to you at any time. |
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Business
Application and Functionality
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Please
use the chart below to score the various system functions that are applicable
to your business. We recommend that you weight them based on 6 points
for high, 4 points for medium and two points for low but you may choose
to exagerate the high point items by setting them at 10. This is appropriate
if you also decide the high score items are "must haves".
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Point
of Sale or Order Entry
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Commissions |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Sales
Analysis |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Inventory
Control |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Price
/ Margin Management |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Barcoding |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Rentals |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Manufacturing
/ Combining Items |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Work
in Progress |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Purchasing
/ Receiving |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Warehousing |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Mail
Order |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Accounts
Receivable |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Contact
Management (CRM) |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Customer
Analysis / Demographics |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Customer
Loyalty Card Program |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Labour
/ Activity Tracking |
Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Service
Work Orders
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Job
Costing
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Accounts
Payable
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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General
Ledger
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Reporting
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Security
Control
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Integration
with Suppliers’ Data
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Multi-location
System
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Internal
Email and Communication
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Export
to Outside Programs
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Direct
Faxing of Statements
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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Link
to Web Site Orders
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Must have
Could be used
Not needed |
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If
other |
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Other
Information |
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What
is your estimated time frame for implementation? |
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Estimated
installation date: |
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Estimated
date for system "go-live": |
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Do
you plan to keep using current hardware? |
yes
no |
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How
many users will need access to the system at the same time? |
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What
other key things are you looking for:
from
your new system (ease of use)
from the company that will provide it (long-term relationship)?
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What
is your company's comfort level with new technology? |
Expert
Good
Fair
Uncomfortable |
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Project
Information |
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Tell
us about your project. If you're not sure of an answer, select "don't
know," or select your best guess. |
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Are
you currently using business management software? |
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No, we are not currently using business management software.
Yes, we are currently using business management software...
If yes, please specify which software system:
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What
size of system are you looking for? |
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Entry level system
Middle-market system (Partnership, Corporation)
Large system (Large Corporation)
I don't know what size
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What
is your project budget? |
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We have a budget of between $
and $
USD.
We have not set a budget for this project yet.
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What
type of information do you need? |
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How
do you want to receive your information? |
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Do
you have any comments, questions or special instructions?
Please
enter any notes about your project:
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What
is your decision-making timeframe? |
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We
plan to make a buying decision within
30 days
60 days
3 months
6 months
1 year
> 1 year
I don't know when we'll be making a buying decision.
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Send me occasional e-mail updates about Mainframe Associates Business
Solutions services and products. |
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