This document discusses an IT strategy for a technology company that offers computer products. It aims to provide outstanding customer experience using a best-of-breed approach for its ERP system. The company's product line is divided into computers for home, small business, and large enterprises. It faces challenges in research and development around managing complex product data and design processes. The document recommends using PTC's Windchill ProductPoint software for product development management and data management in R&D, highlighting advantages like reducing duplicate data, simplifying distribution and access to data, and increasing productivity.

1.
Introduction:
Ours
is
a
technology
company,
which
offers
products
ranging
from
desktop
computer
systems,
laptops,
mobility
products,
and
software’s.
Our
companies
mission
is
to
provide
outstanding
computer
experience
to
the
customers.
Our
Product
Line
is
divided
in
to
three
main
parts
as
Computers
for
home,
small
business,
large
enterprises
as
shown
below
Home
occupies
70%
of
our
market
share
and
the
rest
two
occupies
23%
and
7
%
respectively.
To
provide
a
world-­‐class
experience
to
customer
we
are
using
the
Best-­Of-­Breed'
Approach
In
our
ERP
Strategy.
We
plan
to
implement
enterprise
resource
planning
software
from
various
top
players
in
the
market.
By
employing
best
of
breed
applications,
we
are
getting
best
out
put
and
100%
employee
and
customer
satisfaction.
Problems
faced
by
the
Departments
and
IT
recommendations:
R&D
Problems:
Inability to monitor, manage and exercise greater control over the development and
design process.
Recommendation:

2.
Windchill®
ProductPoint™
by
PTC
for
Product
Development
Management.
This
is
the
solution
for
Product
development,
which
is
built
on
top
of
Microsoft
SharePoint.
Data
Management
in
R&D
–
Dilemma:
The
main
dilemma
among
small
business
groups
nowadays
is,
how
effectively
and
easily
they
can
manage
product
data’s.
Still
some
small
business
user
relay
on
FTP
protocols
to
exchange
files
through
Internet
and
network
share
were
piece
of
information
is
remotely
accessed
from
other
computers
to
other.
This
is
P2P
file
sharing
system.
This
work
for
some
companies
but
the
issue
is
how
effective
these
systems
are
when
it
comes
to
complex
dates
that
involve
CAD
diagrams
from
R&D
department.
For
example:
engineers
in
R&D
will
be
using
CAD
software’s
to
draw
chip
designs
these
CAD
dates
are
large
and
complex.
See
fig:1
to
understand
the
complexity
involved
in
these
diagrams.
Fig:1
Complex
R&D
data

3.
This
involves
multiple
versions,
revisions
etc
this
information
has
to
be
shared
between
multiple
user
in
a
common
format
like
PDF
or
JPEG.
Also,
tracking
all
these
information
is
hard
using
FTP
protocols
so
we
are
using
a
PDM
tool
Windchill®
ProductPoint™
offered
by
PTC.
Why
Windchill®
ProductPoint™
?
Advantages
and
reasons
for
choosing
ProdcutPoint:
• Reduce duplicate data which in turn reduces storage requirements
• Finding data using this software is simple also, distributing the data to other
Department is simplified.
• Manages assemblies and relationships between parts
• Built on top of Microsoft SharePoint which is an added advantage to this product
• Maintains history of a product’s development evolution
• It
reduces
time
spending
accessing
data
• Reduce
time
in
communicating
file
changes
and
design
integration
• Increase
productivity
because
3D
data
is
accessible
company
wide.
• Work
group
are
more
productive
because
it
is
clear
who
needs
particular
file
and
data
• Windchill
is
secure:
R&D
data
has
companies
critical
and
intellectual
property
data’s
• Cost
of
lost
file
recovery
and
rework
is
reduced.
• Quick
and
easy
to
learn
• Implemented
very
quickly
• Cost
effective
when
compared
to
SAP
and
Oracle.
This
is
also,
one
of
our
main
reasons
to
relay
on
PTC,
as
they
offer
high
quality
of
solution
for
a
cost
effective
budget.
To
make
the
process
easier.
In
the
R&D
work
group
engineers
need
to
collaborate
and
track
information
very
effectively
the
also
the
dates
should
be
secured.
Windchill®
ProductPoint™
allows
engineers
to
know
who
is
using
what
version
of
data.
On
top
of
all
every
one
need
to
access
the
data
file
in
a
common
formats
like
PDF
and
JPEG,
this
is
provided
by
Windchill®
ProductPoint™
.

4.
Fig:2
Architecture
diagram
(R&D)
In
the
front
end,
we
can
make
design
search,
cost
estimation,
inventory
management
and
also
Windchil
Powerpoint
allow
us
to
pull
data
from
material
cost
database.
On
the
back
end
data
from
various
research
engineers
are
fed
in
to
a
single
file
server,
(this
server
is
a
part
of
Windchill
)
which
allows
better
control
over
the
process.
Department:
Logistics
Problems:
No transportation optimization capabilities exist in for shipments into or out of the
distribution centers.
Recommendation:
Epicor
Why
Epicor?
• Enhanced
real
time
analytics
• Small
business
manufactures
best
because
low
cost

5.
• Finding data using this software is simple also, distributing the data to other
department is simplified.
• Starting from tracking they have entire control over the vehicles, which carries
both the raw materials and finished products.
• They have route scheduling system that
integrate
GPS,
digital
mapping
data,
mileage,
and
driving
directions
to
support
a
customer’s
distribution
needs
worldwide.
Architecture
explanation:
In
the
above
diagram
Epicor
monitors
our
logistic
department
and
their
basic
operation
chart
is
given
below.
Epicor
will
control
all
the
below
listed
functions
• Inventory
control
• Order
fulfillments
• Distribution
managements
(which
include
transport
and
route
planning)
• Reverse
logistics
• Packing
and
Repacking
• Traffic,
customer
billing,
tracking,
supplier
self-­‐billing
etc

6.
Fig:
3
Architecture
diagram
(Logistics)
In the front end the information from logistic department and suppliers are fed in to
epicor database. They will take care of the entire process listed above and they also, deal
with logistics and reach the end customers.
Department:
Manufacturing/
Production:
Problems:
Suppliers
and
factories
receive
the
product
specifications
via
email
and
fax


Company has different part naming conventions and part classification for each
regions. Bill of Materials are managed in XLS and Microsoft Access regionally.
Solution:
 Catalog
Management:
In
the
other
hand,
the
company
lack
of
common
product

7.
catalog,
catalog
management
enables
organizations
to
develop,
manage,
and
deliver
dynamic
product
catalogs
across
all
channels.
Using
the
system,
the
company
can
integrate
different
region
of
application
and
conventions.
Department:
Distribution
The
problems
of
supply
chain
system:
 Lack
of
costing
scenarios
at
the
component
or
BOM
level
for
different
factories
 Inability
to
perform
costing
at
the
component
level
and
create
different
costing
scenarios.
There
is
also
a
lack
of
costing
scenarios
at
the
product
level
the
different
factories.
 Lack
of
common
product
catalog
due
to
different
regional
instance
of
application
and
different
naming
conventions
Solution:
 PeopleSoft
Enterprise
UPK
for
Fundamental
for
Financials
and
Supply
Chain
Management
Software
Module:
PeopleSoft
Enterprise
UPK
for
Fundamental
for
Financials
and
Supply
Chain
Management
Software
Module
offers
navigating
overview,
navigating
To
and
Within
pages,
using
keys
and
search
pages,
working
with
pages,
adding
and
updating
data
and
using
PeopleSoft
workflow.
Input
different
factories’
information
to
the
system
and
then
the
system
will
output
the
updated
database
so
that
the
company
is
able
to
solve
the
problems
of
lack
of
costing
scenarios.
 Supply
Planning:
Due
to
cut
down
the
cost
scenarios
is
the
most
important
thing
need
to
solve
first,
I
think
using
supply
planning
could
solve
the
problems.
The
company
has
different
plant
locations
around
the
world.
To
conduct
distribution
and
production
meetings
weekly
or
daily,
Supply
chain
planning
requires
multiple
site
coordination,
and
Supply
Planning
provides
around-­‐the-­‐
world
collaboration
capabilities
to
help
satisfy
demand
using
the
inventory
and
capacity
of
the
whole
enterprise.
Using
Supply
Planning
will
also
solve
the
problem
of
lack
of
costing
scenarios
at
the
component
or
BOM
level
for
different
factories.
Moreover
Supply
planning
also
can
integrate with business
analytics for customer and product profitability so that it can also help sale
department analysis product lifecycle.
In
a
nutshell,
the
company
is
lack
of
cost
scenarios
at
the
out
BOM
level
and
product
line
for
different
factories.
Because
the
company
doesn’t
have
the
complete
systems

8.
to
integrate
each
factory’s
databases,
the
company
might
eliminate
the
overlap
between
development
processes.
I
think
using
PeopleSoft
Enterprise
UPK
for
Fundamental
for
Financials
and
Supply
Chain
Management
Software
Module,
catalog
management,
and
Supply
Planning
will
help
the
department
improve
its
production
and
save
cost.
Moreover,
the
systems
improve
the
company
execute
each
department
easier.
Due
to
the
complete
database
and
system,
BOM
level
for
different
factories
will
be
clearer.
The
information
will
be
more
abundant.
Fig
4:
Manufacturing
An
overview
the
company’s
problem,
the
company
is
lack
of
cost
scenarios
at
the
out
BOM
level
and
product
line
for
different
factories.
Because
the
company
doesn’t
have
the
complete
systems
to
integrate
each
factory’s
databases,
the
company
might
eliminate
the
overlap
between
development
processes.
I
think
using
PeopleSoft
Enterprise
UPK
for
Fundamental
for
Financials
and
Supply
Chain
Management
Software
Module,
catalog
management,
and
Supply
Planning
will
help
the
department
improve
its
production
and
save
cost.
Moreover,
the
systems
improve
the
company
execute
each
department
easier.
Due
to
the
complete
database
and
system,
BOM
level
for
different
factories
will
be
clearer.
The
information
will
be
more
abundant.
Retail
Stores
Retail Stores Main Problems

9.
1. Point of Sales (POS) system for retail stores is from Island Pacific Software Company.
2. Accounting for deductions and charge-backs is complex since customers often include
multiple orders on one invoice or send in one payment for multiple brands (therefore no
ability to post these down to the product level and most can only be posted at the
customer level)
Recommendations:
A Point of Sale (POS) system is a system for managing the sales of retail goods. Most
retailers use a POS system at their check stands or counters. Using a POS system
makes a business much more efficient, lowering the costs of running the business.
Even Island Pacific Software Company is over 25 years in retail software industry, I do
believe it is a very professional software company and it also can provide sufficient
functions for this company. But, right now this company has 250 workers and 50 retail
stores in US; it means there are 5 people worked in retail stores. It doesn’t need to use
multi-function software to run its store.
Compare the POS system of PeopleSoft Company to Island Pacific Company’s;
PeopleSoft’s POS system is much easier to operate. So, currently this company is more
suitable to choose PeopleSoft’s product. Because of its business scale is still small; it
doesn’t need to deal with complicated transaction, their transactions are completed all at
once, and there is often less variation in the types of products they sell. So, using Island
Pacific Software won’t benefit this company too much; otherwise will increase their cost
on buying this system. Now, they are planning for more retail stores in the future, so if
they need more function to support this system, we could update this system in the future
to meet their needs. But, considering the unnecessary cost I suggest they choose
PeopleSoft’s Service Management
And I will also suggest buying Pay/Bill Management for retail stores because Point-of-
sale systems doesn’t include this function, and customers always use their credit or debit
cards at check stands for payment, so it need the other system to operate correctly and
more safely during the payment process.
Call
center
Problems:
Suppliers
and
factories
receive
the
product
specifications
via
email
and
fax
Company
has
not
been
able
to
have
an
effective
marketing
campaign
that
is
targeted
by
customer
segment
and
personalized
by
consumer.

10.
Company
sells
an
average
of
45,000
products
a
day
by
taking
orders
through
the
Arizona
call
center
and
faxing
the
orders
to
the
distribution
centers.
Their
Telecommunication
report
indicated
that
the
company
is
experiencing
15,000
dropped
calls
per
day
due
to
shortage
in
personnel
issues.
Additionally,
an
analysis
from
consultants
estimate
demand
forecast
of
90,000
units
per
day.
Lack
of
common
product
catalog
due
to
different
regional
instances
of
application
and
different
naming
conventions.
Receiving
orders
to
collecting
cash
from
the
department
stores.
Company
is
using
Microsoft
Outlook
and
Exchange
Server
for
emails
Recommendations:
Using
FREECRM
software
and
sales
team
automation
(voiceCRM
with
premium
support)
• Online
based
• Don’t
need
to
download
the
software
and
we
can
use
on
any
computer.
• this
software
easy
to
handle
because
it
has
a
real-­‐world
features
• According
to
studies
by
2013
75%
of
customer
service
will
use
SaaS.
• The
main
components
of
service
cloud
are
Call
center,
email,
chat,
phone
calls,
companies
partners
etc
and
they
all
placed
in
a
single
cloud
as
shown
below.
• FREECRM
software
has
different
unite
such
as
Call
center
Automation,
Marketing
Automation,
Customer
Service
and
Management,
Sales
Force
Automation,
and
Contact
Units.
• This
system
help
the
customer
and
the
employee
instead
of
dropped
number
of
calls
that
affect
the
company
the
customers
have
many
way
to
contact
the
call
center
one
of
them
is
Email
and
the
system
support
this
service.
• Advanced
Security
&
Uptime
and
Superior
Technical
Support.
• Increase
product
catalog
based
to
the
regional
instances.
This
software
will
help
the
employs
to
improve
the
customer
service
and
the
quality
for
their
work
by
creating
a
call
campaign
and
automating
the
calls.
We
can
improve
the
customer
service
by
give
the
customer
feedback
back,
build
customer
survey,
Import
the
contact
lists
from
spreadsheet
file
or
Outlook
and
help
the
company
to
have
an
effective
marketing
campaign.
Summary:
Dates
from
various
departments
are
fed
in
to
huge
database.
This
data
can
be
employed
for
OLAP
analysis
and
Data
mining.
By
data
mining
we
can
provide

11.
optimal
recommendation
to
the
customers.
Also,
the
data
can
be
made
available
to
employees
through
browsers,
See
fig
below
for
better
understanding.
Fig:
5
Data
warehousing
Comparison:
FreeCRM Sugar CRM
On-demand On-demand
We can’t open source We can open source
Easy to understand and adopt Easy to understand and adopt
No offline client There is offline client
Easy to customize Easy to customize
Dose not has oracle support Does has oracle support
The every application of Free CRM.com SugarCRM supports applications running in
every cloud environment
Doesn’t support every cloud environment
Unless you call their customer service first, or Customer service positive, call you and ask your
they won’t call you ask you do you need help require and answer it
Can create and save voice mail/message, user Only text message can be saved, can’t save voice
has more than one choice to save the data. mail/message.
Can create your own form with the link, Customers’ feed back needs to manual analysis
customer can click the link and give you feed
back directly and analysis automactally.
There is no trail account can use; you have to You can use trail account for a month, to

12.
pay for use system. evaluate the function is fit your company or not.
Provide to incorporate CRM Tagging ito their SuarCRM can’t provide incorporate CRM
hosted Tagging into their hosted
Software functionality are well and much more Software functionality and feature sets are well
than SugarCRM, it can be used on any size of suited for small business companies, however,
enterprise companies. not sufficient for most middle market or
enterprise companies.
User can send the text message through the System can’t send the text message through the
website, easier than by cell phone. system; they have to manual call or text them.
User can customize their quick link User can customize their quick link
Doesn’t have a clear introduction for new user, Have a very obviously Training material on first
new user might needs to figure out by page; new user can easily to learn how to start
themselves. using this system