SE Service & Consulting - IT Consulting

Consulting: Technology Consulting Services have changed from the past. Consulting has become a way of companies to cut costs and take a new project off the ground fast. To implement changes and projects you need to be informed. SESC’s technology consultants have the experience and certifications to help your company utilize technology to stay ahead of the competition. We offer Network analysis and assessment, purchasing/logistics, hardware/software recommendations and procurement, LAN and WAN infrastructure design, disaster recovery planning, and security policy standardization and implementation. We can assist with development and deployment of services, mobile computing and information sharing with all manner of remote locations and equipment. View Below for a simple step by step process we follow for each engagement.

Strategic I.T. Consulting

A focused, learned approach is necessary to reach goals. Our consulting framework provides a methodology in which you can properly identify goals and problem solve. It is a hierarchical, detailed approach that we will show here.

Here is the framework:

Purchasing/Logistics:

Probably the most overlooked area of Information Technology is a company's purchasing and logistics strategies. Often companies focus on forming relationships with vendors that give them "the lowest price". They are often willing to accept little service and support in exchange for low prices.

On the other side of the spectrum are companies that focus only on service and support, and buy from a vendor that is the most responsive. Price is a tertiary factor behind support and responsiveness because companies feel they must pay a higher price to get the support and responsiveness they want.

In reality, most companies are somewhere in the middle. Paramount in this quandary is that most companies do not know how to leverage resources and programs available to them from manufacturers, distributors and resellers to achieve the best combination of support, responsiveness and low prices.

Special Programs and Pricing Availability:

In truth, most VAR's and dealers do not also know of every program available to them that will allow them to offer their customers special services. These services include (but are certainly not limited to):

• Special pricing deals with manufacturers
• Demo programs to allow the customer to evaluate and benchmark computers, servers and connectivity equipment
• Special time-sensitive rebates offered by manufacturers
• Custom software license or site-license deals
• "Bad-Box" products to purchase (typically, new equipment at reduced prices with damage to a shipping carton, otherwise new however)
• Purchase of "B-stock" or refurbished equipment covered by identical manufacturers' warranties

If you are unsure of whether or not your vendor is taking advantage of special programs, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Has your vendor explained to you manufacturer's programs like HP's "Big-Deal Pricing", Compaq's "TOSS" or "Channel Empowerment Pricing" or even IBM's "Competitive Bid" desk?
2. Has your vendor provided you with a listing of what manufacturers participate in "demo" or "seed" programs, and therefore what equipment is available for your to demo?
3. Did you know that Hewlett Packard gives virtually unlimited access to demo gear (servers, laptops, etc.) to their higher-status dealers that you can take advantage of?
4. Does your dealer provide you with listings of monthly rebates that distributors (who dealers buy from) and manufacturers offer?
5. Has your VAR ever accounted for the software you use in your enterprise and identified any products you currently buy "by the box" but are available much cheaper via licensing?
6. Did your VAR ever provide you with a "B-stock", "Bad Box" or "Product Return" listing?
7. Companies like H.P. on a regular basis get back demonstration equipment that they loan out for special events like the Super Bowl. This equipment is often used only briefly then repacked in original packaging, and available for dealers to buy at up to 50% off of retail. Did they ever provide you with such a listing or let you know about such deals?

Purchasing Process Logistics:

How does your company go about procuring products? There are many ways available, which typically include the following:

1. Pricing and ordering on-line via a company's web site
2. Pricing and ordering on-line provided by your vendor
3. Calling a vendor via phone and placing orders
4. Ordering directly from manufacturers

In reality, vendors and distributors, as well as third parties, provide tools which will help you reduce the time, complexity and cost involved in the procurement process. This helps improve your response time to employees, which in turn helps increase productivity and reduce project delays.

Deployment Logistics:

When you order from your vendor, are you able to coordinate tasks like installation of software, accessories and customization prior to product being delivered to you? In addition, does your company employ a time-consuming warehousing and distribution process for I.T. equipment which delays the time it takes for receipt of equipment by your end user?

Asset Management, Tagging and Tracking:

Is your purchasing process integrated with asset management, such that you don't have to spend time tagging, entering data about, tracking and managing assets? Do you know about the variety of asset tools available for this purpose?

Summary:

The core of the proper system for purchasing and deploying properly is education. You must know as much as possible about tools, programs, services, pricing and promotions, as well as technical and sales resources available to help you.

SE Service and Consulting’s Purchasing/Logistics Consulting will help you by educating you about your options. We will help tailor policies and procedures, as well as help in vendor selection. Finally, we will help implement solutions that bring you the best quality of service, responsiveness and pricing.

We look forward to working with you in the areas we have outlined here. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to make an appointment to discuss these issues further.