VAI Debuts System i Consultation Services
January 22, 2008 Dan Burger
|
How do companies that are short on staff and experience take on unique projects or tasks? Often they turn to consultants. Sometimes the consultants bring an understanding of the specific business. Sometimes there are guaranteed completion dates. Still the fear of missed deadlines, cost overruns, and coming up short of goals can ruin a good night’s sleep–for months and maybe even years. VAI, a trusted name in the System i software business, has introduced a service bundle plan that could get companies what they need and when they need it. When upper level management realizes that managing the IT department is more than maintaining enterprise applications, it’s a good sign. The importance of network security, performance tuning, operating system upgrades, and e-business integration all gets short-changed in a short-staffed department. The results are seldom up to anyone’s expectations. VAI’s S2K Enterprise software is used by a variety of mid size companies. It’s particularly strong in the manufacturing, distribution, and retail industries, where its applications are beneficial to issues relating to warehousing, EDI, CRM, and e-business. Each of the eight service bundle packages that VAI has assembled has a fixed price and specified parameters that eliminate cost overruns. Prices range from less than $550 to nearly $13,500. These prices take into account a 10 percent discount that VAI is offering throughout the first quarter of 2008. Here’s a quick rundown of the packages offered. i5/OS On-Site Upgrade consists of a single-step, operating system upgrade of one partition. It includes verification of third-party license keys, assistance with the full-system save prior to the upgrade, installation of release-level cumulative, HIPER, and database PTFs, and configuration of the IBM service agent. The cost is $2,155, not including travel time and expenses. Remote PTF Installation consists of a single, cumulative PTF installation for one partition. It includes assistance with the full-system save prior to the upgrade, verification of all software components and prerequisite PTFs, and cumulative PTF, HIPER and database PTF ordering and download from IBM Fix Central. The cost is $535, not including travel time and expenses. S2K Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Radio Frequency (RF) Analysis is an evaluation of how VAI’s WMS can benefit your warehouse environment. It includes an on-site walk through, off-site analysis of warehouse blueprints, diagrams, and photographs; analysis of inventory activity and movements, wireless site survey, warehouse business process, and flow review; wireless and bar coding equipment recommendations, and a project management plan. The cost is $5,400, not including travel time, expenses, and equipment shipping charges. S2K WMS RF Site Survey Only is an on-site warehouse environment evaluation for optimal RF wireless networking. It includes a configuration proposal of all hardware requirements that covers potential issues or challenges. The cost is $2,695, not including travel time, expenses, and equipment shipping charges. S2K WMS Analysis Only is an on-site warehouse management assessment that evaluates current processes and procedures and presents the benefits that VAI’s S2K WMS could provide in your warehouse environment. The cost is $3,235, not including travel time and expenses. The Infrastructure and Security Assessment examines vulnerability to Internet and virus-related attacks. Items reviewed include operating systems such as i5/OS and Windows, networking equipment, and personal computers. It provides a diagram of network infrastructure, the installation of security assessment tools on servers, and the evaluation of equipment such as routers, firewalls, and virtual private networks. The cost is $3,235, not including travel time and expenses. The Performance and Tuning Analysis For i5/OS and OS/400 consists of the collection of performance data, the presentation of that data, and the recommendations for improving issues related to hardware and software resource utilization. This is done remotely unless otherwise agreed upon. The cost is $1,075. The Ariba Punch-Out Quick Start service package is designed to streamline the prospecting-to-payment cycle and boost sales to both prospects and existing customers by implementing the Ariba set of product- and service-based solutions for supply chain management. The Quick Start package involves the installation of VAI’s S2K Commerce Express Ariba Module, the set up and implementation of punch-out with one partner, and the technical assistance to enable ongoing partner maintenance. The cost is $13,495, not including travel time and expenses. Web Consulting Quick Start consists of a review of online business goals, objectives, branding, and marketing; three sample home page designs, search engine considerations, and recommendations for a Web site redesign or new Web site. The cost is $5,395, not including travel time and expenses. The S2K Enterprise Portal Jump Start package provides an introduction to portal technologies; a review of online business goals, objectives, branding, and marketing; a sample portal theme featuring your brand; and a portal project plan with timeline. The cost is $6,745, not including travel time and expenses.
|
