How do I Plan & make right investments in computerization?

Just fill out the following questionnaire to analyze your computerization needs : 

1. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY COMPUTERIZATION?

• _____________________________________________________________________________
• _____________________________________________________________________________

[Note: Computerization means automating some or all parts of business with help of Computers, Software's, Networks and Internet. Computerization can be done for any and every kind of Industry. Application of Computerization can be made for New Born Baby to Housewife to Students to Businessman in Homes, Schools & Factories.]

2. WHAT TECHNOLOGY & DEVICES IS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT COMPUTERIZATION?

• Computer Hardware: It can be Desktop PCs for your employees, Servers to serve your business, Cell Phones, PDA's, ATMs, Info Kiosks, TVs, Barcode Readers, Smart Cards, customized data tabulating machines etc.
• Computer Software: It can be Operating System to run your Networked Hardware or eBusiness Application Software's to run your Business or Document Authoring software's to build documents of your business.
• Network: Internet (for Global connection to your customers), Intranet ( for connecting your employees) & Extranet ( for connecting your Business Associates)
• Technology: Console, 2 tier Client/Server, 3 or n tier Client/Server - Platform Independent or Dependent.
• _______________________________________________________________________________
• _______________________________________________________________________________

[Note: Selecting technology  is most important factor for success of your investment. In the age of Internet your business should be operated from anywhere & everywhere. Keeping this in mind always select software's and hardware's that are web enabled, platform independent & internet ready. ]

3. DEFINE YOUR PURPOSE & GOAL OF INVESTMENT IN COMPUTERIZATION?

Your goal to do computerization may fall into following categories :

• Use Accounting Software's to maintain your day to day Accounts Payable & Receivables.
• Use MRP Software's to achieve zero Inventory by accurate material planning.
• Use Shopfloor Software's to manage Production activities & reduce Mfg. cycle times.
• Use Payroll, Leave & Time Mgmt. software's to create Salary Pay slips for employees.
• Use HRD/Recruitment Software's to recruit and maintain employees records.
• Use CRM Software's to build customer related sales operation through e-Commerce & Internet.
• Use SCM Software's to build and perform day to day operations with your Suppliers.
• Use Sales & Distribution software's to build & maintain your dealer/distributor sales network.
• Use Banking Software's to connect to Bank & do day to day banking operations.
• Use Government Software's to do Government operations like tax paying, etc. applications.
• Use Security Software's to maintain user profiles & document access rights for your business.
• Use Document Authoring Software's to create customized Business Documents for your business.
• Use Communication Software's like email, chat, newsgroup, wap etc. for business communication.
• Use Virtual Machines Software's to enhance your PCs capability as Camera, Attendance Reorder etc.
• Use Operating Systems Software's to enable your computer & network operations. 
• _______________________________________________________________________________
• _______________________________________________________________________________

[Note: Implementing the software is like setting up our business operations methodology. Efficiency of your Business operations will define success factor for your business. This software's will create your Business operating System.] 

4. HOW DO I ACHIEVE THIS GOALS OF IMPLEMENTING COMPUTERIZATION?

• Option 1: Hire professional programmers to write customized software that suits Business needs.
• Option 2: Buy ready made software that can fit business needs & is customizable.
• Option 3: Best of both option 1 & 2 to meet business requirements. Most people follow this....
• Option 4: Ask 3rd party vendor called ASP to rent you computerization as per your business needs.
• __________________________________________________________________________

[Note: Depending on your investment capacity you can select either of options 1,2 or 3. Option 1 & 3 might turnout to be very costly due to high manpower costs. Option 2 & 4 can be economical and should be preferred].

5. SETTING PRIORITY OF COMPUTERIZATION INVESTMENT?

• First priority is selecting eBusiness Application software that can fit business requirements.
• Second priority is selecting Operating System software that can run this eBusiness software.
• Third priority is selecting Computer Hardware & Network that can run above softwares.
• __________________________________________________________________________

[Note: Most people make mistake of selecting Hardware first then Operating System and then Business Application software's. Your entire investment will go waste if you do not have eBusiness Application Software to run your business. Computers and Operating system alone can hardly do simple things like Security and Communication Management. Your real ROI value of investment comes only from eBusiness Application software's.]

6. SELECT RIGHT SOFTWARE'S FOR YOUR BUSINESS FIRST?

• SAP or ERPWEB as your eBusiness Software that can handle your day to day Business Operations.
• MS OFFICE or STAR OFFICE as your Authoring Software that can handle document mgmt.
• WINDOWS or LINUX as your Operating System to handle your Network & Security requirements.
• Wide variety of Internet freeware/shareware applications that provide Communication Facilities.
• Proprietary add-on Devices & Virtual Machines to handle Banking, Government etc. operations.
• ___________________________________________________________________________

[Note: SAP, MSOFFICE & WINDOWS are expensive software's from Market Leaders. While ERPWEB, STAROFFICE & LINUX comes at very very low cost for people looking low cost solutions. Your overall investment can be best of both. Balance your investment with software, computer hardware & networking. The art is in achieving correct balance. If you are not an expert in making decision on computerization technology. Best thing is to tie-up with ASP-eBusiness Application Service Provider to take care of your entire computerization & business automation needs.]

7. PRIORITIZE INVESTMENT ON COMPUTERIZATION BUDGETS?

• eBusiness Application Software Budget: US$ ________p.a
• Operating System Software Budget: US $_ __________p.a
• Authoring Software Budget: US$ ___________________p.a
• Internet freeware/shareware: US$ __________________p.a
• Proprietory add-on devices: US$ ___________________p.a
• Computer Hardware & Networking: US$ _____________p.a
• Administration & Maintenance Staff: US$ ____________p.a
• ___________________________________________________
• ___________________________________________________
• ASP-Computerization on rent: US$ _________________p.a. (may include all above computerization cost)
• ___________________________________________________
• TOTAL COMPUTERIZATION BUDGET : US$ ___________p.a.

[Note: Budget is mentioned "per annum". Most people think computerization as one time investment, which is wrong. Computerization is recurring cost just like your electricity & telephones. Your computers becomes outdated every year and you should replace your hardware every two year. While your software will have new version every year or less than that. You should replace your software with more powerful software every year to make your business system more and more efficient reliable and productive. Change is constant . Either change or become outdated & die. ]