Monday, May 30, 2011

Enterprise Performance and Value for Small to Midsize Businesses

IBM VIP Program

IBM VIP Program


ISV’s such as VAI and IBM exchange views on the VIP Program....

The IBM System i offerings provide a unique business advantage with competitively priced solutions. The new user based priced system allows the small and medium businesses growth opportunities. The VIP program is designed for ISV’s to bring a highly reliable solution to the select vertical market.

Our customers do not buy Technology, they buy solutions.  IBM’s System-I  is the ideal platform for growing businesses that need reliability and performance.  VAI delivers a one-stop total solution and develops and maintains long-term partnerships with its customers.  VAI’s focus is on solutions that deliver Enterprise performance and value for small to midsize businesses.

VAI works with its customers to understand their needs and find and apply the appropriate solution.


Dolvin hopes that it can help to fulfill your technology challenges.
Click here to learn more about Dolvin and our success working with companies like yours.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Ease of Use and Interface Appeal in Business Intelligence Tools | QlikView

Ease of Use and Interface Appeal in Business Intelligence Tools QlikView



Okay, so now you have your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software working well.  You have run the course of "reports" and now realize the generalized reporting offered does not address all your needs. 

What now?

Business Intelligence (BI) Tools are the key to unlocking the information in the data.  As the article says "Identify new opportunities and make fact based decisions". 

What makes a good BI tool?  Ease of use, fast learning curve, and most of all, results.  The highlighted article is a good starting point for determining your need of a BI tool.  Then next step would be to contact Dolvin to see how we can help.

Contact us by clicking here.  We will not bite, we just look to find a good fit for your challenges.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Is it time to look for a new solution?

Is it time to look for a new solution?

Perhaps a desire for a deeper understanding of business information through Business Intelligence (BI) drives your search for new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.  Perhaps demand for data on the go, mobility, or mobile access dominates your horizon.  Sometimes there is a need to stay current so you can be competitive.  Has your frustration reached an all time high?  How long does it take to pick, ship, and invoice your customers? 

So much has changed in the ERP software market that is important to understand what capabilities your current solution can offer.  When there is a gap between real need, not just the latest marketing hype for the latest greatest thing, and current functionality, then it is time to start looking for solutions.

Sometimes the solution is with your current ERP solution.  Are you on the latest release?  Does your supplier have a new revision in beta testing that will address your challenges?   Has your current software supplier been acquired or merged or is in the process of doing the same with other solution?  Do they have the resources to listen and address your needs or are they so busy with their own integration that they just hope you are patient?   Do they even care if your business slides behind?

Is now the best time to replace or upgrade your legacy system?  What benefits have other businesses achieved from their modernization?   How do you actually know if you have outgrown your current system? 

Does your solution have trouble scaling?  For example, operations were fine when you did 200 invoices daily, but now that we invoice 300 customers, there just is not enough time in the day to process the orders.

Small/mid size businesses are searching for solutions that can help them be competitive with larger enterprises.  Solutions that are faster to implement, simpler to use, and more affordable. 

Are you tired of maintaining disparate systems that are costly and inefficient?  Frustrated, because you do not have access to key business information needed for strategic decisions?  Solutions exists, but are they affordable?  What do they cost to purchase/license, install, operate and maintain? 

A Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis should be run in addition to a Return on Investment (ROI) when considering a new solution.

Will you be able to streamline your financial, manufacturing and distributions processes?  Improve control of your business with key metrics to enable better decision making?  Improve your Supply Chain Management (SCM) operations?  Reduce your costs or just pour more money down the drain.

We would like to encourage you to contact us at Dolvin, If you would like to learn more about cost effective solutions available.

Monday, May 23, 2011

VAI Listens to Sid Harvey's Challenges.

Sid Harvey

Read the PDF story: PDF

 
VAI Helps Sid Harvey Gain Superior Inventory Management, Increased Internal Efficiency and Greater Customer Satisfaction.


Sid Harvey’s is a leading wholesaler of refrigeration, air conditioning and heating equipment and parts, operating 75 outlets in 18 states. The company maintains a huge inventory of more than 50,000 items that includes HVAC equipment, refrigerating equipment, ice machines, valves, motors, pumps, controls, instruments and numerous other components that are used by the comfort industry to keep it's customers warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Sid Harvey is another example of how a great company such as VAI works with its customers to understand their needs and find and apply the appropriate solution.


Dolvin hopes that it can help to fulfill your technology challenges.
Click here to learn more about Dolvin and our success working with companies like yours.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Best Practices for Selecting ERP Software

Best Practices for Selecting ERP Software.  ERP solutions are, by nature, large and complex. How do you select the solution best-suited to your firm?

Focus Research has posted a six point best practice for selecting Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions.

Best Practices Checklist

    These are all good points.  I would think that if you do not have #1 down, then the rest are going to be very difficult to manage with the possible exception of #5.  This is where Dolvin works as your trusted advisor to first and foremost determine if there is a good fit between your challenges and the available solutions.

    Dolvin partners with VAI and IBM to bring growth oriented solutions to your challenges.  Contact us for more information.  Browse our success stories on-line.


  1. Know your requirements.

  2. Make sure vendor competencies match your requirements.

  3. Check vendors’ training and support resources.

  4. Treat your ERP project as a change-management project.

  5. Enlist the aid of consultants.

  6. Don’t skimp when allocating resources.
  7. Monday, May 16, 2011

    Virtual Warehouse: Dari Farms Ice Cream

    Virtual Warehouse: Dari Farms Ice Cream

    Virtual Warehouse: Dari Farms Ice Cream


    VAI Integration: Food customer, voice picking…


    Connecticut based Dari Farms Ice Cream has been a major ice cream and frozen food distributor since 1950. VAI's S2K for Warehouse Management, along with voice picking technology, was the right solution to improve the warehouse efficiency that Dari Farms was looking for.


    Dari Farms is another example of how a great company such as VAI works with its customers to understand their needs and find and apply the appropriate solution.


    Dolvin hopes that it can help to fulfill your technology challenges.
    Click here to learn more about Dolvin and our success working with companies like yours.

    Wednesday, May 11, 2011

    Focus Brief: Lessons from ERP Implementation Failures

    Focus Brief: Lessons from ERP Implementation Failures

    This brief from FOCUS is more in depth than most, but is worth the read as it touches on many aspects of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software that should be considered for successful implementation.

    Details, details, details.  Is the software a good fit?  Do you have realistic expectations?  Have you have support from all levels of your organization?  Do you need to modify the software or your business?  Do you have support for a successful implementation?

    Can you answer the above questions with confidence?  If not, it is never too late to bring in an expert to help you get the answers you need.  What most companies need, but lack, is an objective observer or trusted advisor for their business.  This is our "focus" at Dolvin Consulting.  No sales hype, just questions and answers to make sure you have a good fit between your challenges and the right solution.

    We invite you to read Focus' article, then contact us for a review.  We will give you an honest opinion.

    Monday, May 9, 2011

    Virtual Warehouse: BP Industries

    Virtual Warehouse: BP Industries



    VAI Integration: Portable conveyor system, automated shrink wrap system, RF scanners…




    BP Industries, established in California in 1989, is a distributor and exporter of home goods. The S2K Warehouse Management system, along with a portable conveyor system, allowed products to be received more efficiently. An automated shrink wrap system and RF technology created a complete solution for their business.

    BP Industries is another example of how a great company such as VAI works with its customers to understand their needs and find and apply the appropriate solution.


    Dolvin hopes that it can help to fulfill your technology challenges.
    Click here to learn more about Dolvin and our success working with companies like yours.

    Wednesday, May 4, 2011

    How to tell if your company is ready for a new ERP solution.

    There are many reasons why you should and should not consider a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.  Many companies fall into one of three main categories and budget is often the biggest driving factor in the decision path:
    1.       Give me just the basics.  When I begin to grow I will look at other features and options.  I just need to clean up and streamline my operations.
    2.       Give me the basics and add a couple of new application (modules) as a place to start.  I will add more features as time goes by.  I want to be competitive with the option of growth.
    3.       Give me everything.  I want to be a leader in my industry and implement new modules quickly so I build my leadership in my industry.



    Newer ERP system have the advantage of being fully integrated enhancing information flow to decision makers, enabling better productivity and reducing operating costs.  The major disadvantage is trying to implement a system without the proper resources, especially in the finance area.  Underfunded and poorly managed implementations can be the ruin of what would otherwise have been a great benefit of a new software solution.

    Implementation of any solution should be considered a long-term improvement.  Successfully done your Return on Investment (ROI) period will be quick and will generate ongoing savings.  Done incorrectly and costs can run out of control, operations are interupted or stop, shipments are delayed or misdirected, just to name a few of the many problems that cause axes to fall.

    So just why would you consider a new solution? 

    Number one is that Management lacks critical information they need to make decisions in a timely manner.  Just like journalism today.  It is not news if it takes a day to deliver the news (information) to your readers.   

    Number two, your inventory is out of control.  Inventory is so critical to business that mistakes are costly.  Not knowing what you have or where it is, or when its due can cause missed or late shipments, which means unhappy customers and lost revenues.  Not being able to forecast demand impacts decision making leading to inaccurate inventory levels.  The list here can go on and on, but the impact is on the bottom line.

    Number three, duplication of effort, silos of disconnected information, left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.  We see this when manual or separate systems are used instead of fully integrated solutions.

    The key in finding the right solution is finding a partner that will take the time to learn about your business and the challenges you face.  Do not try to buy a given technology, find the software that addresses your need for reliability and performance and that will grow with your business.

    Dolvin works with manufacturers, distributors and retailers to streamline their operations so they reduce costs and increase profits. 

    Monday, May 2, 2011

    Virtual Warehouse: Java City

    Virtual Warehouse: Java City



    VAI Integration: Large volume, coffee product distributor, picking and shipping process, RF scanners…



    Java City, a California based specialty coffee distributor, offers an enormous volume of coffee products for distribution, including on-line order processing. Environmentally conscious, the company still roasts each bag of coffee by hand. With the integration of VAI’s WMS solution, Java City was able to enhance their customer service.

    Java City is another example of how a great company such as VAI works with its customers to understand their needs and find and apply the appropriate solution.


    Dolvin hopes that it can help to fulfill your technology challenges.Click here to learn more about Dolvin and our success working with companies like yours.
    Click here for contact information.