According to a recent survey IBM once again scored highly in customer satisfaction.

Click here to download "IBM's Uncanny Ability to Continually Meet or Exceed Customer Expectations"

This white paper, featuring survey data from Technology Business Research, Inc. (TBR), highlights the results of a series of surveys where IBM continued to dominate in all areas of support and stability. From performance, reliability and efficiency to consistency and value, TBR determined that IBM consistently meets or exceeds customer expectations by scoring substantially above industry averages.

This survey looked at the x86 processor server base, but from experience IBM really makes the difference in all their server products including the Iseries, midrange server product line.   Organizations should by now be able to look at not only the upfront costs, but look more closely to the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) associated with any solution.  As the article points out “IBM Breeds Performance, Reliability and Efficiency”.

TBR, who performed the survey, has determined that IBM’s continually strong performance in their study can be tied to the interrelated effects of four underlying principles:

1.       Leading performance, reliability and efficiency:

When compared to its counterparts in servers, Dell and HP, IBM consistently delivers higher marks in customer satisfaction for hardware quality and reliability, services and support and energy efficiency – areas of key concern for x86 server customers both now and in the future as workloads within the data center increase.

2.       Consistency and stability of support:

Customers have also consistently rated IBM’s phone support highly despite the ups and downs of the economy. IBM phone support consistently scored highly throughout the economic downturn in 2009, when many customers kept their servers for longer than expected, and also in the exuberance period that followed in 2010 as companies replaced their servers en masse. Now, as customer satisfaction rates have returned to more normal patterns, IBM continues to retain leadership in this and many other categories.

3.       Continuing to meet high customer expectations:

System x’s consistent performance in meeting customer expectations over the past several  quarters has led to increased expectations from its customers – setting the bar even higher for IBM.  But despite having higher expectations than its rivals, IBM has continued to meet or exceed in most satisfaction categories in TBR’s study.

4.       Server value:

TBR believes that IBM’s innovations around areas such as memory capacity, server performance and virtualization is driving an ROI message that resonates with businesses – illustrated by higher-than-average customer server value satisfaction ratings over the past few quarters.

Every company today needs efficiency to remain competitive.  The Right Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution will do the same thing.  The challenge seems to be finding the right fit between your challenges and available solutions.  This is where Dolvin Consulting utilizes their industry knowledge and partnerships to help you when you make your technology decisions.  Contact Dolvin today and to see how we can help you achieve your goals.

You are not purchasing pencils, support after the sale is the most important piece of the technology puzzle to manage.  You success with a solution depends on the team you build to support your efforts.

Compare 11 Leading ERP Solutions 119 Ways

Compare 11 Leading ERP Solutions 119 Ways

Inside-ERP has released an easy to read table document comparing several Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions.  The guide compares several leading solutions side-by-side and contains:

• The 11 leading vendors and products in the mid-market and enterprise ERP space
• The 119 key features that differentiate the top ERP solutions on the market
• Which features are supported by each vendor, and who delivers!
• Pricing and contact information for easy vendor evaluation and purchasing

This type of guide is a handy reference to start with.  It falls short in two specific ways.  One, there are many solutions in the marketplace and they may not have selected the ones you are interested in comparing.  Second, this is only a high level document. 

I know of no one that would be able to look at the chart and decide that one solution is best or if the listed solutions should even be considered.  Selecting a solution that will integrate your entire organization takes time, takes effort, and needs a guide to navigate the clutter.

An ideal solution would be like shopping for equipment on-line.  Use some criteria to filter the choices down to a select few, the select and compare.  You would still need to have a guide to help wade through the jungle, but at least you would be looking at something relevant.

Dolvin works with companies in the Manufacturing, Distribution and select Retail industries.  Let us share our expertise and partnerships to help you find the right solution.

Cybercrime: A Global Calamity

The Global Malware Problem: Complacency Can Be Costly

According to M86 Security, we face a global malware epidemic from which no organization is immune.  While cybercrime techniques become more sophisticated, dynamic and targeted, most security vendors have struggled to keep pace.

In fact, cybercrime has escalated by more than 400% since 2007 alone — leaving organizations vulnerable to damaging malware attacks, which can result in noncompliance issues, financial loss and expensive reputation damage control.

To get the full picture of the security industry, download this special report – The Global Malware Problem: Complacency Can be Costly.  In it you’ll find the results of a survey conducted by Osterman Research and M86 Security that aimed to understand what your peers think about the security in their organizations. The results indicate that perception is far from reality.

Here is just one of many interested notes in the White paper:  Many decision makers and influencers believe they have little or nothing to worry about in the context of breaches or network downtime, despite the fact that most organizations have experienced malware attacks.

The dynamic nature of the security landscape today is why Dolvin Consulting works with Cyber Security Auditors and Administrators (CSA2) to offer cyber risk management and solutions for best industry practices.

CSA2's Expertise includes:

• Basic analysis of current cyber risk coverage gaps through a secure online questionnaire.
• Identification of potential future gaps in risk coverage in conjunction with our insurance partners.
• Matching exposures to these potential gaps to provide detail analysis of risks identified.
• Designing risk management solutions that will also provide education seminars for our clients personnel.
• Develop a tailored Written Information Security Policy (WISP).
• Provide a complete end-to-end security solution through our IBM Internet Security Solutions Platinum Channel partners.

If you are concerned about your risk potential and the impact it can have on your business, contact us by clicking here.

ERP: Uniting Manufacturing and Inventory in Lean Times

ERP: Uniting Manufacturing and Inventory in Lean Times

Tough times call for greater efficiencies. But is ERP your best weapon to achieve leaner production and inventory? 

How do Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions deliver production efficiencies?  How will a smart ERP system improve the entire organization?  Which ERP solutions play well with manufacturers?

Find success with the right ERP solution that will grow with your company.  This Focus research paper highlights how aligning manufacturing and inventory processes is one of the most critical components of any ERP system.

Real-time data regarding inventory information and production process is the key. Cost reductions, detailed information, improved decision making, stock reduction, waste elimination, and accelerated production cycles are all features of a comprehensive ERP solution.

Finding the right solution that addresses your challenges and business culture is a process, not an event.  This is where Dolvin Consulting works with you to understand your needs.  Please take a moment to reach out to us so we can help you find the right solution by clicking here.

Learn the 7 best practices for making Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing work.

Learn the 7 best practices for making Just-In-Time (JIT) Manufacturing work.

Focus Research has published a short white paper on the seven best practices for making Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing work.  The article highlights the following seven points:

 

Best Practices Checklist

1.       Delegate responsibility to employees on the floor.

2.       Ensure that line employees are properly trained.

3.       Information systems must give employees a holistic view of operations.

4.       A flexible work force and flexible machines are both important to achieving JIT production.

5.       Visual controls are an important element to managing JIT production.

6.       Accountability and governance are key.

7.       Stability in production operations is a requirement.

When you review this list do you see the important underlying message? What appears most is the need for leadership.  A true leader empowers those that he serves and delegates the responsibility and holds those people accountable.  Notice again that a true leader serves others, not the reverse that so many people incorrectly assume is the role of leadership.  That would be a dictatorship and history has proven that only works for a short period of time.

Dolvin Consulting works with its partners, VAI and IBM to build the resources that real leaders can utilize to empower their workers.  Click here for Dolvin’s contact information.  We are here to help.

IBM Systems Magazine - Build or Buy?

IBM Systems Magazine - Build or Buy?

Michael Ryan writes an interesting and timely article about software evolution. The article does not go into great detail, nor should it. This is not the forum, that would be a White-Paper. What is interesting is that we seem to have come full circle in software without realizing what has happened.

In the "old" days computing was relatively expensive so companies used what Michael says was time-sharing. This gave companies a budget amount to schedule each month. They also gave up some flexibility which created a need to develop systems in-house.

Developing systems in-house increased expenses, but gave total flexibility. This sometimes presents the problem in having have enough talent available to take advantage of the latest trends in computing. 

Enter software companies and their evolution of creating prepackaged software. We write about Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions here, but many exist. These can sometimes have the disadvantage of forcing a company to change their business practice or risk instability in making modifications.

Today we see Software as a Service (SAAS) offerings. There are as many benefits as there are disadvantages to these solutions. Each case needs to be evaluated.

Dolvin works with companies to see what solutions fit specific challenges. We encourage you to read the full article and then contact us to see how we can help you find the best-fit solution.

Top 10 Questions to Ask When Choosing an ERP Solution

10 Critical Questions & Answers to Explore When Buying an ERP Solution

WhitePapers.org has published a handy guide to help you review and prepare when it is time to begin your evaluation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.  Guides like these help you to identify areas that need investigation.  The last thing anyone wants after making a commitment is to find out they forgot to address a key business process.

Have you put together the most important questions to ask your potential ERP vendors?

Before buying a mid market or enterprise-level ERP system, you must get answers to these top 10 questions compiled from our ERP analysts who speak with 1000's of Finance, Manufacturing and Operations buyers. Learn what other ERP buyers have said should be part of the Top 10 questions to ask when choosing an ERP solution!

Dolvin, VAI and IBM work with your team to ensure you have the right solution to your business challenges.

Click here to learn more about Dolvin.
Click here for our contact information.