| If you are unfamiliar with our OFFICE MASTER | | | | your organization. What does it take to process? Is |
| SYSTEM™business software, we will start by | | | | it easy-to-use? Does it require more of my human |
| saying we will refrain from bombarding you with | | | | resources, or less? Does it help all of my staff in |
| acronyms and buzz words. We will not use them to | | | | sharing the information? |
| describe our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) | | | | Implementation |
| software products. Our first tip is that if after | | | | Like most other projects, the success of a software |
| reading about our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) | | | | implementation will be based upon the skill of the |
| software for five minutes you still don’t | | | | people behind the software who are involved, |
| understand what our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) | | | | experienced, have the expertise, provide the training, |
| software does, you can stop ask us, at any time: | | | | deliver the support and, assist in the project |
| "Okay, but what does it actually do?" It’s worth | | | | management and the effort put forth a successful |
| a shot. | | | | implementation and long standing efficient use. |
| The most important part of a software selection | | | | Adequate time should be dedicated to make sure |
| process is defining the processes within your | | | | every aspect of every process is thoroughly |
| organization and determining functionality that is | | | | tested. At Master System this is a standard. Here |
| critical to your operation. Many times customers get | | | | we share just a brief example of how we validate |
| lost in the bells and whistles and forget about their | | | | your choice of OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) and |
| core business functions. If you are a distributor, | | | | we answer the questions of” “What |
| distribution is your core business function and you | | | | Happens?” |
| should be looking at OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) | | | | |
| because it has been designed specifically for | | | | Does the PO receipt screen have all the information I |
| distributors. Don’t expect an accounting package | | | | need to perform the receipt such as vendor item |
| with a little distribution tacked on to be very | | | | number, item description, unit of measure? |
| functional. | | | | What happens when I receive more than the PO |
| In addition, you should be focusing on the specific | | | | quantity? |
| type of distribution you are conducting. Software | | | | What happens when I receive less than the PO |
| designed for make-to-stock distributors may not | | | | quantity? |
| work well for a make-to-order distributor. Software | | | | What happens when I enter multiple receipts against |
| designed for electronics distribution may not work | | | | the same line? |
| well in a food/fish distributor. Software designed for | | | | What happens if someone tries to change the PO |
| general merchandise may not work well for apparel, | | | | quantity after I have entered a receipt? |
| footwear and accessories. If you are in the | | | | What happens if someone tries to change the PO |
| distribution or fulfillment business, you’ll perhaps | | | | quantity at the same time I am entering a receipt? |
| want to focus on functionality related to order | | | | What happens when I reverse a receipt? |
| processing, warehouse management, and Internet | | | | What happens when I reverse a receipt after it has |
| sales and, customer relationship management. We are | | | | been paid? |
| rare breed, our industry-specific OFFICE MASTER | | | | What happens if the ordered unit of measure is |
| SYSTEM(TM) software works equally well in all of | | | | different from the stocking unit of measure? |
| these environments. Most of our OFFICE MASTER | | | | What happens when I receive an early shipment? |
| SYSTEM(TM) software packages have initially been | | | | What happens when I try to receive against a |
| designed with industry-specific customers in mind; | | | | cancelled PO? |
| asking our customers will often give you an idea as | | | | What happens when I change the receipt location? |
| to the type of operation our OFFICE MASTER | | | | |
| SYSTEM(TM) software was designed to work in. | | | | Now, when we say: “what happens?” We |
| When you look at the detailed functionality of | | | | mean: How were the PO quantities affected? How |
| OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) we can demonstrate | | | | were the in-stock quantities affected? How were the |
| the many detailed functionality requirements of your | | | | inventory and payables accounts, and general ledger |
| operation. This is where other software often | | | | entries affected? How were allocations affected? |
| makes mistakes by emphasizing functionality they | | | | How were inbound quantities affected? It’s all |
| currently don’t have and would like and, generally | | | | about inventory control! |
| overlook core businesses processes that their current | | | | |
| system handles well. For example: if you become | | | | |
| awestruck with functionality that allows you to | | | | |
| access your system remotely from a browser on | | | | The goal here is to prove prior to implementation |
| your PDA, and as a result, you may overlook critical | | | | rather than after. And we do this with every key |
| functionality related to demand planning, you may | | | | process in every key program. |
| end up with a system that provides great visibility to | | | | During testing there will still be some issues that |
| the fact that your business is failing. Never assume a | | | | won’t be identified until after the system is up |
| software package “must” be capable of | | | | and running. While small issues are to be expected |
| handling something you consider a standard business | | | | in any implementation there is no excuse from us to |
| function. Some examples of detailed functional | | | | not address each and every one of them and, help |
| requirements are as follows: | | | | you in identifying any major issues prior to |
| E-commerce capabilities | | | | implementation. |
| Multi-warehouse demand planning | | | | As the system is been thoroughly tested we work |
| Back-order processing | | | | with you to begin (if you have not already begun) |
| Lot or serial number tracking | | | | the process of employee training. We don’t |
| Forward picking | | | | think we have ever been told by any distributor that |
| Batch order picking | | | | we have over trained their employees. Remember, |
| Returns processing | | | | you are customer and, training employees after the |
| Multiple units of measure | | | | system is turned on is part of our ongoing support of |
| Shipment confirmation | | | | our customer’s. |
| Don't settle for "yes, we can do that" responses | | | | The training consists executing the functional |
| from the software vendor. Verify can they do it, but | | | | procedures for the tasks your employees must |
| also that they can do it to the level you require. Ask | | | | perform their jobs. We provide this training as |
| detailed questions as to exactly how it works in their | | | | hands-on training. For most positions you will want to |
| system. Look at the specific programs used to | | | | make sure that each employee has entered |
| achieve the task and verify the data elements | | | | transactions during the training. Using actual |
| required to achieve the task are present. Don't allow | | | | transactions is a good way to make sure you have |
| the software vendor to not answer your question. | | | | covered the variety of transactions the employee is |
| They sometimes do this by answering your question | | | | likely to encounter. Once you employees have |
| with technical jargon they know (or hope) you won't | | | | repeated the task many times over a series of |
| understand. Don't be afraid to stop them and make | | | | training sessions, they are much more likely to |
| them restate their answer in different ways until you | | | | remember how to do it. |
| understand it (I do this all the time). "Ask questions | | | | Post-Implementation |
| YOU understand the answers to." Keep that quote | | | | We don't let it end with the initial implementation. |
| in mind as you discuss functionality with software | | | | Your new OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) system is |
| vendors. | | | | likely to have additional functionality that can improve |
| It’s very likely that our OFFICE MASTER | | | | your business processes. Once you become |
| SYSTEM(TM) software package can do everything | | | | comfortable with our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) |
| you wanted it to do. We generally find that you will | | | | system, just cal us for support. Rely on our OFFICE |
| not have to compromise on some of the | | | | MASTER SYSTEM(TM) documentation and review |
| functionality. Shortcomings are rare in functionality, | | | | our detailed functionality. Support from Master |
| yet we will address those short-comings through | | | | System is a continuous process. It is very unlikely |
| customized changes, or in rare cases, off-line | | | | that OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) will be a truly |
| workarounds. | | | | optimized system for your business. |
| When addressing the issue of modifications, we have | | | | |
| become convinced that "we do customize" it’s | | | | Extra: Browser-based applications. |
| inherent to the ongoing development of OFFICE | | | | |
| MASTER SYSTEM(TM) rather than, “we cannot | | | | The ability to access your business software from |
| customize!” Our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) | | | | any location that has Internet access is attractive. All |
| software lives on the opportunity to do everything | | | | the OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) Anyone that |
| you want it to do, the way you want it to do it. It's | | | | shops online should be familiar with using a program |
| important to treat our OFFICE MASTER | | | | within a browser to place an online order, |
| SYSTEM(TM) software as you would treat any of | | | | eMaster™ fits the bill. Just imagine conducting many |
| your processes, systems, or pieces of equipment. | | | | of you business activities this way, eMaster™ fits |
| the costs and benefits of customization makes sound | | | | the bill. eMaster™ is this eCommerce and B2B. In |
| decisions that are in keeping with the business | | | | addition, the integrated built-in easy-to-navigate |
| objectives of your organization. | | | | drop-down selections provides multiple channels of |
| In addition to functionality, consider usability. | | | | Internet access, 24/7/365. eMaster™ easily handles |
| Functionality of OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) | | | | your high-volume, low-dollar sales data entry tasks. |
| answers the question “it can do” while | | | | eMaster™ is attractive and easy to learn, far more |
| usability of OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) answers | | | | productive for your business. We are not aware of |
| “how do we get it done?” You may want to | | | | any other comparable full service Internet integrated |
| especially look at any high volume tasks that occur in | | | | software solution. |