It's been a while since the last update of this blog, which awfully goes back to February of this year. I got too busy working on my new blog at Bloggista.com, being my first self-hosted blog which is using the Wordpress CMS blogging platform.

Surprisingly, the great and mighty Google gave it a PR3 during its latest round of page rank updates. I started this blog way back in November of last year.

As of now, I am planning to feature different IT and Business Application products and services on this blog. Will also feature different IT Implementation and Consulting companies focusing on those Service Providers that are based in the Philippines. In short, this blog will be transformed into a reference site for those who are looking for tried and tested and reliable business application softwares, IT Solutions and IT providers.

I mentioned in my previous posts that my team is now currently rolling-out the last 3 plants with a total of 16 sites for a Client's Sales and Distribution system.

This system allows full integration of Sales Route Management (Route Calls, Booking activities), Order Processing (Order encoding, Stock allocation, credit checking & approval, Invoicing & delivery documents generation) and Financial Transactions (Accounts Receivables, Collections and daily closing activities) and Reporting (Reports, Portal). Quite an ambitious undertaking (implementing to over a dozen provincial plants with close to 80 sales offices - and integrate all these locations into one system using a Web Portal application).

These past 3 weeks, I have been hopping from one place to another to check out and oversee the Teams assigned, conduct Business Process trainings, monitor progress of sites' preparation activities. In a week, I was in Naga, then Tacloban & Tanauan (in Leyte) and then took a 6-hour bus ride to La Union - all in just 5 days.

With pride, the Team in Leyte was able to 'cutover' the Plant to the new system last week ( I was there with the Team when they worked over night and completed all transactions 10:00am the next day). But it was a succesful cutover - I should say, where local users were able to transition to the new system more easily.

Naga site encountered some few roadblocks, nonetheless, a smooth cutover was done last weekend. Both Teams (Naga & Leyte) will move on to the sales offices next week - starting on 04-February and should be finished by next weekend.

Since Wednesday, I'm in La Union to oversee the transition and cutover activities. Yesterday, the Team succesfully cutover the site to the new system as well. It feels good that the Teams were as reliable as ever, and this makes every Project Manager very proud!

It's almost done - and I will definitely find ways to give another challenging projects for these Teams.

The Consulting team that I was tasked to manage is composed of 12 young, energetic, talented, smart and beautiful men and ladies who are always up to take every challenge given to them. With these in my arsenal, we can readily take any Sales and Distribution and Finance projects with ease and finesse.

For information and project interest, contact the blogger.

~ The Cutover Experience
~ Bloggista.com

Companies planning to implement an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, or any business systems application should consider the following - before jumping into something that would led to lots of regrets later:

1. Requirements Definition

A good way to start a business systems project (like an ERP solution- Oracle, SAP, etc., or functional solutions like a Sales and Distribution software) is to clearly define your objectives, and specific requirements that you want to be addressed. Objectives and requirements should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound (S-M-A-R-T). Details on how to prepare a requirements definition document will be posted soon.

2. Readiness

A project is sure to fail, if readiness checking is not thoroughly done. I got a client who spent millions of pesos for a reputable software, including paying big time Consultants - only to realize they're stuck in a quagmire of issues, and it was hard to get out of there.

Readiness checking should be focused on the following areas:

• Is your Organization ready?
• Are your Business Processes ready?
• Are your infrastructures ready?

Details of each of the above readiness check will be posted here soon.

3. Budget

Yeah, systems implementation will cost you an arm and a leg - if you don't manage it very well. Make sure your requirements definition also outlines the bound of your spending, and includes proven alternative ways to get the same results - but at a more competitive cost. The following can spell the difference between spending all your money or spending within your budget on a project:

• Choice of software solutions
• Choice of implementors
• Choice of third-party providers

Tips on how to save on your implementation costs will also be posted here soon.

For information, leave your comments and will get back to you.

This is my first crack at B-Blog. My blogs will be all about the experiences - good or bad, that I encounter as an IT Systems and Business Consultant and Project Manager for various IT projects mostly in the Philippines.

This is also my way of getting in touch with previous clients and consulting colleagues, who are now in different parts of the world.

My name is Roel. And I have been into the Consulting business for more than 10 years. A lot more personal info shall be updated in the About Me section very soon.