value
For any significant company investment, the emphasis is on cost. Establishing real cost savings, return-on-investment, and the intangible benefits does not receive the same level of scrutiny.
Data Management systems offer far more value to the organisation than is apparent at the outset. New flexible methods of working and better, higher quality products represent a premium often omitted in a benefits assessment.
Costs related to the rollout of a data management system fall into a number of categories:
- software
Software licences
Database software, server and client access licences
CAD & other file format viewer & redlining software
CAD software extensions
Microsoft Office extensions (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint)
- hardware
Suitable fileserver capacity, file back up, & network access Client PCs, appropriate storage and performance plus operating system compatibility
- infrastructure
Impact upon present environment
External access capacity
Links to branch or associates offices
- consultative & professional services
Pre-implementation consultancy, needs analysis, system design, outline of installation programme
Implementation including data loading, customisation, testing preceded with associated hardware and software upgrades
User and system administration training including user manuals
Ongoing hardware and software maintenance plus support
