Case Studies

RFID Implementation for a GPS Services Provider
Business Process Automation through Bar-coding integration for a Telecommunications Provider
Software Configuration Management (SCM) for a Training Services Provider

RFID Implementation for a GPS Services Provider
Client
The client is a leading GPS Equipment provider to individual and corporate customers across US.
Client Situation
Client procures equipment from several suppliers and stores them in three different Warehouses. Their ever changing Model configuration and Customer Order configuration is posing a great problem in terms of tracking several parts within the Organization and configuring them for Customers.

Implify Solution & RFID Benefits
Implify has devised a strategy based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) techniques to provide the following benefits:
    bullet Speed Up Asset Tracking Process
    bullet Improve Accuracy
    bullet Locate Assets Easily
    bullet Timely Order Deliveries
    bullet Track IT Related Information
    bullet Maintain Insurance Records
    bullet Comply with Government Regulations
    bullet Meet Audit Requirements
    bullet Improve Depreciation Reporting
    bullet Minimize Paper Work
    bullet Create One Central Asset Repository
    bullet Keep History of Asset Use
Business Process Automation through Bar-coding integration for a Telecommunications Provider
Client
The client is a Data and Voice communications service provider in the U.S.
Client Situation
The client's core function is to provide data and voice communications to all types of business customers. Client is using Siebel eBusiness Application for Telecommunications for their Sales and Service functions. Client offers different types of plan options to their customers and depending on the options selected by their customers Client supplies or orders materials required for fulfilling the orders. The client has warehouses in several locations which stock and distribute parts. Sometimes, based on Customer's choice, some parts are ordered and delivered directly to Customer's site. Orders are configured using the Siebel Application and every Order form details out all the parts to be used. Orders are full-filled with several very small, small and large sized parts. Service Engineers pick parts from Warehouses, carry them on their trucks, use them in installation and/or repair and return un-used or defective parts to warehouses or local inventory bins. The client is facing several problems in using parts
    bullet Tracking of specific parts has become very difficult
    bullet Inaccuracies in maintaining part serialization due to manual entry of serial numbers
    bullet Loss of parts
    bullet Delayed order fulfillment process
    bullet Cumbersome stock-taking process
Implify Solution
Implify analyzed the problem and suggested bar-coding solution. Implify blue-printed client's complete business process flow and identified the points where a bar-coding solution could be utilized. A Proof-of-concept was designed and developed by integrating Siebel Service Request screen with Symbol's DS6600 series barcode scanner. Demonstrations were conducted with all levels of users and convinced the management committee of the enhanced process efficiency. Assisted Client's staff in equipment bar coding and serialization efforts. Implify developed interfaces on all relevant Siebel screens to accept and process barcode inputs. Implify provided training to end users on the usability and trouble shooting of the entire bar coding interfaces developed.

Client benefits include the following:
    bullet Accurate tracking of all parts
    bullet No loss of parts
    bullet Enhanced order fulfillment process in terms of time and efficiency
    bullet Simplified stock-taking process
Software Configuration Management (SCM) for a Training Services Provider
Client
The client is a training services provider to commercial and Government organizations in the U.S.
Client Situation
The client's core function is to provide training services to commercial as well as Government organizations. Client offers different types of training programs in several subject areas which include instructor-led, web-based, self-paced and virtual classroom. Client also offers course evaluations and certifications. Client has a multitude of systems, some developed in-house and some Commercial Off-the-shelf, for Content Development, Content Deployment, Tracking and Accounting. Client has to often modify their applications environment to cater to the changing needs of the Organizations. Also it becomes necessary to use different shades of the same application for different customers. Complexity in the multitude of systems is posing severe technical problems with the client. Client is not able to effectively deploy needed applications in time. Parallel application development/enhancement is becoming quite complicated and often wrong application is being deployed to customers. Defect tracking and resolution and application re-deployment has become quite complicated. Client wanted to stream-line the application development and deployment.
Implify Solution
Implify analyzed the problem and suggested implementing Software Configuration Management (SCM) process to enforce software life-cycle version controlling and Release Management. Implify has implemented a Configuration Management process of identifying and defining the items in the system, controlling the change of these items throughout their lifecycle, recording and reporting the status of items and change requests, and verifying the completeness and correctness of items.

This process has the following activities as its primary activities:
    Identification and documentation of the characteristics of configuration items
    Change control of configuration items and related documents
    Audit of configuration items and related documents
    Status accounting and reporting to manage configuration items effectively, including the status of proposed changes and implementation status of approved changes.

With this process client was able to effectively control their software deployment and releases. Also this process facilitated easier defect tracking and resolutions.