How to Build Your Enterprise System

You have two choices: <ul> <li>Option A: Build a state-of-the-art, custom-built enterprise system that integrates the works (e.g. CRM, ERP, EAM, SCM, wiki, etc.).</li> <li>Option B: Get something up quickly. Combine many smaller pieces of independent applications, and have them communicate with each other (e.g. through their APIs, etc.).</li> </ul> <h2>Mr. Techno-Wizzo tells you:</h2> Option A: <ul> <li>takes frickin' long to build (years, if ever)</li> <li>has a humongous chance for failure</li> <li>its modules become obsolete quickly</li> <li>you drain revenues fast while it's under development</li> <li>painful to tweak things as your business changes</li> <li>if you ever finish, you'll probably outgrow many of its features</li> </ul> Option B: <ul> <li>quick, and flexible -- can get something up freakishly soon</li> <li>causes slight dents to your cashflow, as you get an application module up quickly to use</li> <li>allows you to use best-of-class for every included application</li> <li>interchangeable (e.g. a state-of-the-art applications can be integrated into the system easily and continuously)</li> </ul> Option B = winner! Yay! Yay! Yay! <h2>Use Whatever You Can -- Quickly</h2> Microsoft Excel? <ul> <li>You: "Oh no! I hate Microsoft! They-so-greedy! Bill Gates? More like BILLS Gates!"</li> <li>Mr. Techno-Wizzo: "Look pimplebutt: No one cares. Use the sucker if it helps you get from Point A to Point B."</li> <li>Mr. Techno-Wizzo: "If you outgrow it, then build an application to compensate for Excel's shortcomings."</li> </ul> You don't need fancy technology to stay on top of your game. Use what you can -- now. A startup that uses Excel to thrive with its customers will kick the ass of any aspirational startup that's building an entire state-of-the-art application to bring in business. While the latter is draining resources and time, the former is focusing on a plethora of other things to fatten its bottom line. Remember: <ol> <li>Technology becomes obsolete quickly.</li> <li>You'll likely outgrow your technology in a few months.</li> <li>Taking too long to build something you needed months before = waste. BOO!</li> </ol> So, get something up quickly -- then revise, reconfigure, and deploy your application as necessary -- as you're moving toward your destination. Rule of thumb to tech-fabulous: "Hey! I don't even notice we're using state-of-the-art technology! WOW! KORUMBA!" <h2>Deploy quickly.</h2>   2008-02-27T11:47:00+10:00 true 611 how-to-build-your-enterprise-system

2009-11-07T15:45:46+10:00