When it comes to the custom pools, we know our industry as well as anyone, but when it comes to technology, I never know for sure if I have the right answer. Thanks to our relationship with the HBT team, I have confidence that we’re making the right technology decisions.

IT Business Assessments

Rapidly Growing Electronics Design, Installation and Service Company asked us to conduct a comprehensive review of their technology systems, software applications and business processes to ensure that they were:  a.  getting the most out of current systems, b. aware of potential risk areas and c. taking advantage of opportunities to standardize and improve core processes as they grow.  Our findings produced the following results:

• Saved the company 20% per year in voice communication costs (this finding alone almost paid for the entire assessment).
• Discovered an error in their virus protection procedures that allowed over 1000 harmful viruses to reside on a critical server – undetected.  Addressing this improved network connectivity by almost 50% - without adding extra bandwidth!
• Shortened the turnaround time from Customer Estimate to Contract Approval by over 30%.
• Recommended enhancements to both data and voice configuration and maintenance procedures that will allow them to expand into new territories with a reliable and cost-effective solution.

A Growing Home Builder has asked us to conduct an IT Value Assessment of their core systems and software applications.   In this assessment, we are focusing our attention on how well current software applications are integrating with each other, and whether the company is taking full advantage of the many features and capabilities available in their already purchased Accounting Software.  Results:

• Assessment in Progress – Please check back for results highlights.
  
  

An established Office Supply Company, looking to upgrade their Order Processing and Inventory Management software, asked us to review the software offerings of a newly formed software vendor offering an enterprise solution in their industry.

During an efficient three day onsite evaluation, we reviewed our client’s primary goals and objectives, most desired features of their current software, and those business challenges they were most eager to overcome.  We were then able to assess how well the vendor’s software product met those needs.  With our experienced team of business analysts and software developers, we were able to go beyond simply conducting a cursory review of software application.  We looked under the hood at how well the software was designed, how well it would scale as their company’s needs grew and how well it would integrate to other software systems.  We also evaluated the company’s business plan and marketability as it introduced their product publicly. 

Our review and feedback allowed the company to write a detailed Request for Proposal to the software vendor that detailed specifically what changes, enhancements or modifications to their software that the vendor would have to make in order to earn the client’s business.  It also provided the company with valuable insight into what features and capabilities to focus on during their search for a new software system.

Software Services

A Growing Design-Build and Service Mechanical Contractor engaged Hartman Business Technology to find an enterprise software solution to manage their Customer Service Division.

Our client had previously selected a software package that showed great promise during the vendor presentations, but, failed to deliver on several key requirements, and didn’t match well with current service procedures. 

HBT reviewed our client’s current procedures, documented key business processes interviewed stakeholders to get a sense of how their requirements might change as their business grows and diversifies.  Armed with this information, we conducted a comprehensive review of commercial software in their industry.  Key results included:

• Software options in our client’s specific industry were limited.  We leveraged our experiences in related service industries to find an option in a related field that could easily be modified to meet their specific needs.
• After purchase, installation and training, the total cost of the software, including our consulting fees, was 30% less than budgeted.
• Improvements to their service processes allowed our client to take on an additional 28% in new business the following year, with one less back office service manager.

A textbook supply company hired HBT to customize a software application to manage two new divisions of their expanding business.  After an initial ‘phase A’ review of design and database requirements, we recommended an approach that allowed our client to:

• Improve the performance of their existing software module.
• Modify the database model to create a Master Database of all critical components throughout each module – significantly reducing re-keying errors and redundancy.
• Complete all development ahead of schedule and below initial cost estimates.
• Maintain a competitive advantage by utilizing proprietary custom software features not available on the open market to other companies in this highly competitive industry.