Successful Software Selection. We understand what an overwhelming process software selection can be. We assure you that we are prepared to provide you the highest quality and timely service you deserve.
What is your methodology and proven process? 
After all, the end result of this process is for you to successfully implement a software solution that allows your organization to be more competitive, provide you better information and allows your staff to be more efficient, at a price point that meets your budgetary objectives.
The essential points of our methodology include:
Consultation And Business Objectives Review
We spend time with your key employees to discuss their issues so that we understand your key business issues. We work with you to identify and focus on the key Business Objectives of the project. We identify constraints that may influence the project’s success as part of our project planning process. This allows us to have a keen insight into your requirements for a new business software solution and work with you to formulate a plan that can succeed.
Process Development And Documentation
A study of your current business practices and processes allow us to identify and prioritize the requirements that a prospective software package must include for Surfas to reach the desired results. These requirements and processes become the basis for the creation of the Request for Proposal (RFP). Our years of experience developing these Proposals for our clients assure you that we ask the correct questions and cover all the bases to address your issues.
RFP Evaluation And Analysis
Evaluating the replies to the RFP/RFQ is a critical aspect to the selection process. Too often, we have seen companies make this evaluation based solely on price. This practice will often lead to selecting software that will not satisfy your key requirements and often leaves organizations dissatisfied with the process. Our evaluation methodology takes price into account, but only as one factor among many that will impact the overall success of your project.
Product Demonstration Planning And Support
One key to the successful implementation of any Business Solution is an understanding of how the software functions. Software companies are very good at presenting their product in the most favorable manner. Your objective is not to purchase just any software, but the one that best satisfies your key business requirements. Our experience with software packages enables us to develop a successful demonstration script with you that insures that the features and functionality required for your organization are present and meet your requirements.
Product Selection And Negotiation
Finding the right software and negotiating a fair price for it are two very difficult tasks. Thankfully, you have the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group to assist you with both of these steps. We not only help you reach the correct decision on which software solution will best satisfy your requirements, we also help you understand how to negotiate the best price possible. We know where to find savings which will not compromise the project in this often-difficult process. Most of our clients tell us that the money saved not only paid for our services, but was more than they could have negotiated on their own.
Implementation
Our independence allows us to be very objective in helping you select the correct software for your business. It also means that we do not implement any software packages. What we can provide is a detailed review of the implementation plan and process to make sure it fits your needs. Then Project Management assistance is available to insure that the project is on track, that the costs are within guidelines and that the anticipated Go-Live date can be achieved. We help insure that the training, education, hardware installation, software installation, data conversion, network, website, and the many other pieces involved in a successful implementation stay on course and on budget.
Post-Implementation Review
A successful implementation should mean more than you met your planned Go-Live date. That was just the start of your objective to realize the expected goals of the project. We can work with you throughout the months following the implementation to help you measure your successes. The planned Return on Investment (ROI) that helped you make the decision to move forward with the project will provide you the feedback as to whether the anticipated objectives of the project have been achieved. Without this feedback it is too easy for organizations to fall back into old habits with your new software.
Why should I engage the Brown
Smith Wallace Consulting Group?
Industry Leadership
Distribution Solutions Council
Since 2001, the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group has provided industry leadership in forming the Distribution Solutions Council (DSC), an organization of leading software companies. We bring these companies together with industry leaders to share ideas about the unique issues that affect distribution companies.
Embellished Activewear Standards Initiative
For more than four years, a dedicated group of wholesalers, manufacturers and distributors, the Embellished Activewear Standards Initiative (EASI) consortium, have revolutionized their industry by standardizing the flow of electronic data -- and standards are catching on, creating an environment of collaboration, visibility and predictability. More than 125 individuals from more than 25 companies have come together to establish 14 EASI standards with Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group coordination.
Industry Expertise
Distribution Solutions Guide
The industry standard Distribution Solutions Guide, developed by the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group, has helped countless distributors assess distribution software packages for more than 15 years. Presented in two formats, the Guide reaches more than 15,000 distributors via the printed version and more than 50,000 visitors online. This one-of-a-kind compilation serves as the primary resource for detailed distribution software research for hundreds of software selection projects annually.
Relationships With Trade Associations
More than 50 national and international line of trade associations work with Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group on a regular basis, including: Association for High Technology Distribution, National Association of Electrical Distributors, and National Electronic Distributors Association.
Media Experts
We write a number of technology articles for the leading wholesale distribution trade journals including: Industrial Distribution, Progressive Distributor and other vertical market journals.
Steve Epner has also co-authored “E-commerce for Distribution Channels” with Bruce Merrifield, published by the Distribution Research and Education Foundation. He was a contributing author to the “Facing the Forces of Change: Outlook 2003” by Adam Fein.
Professional Speaking
Steve Epner has been a featured speaker at over 300 professional presentations to the Wholesale Distribution community including the University of Industrial Distribution.
Unbiased Opinions
Known for providing independently researched information for today's most advanced business applications, the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group is well known and respected throughout the distribution industry. The concentration on truly knowing the products listed in our Distribution Solutions Guide through on-site visits and annual software demos ensures our audience receives accurate, unembellished data.
Independent Advisors
To maintain the position as unbiased consultants, the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group does not sell any hardware or software. The Consulting Group has no financial interest in any system or company that participates in the Software Guides.
No Implementation Services
The Consulting Group does not implement software. This allows us to avoid any real or implied conflict of interest regarding our recommendations.
Level Playing Field
All software vendors are concerned that they will be used as “column fodder” and that the selection decision has been pre-determined so that their participation in the due diligence process is a waste of time. BSW contacts and explains to every vendor who participates in our selection projects the outcomes and why they were selected or rejected. This approach allows us to maintain our credibility and solid working relationships with all of the major vendors.
Industry Referrals
Software companies, our past clients and industry organizations continue to refer distribution-related organizations to us for assistance.
Software Companies
Our unique approach to a software selection project, staff experience and industry expertise allows us to provide an affordable service to companies about to undertake a software selection project. We are objective in our analysis so that our clients always get the right answer.
Fellow Consultants and Educators
We have worked with many of the leading consultants in the industry on our selection projects, on research, and on education initiatives. Among these consultants are Adam Fein, John Schreibfedder, Bruce Merrifield, Michael Marks and Al Bates. Among the educators are Dr. Kathy Newton of Purdue University and Dr. Barry Lawrence of Texas A&M University.
What else should I consider?
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