Sage Work Stream Focus Groups Cherryl Holliday & Graham Hoyle June 2009
Agenda Why we are here Our Thinking −Our Mission −Approach −Internal v External −Internal Work streams Focus Groups Format Progress
Why we are here “Graham and Cherryl will explain the format and the thinking behind the new Line 500 / Sage 1000 Focus Groups, how they will work, commitment level required from customers and answer any questions you may have about being involved in these sessions” Ensure that Development meets Business Requirements Ratification
Our Thinking The Enterprise mission “To create a true mid market business by working together to deliver a series of compelling product and service propositions to the Enterprise market in order to drive financial performance and recommendation within our chosen areas of the mid market”
Usability and User Interface −Deliver a more contemporary user interface that will keep the product competitive and up to date aesthetically, whilst new usability and efficiency concepts will improve the general user experience and assist new and existing users in improving productivity. Interoperability −Use open interoperability standards to allow more consistent and flexible integration between the core Sage 1000 ERP module and complementary productivity modules. Reporting −Provide an integrated reporting solution to deliver the basic (management and legislative) reports normally associated with a strong business management offering. Our Approach
Work Streams
Stage one −Gather information based on our own internal experience o Consultants & Professional Services o Support o Sales Stage two −Ratify findings with external interested parties −Ascertain whether modules/options are still relevant −If no longer used, why? Not Fit for Purpose? Any other reason? Stage three −Demonstrate changes o Via WebEx, o Conference Call, o Face to Face Internal v External
Stage One: Internal Work Streams
Work Streams Financials Commercial Manufacturing CRM Additional Modules HR & Payroll
Work Stream – Financials Cherryl Holliday FINANCIALS Absorption CostingNF Accounts PayableAP Accounts ReceivableAR Cash ManagementCM Credit ManagementCK Fixed AssetsFA General LedgerGL General Ledger ConsolidationGC Inter Entry AccountingIE Job CostingJC Electronic Payment - BACSBC International Payments - Euro BACSBA ArchivingRE Central FilesCE System Key MaintenanceSK
Work Stream – Commercial Graham Hoyle COMMERCIAL Extended DiscountsEP Inventory ManagementIC Purchase Order ProcessingPO Purchase ReqsPQ Repairs incl. Returns Entry & UtilitiesRR/AQ Repetitive Route SchedulingAV Sales Invoicing & AnalysisOP Sales Order Entry/Intrastats/VATOE/IS/VT Bill of MaterialsBM EDI & XMLEI/EO/XI/XO Waste ManagementWP Branch Inventory ManagementAW Contract ManagementRB Telesales - Includes: -AT/TU/AX/AF Order Entry/Utilities/Point of Sale/Post Code Search
Within each work stream what are the areas that require improvement; −In terms of reporting −In terms of integration −In terms of UI and Usability In each of these 3 themes think in terms of; −Areas for improvement −Priority Work Stream Guidelines
Looked at the functional areas across the work streams Are all modules within this work stream still relevant to the customer base Which modules within this work stream could interact better with each other −Which modules may require interaction across work streams What is being logged with Support What are the functional “no-brainers” −Period end workflow −List views −Export to Excel Work Stream Progress
Stage one −Gather information based on our own internal experience Stage two −Ascertain whether modules/options are still relevant −If no longer used, why? Not Fit for Purpose? Any other reason? −Ratify findings with external interested parties o Focus groups o Site Visit – business process −Explorer information gathered internally −Demonstrate progress o Focus groups o WebEx, Conference Call o Business Partner interaction Internal v External
Stage Two: External Work Streams SUN Focus Groups Graham Hoyle
Focus Group Format Each meeting will have a theme −Ascertain whether modules/options are still relevant to you How they’ll work −Separate work stream (Financial/Commercial) −Open and Interactive −Introductions o Who, company, role −Ratify work in progress −In preparation, think about; o Areas of the software where modern business has moved on o Niggles today (Quick Wins) o Priorities
Focus Group First Focus Groups −At The Binding Site Ltd on June 25 th −Financials 10:00 – 12:00 −Commercials 13: :00 −If you are interesting in attending, Contact Nicole o Going Forward −Themes −Frequency −Continuity o Start of a journey
Work in progress
Approach - UI and Usability Create a more modernised look & feel for the forms Present the application as “Rich client” in a web browser rather than wholly web or Windows Reflect the new Sage Brand For Shallow Refresh forms, apply the new style but retain the original flow through the application For Deep Refresh work, apply the style, and improve the flow and composition
Forms Style Toolbar along top using standard Sage icons Groupboxes in new Sage brand colour Style for Legacy lists Title bar using standard Sage style
Forms Style
Tooltip assistance to identify tab
Deep Refresh Approach Change the flow to compose a single form using separate elements Use tabs to enable access to different information groups Key information remains on screen as the user works in different areas Adopt a List based UI approach to enable users to perform different actions from a single point
25 Current Product
26 Current Product
27 Current Product
28 Current Product
29 Current Product
30 Future Product
Copy to Excel
In closing Why we are here Our Thinking −Our Mission −Approach −Internal v External −Internal Work streams Focus Groups Format Progress
Questions?