The One
(379 Points)
Replied 10 May 2007
The One Says:
First of all, get hold of their operations/procedural manual - it will give you an idea of how they operate. This if developed scientifically should give the ideal procedures.
Next do a compliance check to test whether these procedures are adhered to - what are the exceptions. The exceptions should give you a clear picture of the revenue leakages.
My understanding is that of the two segments the retail segment where hardware & affiliated software is purchased should be optimized so that there is maximum efficiency. This would mean reducing the cycle times (ie the time it takes from when the order is placed to when the final product is delivered). This can be achieved with vendor agreements and faster transaction processing - develop dedicated customer support teams for larger customers etc.
Now for development of new software you should do an analysis of the SDLC of typical software developed by them. This data will give you an idea of efficient processes, constraints, inefficiencies and bottlenecks & identify key factors (staff time available and expertise). The scope for optimization here is slightly less since the development process would vary depending on the type of software requirements. But even here if procedures are in place to quickly generate the user requirements, alpha/beta testing, user modifications and user acceptance scope for revenue assurance is good.
Hope this helps ...... let me know if this was useful for you.