66_SHD_April.qxd 2/4/07 09:39 Page 67
Logistics IT ❚
Spoilt for choice
Proteus Software MD Howard Turvey discusses the benefits
of bringing simplicity to complex situations.
We are early for our meeting so we decide “Or would you prefer, lemon, orange, or simple. Our business analysts will carry out a
to have breakfast. My colleague opts for a lime marmalade?” complete assessment of your requirements,
full English, but I just want a round of “I’ll have …” and make clear and straightforward
toast. “Or would you prefer Marmite, Vegemite recommendations as to how our solutions
The waiter appears. “Can I have a round of or honey?” should be implemented for maximum
toast, please,” I ask. “Blackcurrant jam,” I finally manage to effectiveness in your business.
“One, two or three slices,” replies the squeeze in a response. Rather than talking technical jargon, they
waiter. All I wanted was a simple round of toast, will focus on business needs and benefits. Our
and I feel like I have been through a objective is to provide answers, not questions.
‘Weakest Link’ grilling by Anne It would be like me going for breakfast and
Robinson in the process. the waiter saying, “Hello Mr Turvey, your
Of course, this approach provides breakfast is here waiting for you – two slices
good service, it puts the customer of granary toast, light brown, with butter and
first, gives plenty of choice, but all blackcurrant jam.” As if by magic the waiter
those decisions to make, when all I already knows what I want. No uncertainty,
wanted was just a couple of slices of no jargon, no complexity.
toast. Proteus business analysts have a wide
Recently, I wanted to buy a new experience of varying business scenarios,
TV, and I almost ended up wishing different warehouse layouts, and a range of
that there was complete monopoly in product characteristics. They are able to
TVs – only one manufacturer and assess your needs and recommend the type of
“Two please,” I respond. only one model. My decision would then have ‘toast’ for you.
“Do you want brown, white, granary, been that much more straightforward. Of course, the Proteus analyst will engage
wholemeal, soda or rye bread,” comes the Does the IT industry suffer from the same with you having made their assessment, to
question. malaise? The range of choice is so vast that refine the solution to meet your particular
“Wholemeal please.” the end result can be utter confusion. “Do you tastes, preferences and plans. Maybe he has
“Do you want it light, dark or in the want single core, dual core or quad core suggested strawberry jam, but you want
middle,” queries the waiter. processors? Do you want raid 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5? I raspberry.
“In the middle,” I respond. see you want 8GB of memory... Would that We will be on hand through the entire set-
“Great. Do you want butter, margarine, be 8 x 1GB chips or 4 x 2GB chips?” And I’m up and implementation process to guide and
sunflower spread?” thinking it’s much easier to order chips at support. Our objective is to make life as easy
“I will take butter, please.” McDonald’s. for you as possible. We handle the technical
“Do you want strawberry, raspberry, peach Some software providers can also be guilty complexities, leaving you to run your
or blackcurrant jam?” of making the simple, complex. At Proteus business.
“I’ll take...” Software, we are trying hard to keep things
www.proteussoftware.com
Wear It, Scan It, Pick It!
The first combined barcode and RFID wearable scanner
tel: 0845 345 0992 email: sales@synergix.co.uk www.synergix.co.uk
www.PressOnShD.com April 2007 ShD 67
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84