Outsourcing
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Many companies are wrestling with the problem of how best to balance strengthening core-business operations and effectively managing IT solutions. Others are beginning to recognise that it is an area they may need to address in the near future.
Those companies that have already embraced the philosophy of IT outsourcing are thus reaping the benefits of such a policy, with some of the prime gains being:
- Lower costs
- Freedom for management to focus on core business activities
- Enhanced IT systems capabilities
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IT professionals can be very costly to have on the payroll, and as a result many companies operate with very small IT departments. In the fast moving world of IT, it is difficult for any one person to keep completely up-to-date with respect to current technology and this is one area where outsourcing can really come into its own.
Outsourcing allows companies to call on IT expertise to meet all current needs and to utilise this expertise to further develop its IT systems - thus improving efficiency while keeping costs low. |
Support Options
Lottbridge Systems offer a broad range of IT outsourcing packages that are geared to meeting the needs of businesses - from large public companies, right down to the smallest of enterprises. We pride ourselves on providing the service that is most relevant to your business - at highly competitive rates.
At Lottbridge Systems we appreciate that finding the right balance is not easy and therefore offer a range of packages that can be tailored to meet specific needs.
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Annual Support Contracts
If you are about to consider the recruitment of full-time IT staff then one of our annual support contracts may offer better value for money. If you are also looking at the effectiveness of your existing IT function and would like to have a meeting to discuss in more detail how we can work with you, we would be pleased to meet with you to discuss alternatives.
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Pre-paid Support Packages
As an alternative, if your needs are not as great as to warrant high-level support, you may decide to choose one of our pre-paid support packages where support hours are purchased in advance and used when a support issue arises.
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Company 1:
Fabricator of windows, doors and conservatories
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The company premises occupy four different sites that are linked by structured cabling, radio and laser links. Ten servers handle file serving, email, Internet gateway, database management routines and fax.
A complete bespoke software package was developed to handle customer account management, supplier account management, purchase orders, sales orders, stock control, personnel management, swipe card machines for time and attendance, production, reporting, accounts reconciliation, and work-flow monitoring. The package has been integrated with the production systems (Window Designer), accounts software (Pegasus Opera II), and email software (Officetalk).
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Servers were commissioned to monitor the workflow of items passing through the database and to poll responsible individuals when items required their attention. This systems opened up two-way communication between the system and the users - so that jobs that need evaluating, credits that need authorising, escalating issues that are overdue and asking for help if system failures are detected.
In an independent UK-wide audit of IT operations we were rated in the top 5% for IT support services.
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Company 2:
National distributor of sweets and confectionery
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Lottbridge Systems were given a brief to develop an in-house stock control and inventory system to replace its very old, DOS based system.
The original set-up was replaced with new hardware and a more modern, Windows based, application that has continued to develop in parallel with company needs. It now handles multi-branch stock control, inventory, customer account management, buying group management, invoicing, rep. account management, payroll, reporting, and integration with its accounting package (Pegasus Opera II).
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Support contract provides remote system control. If a user has an issue we can link up and see the problem on their local screen and interactively resolve the issue for them - showing them on their own computer, if need be.
Further enhancements are planned to the email system, a facility to enable the reps to book stock and invoice customers from mobile units in their vans as well as EDI (electronic data interchange) to eliminate the need for paper invoices.
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Company 3:
Supplier of marine hardware, stainless fastenings and fixings
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The initial brief was to develop an in-house point-of-sale, stock control/inventory system.
The bespoke software was developed from the ground up in close connection with the proprietor and as the company's requirements developed the software was updated.
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It now manages stock purchasing, stock inventory, invoice printing, customer account management, multiple discount levels, and web site generation - allowing customers to browse the entire catalogue and place orders online.
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