You have questions about the capabilities of technology. Our consulting services can consist of any number of activities, depending on the nature and complexity of the problem. We can:
We encourage our clients to participate in all aspects of the analysis and design of the project because the client has expert-knowledge of their business. Our goal is the synthesis of the client's business expertise and our technical knowledge to produce the best solution. To ensure the success of each project, we use a structured design methodology.
A large manufacturing firm found itself maintaining product formulations in multiple, independent, unintegrated systems. The firm purchased a product to replace and shut down their old systems. It required modification and, while that was happening, they changed directions and decided to buy additional components for a system already in use throughout the corporation. Our involvement allowed them to do business as usual while they planned this implementation, which also required additional customization. They needed to phase out the old systems, convert the existing data where possible, and allow the plants to continue production uninterrupted. INT built a temporary application capable of managing formulations, centralizing quality data collection and generating reports to customers. The project was completed within severe time constraints. It also included a built-in hazardous materials content and tracking feature that had been done manually using spreadsheets. INT designed a package for one-tenth the cost of a similarly-featured permanent solution and its planned lifespan has been extended by two to three years since implementation. Attention to detail and experience allowed us to build and deliver a high-quality system to meet the client's needs and exceed their expectations.
A department within a long-time client needed to send form letters to a shifting list of recipients on a weekly basis. Each team member was spending several hours per week manually copying and pasting client data from one Excel file into a form letter in another. They suspected the process could be streamlined and made more efficient but weren't sure how. After discussing their problem, INT suggested and implemented a simple Excel-to-Word mail merge solution that almost completely automated the process, freeing team members to do more important work. The project required no custom programming and only the most basic training because it relied on tools already on the end-user's desktop. Simply put, their custom problem did not require a custom solution. Rather, it required somebody to listen to, and understand, their process, then use knowledge of the products at hand to suggest and implement a viable solution.
After switching to Microsoft Office from Lotus SmartSuite, we were recruited to convert a series of Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets to Excel. Examining the files, it became clear that there was a larger challenge at hand. The spreadsheets warehoused and tracked data that had to be categorized and broken down in a variety of ways. To their credit, our client managed to accomplish a lot with 1-2-3, but it required significant file maintenance and data manipulation by users. More problematic, some features and reports simply could not be implemented in 1-2-3 or Excel. Our client had learned to live with the limitations of a spreadsheet, going without those reports and tools that weren't available. While we would have been happy to convert the files to Excel, we suggested they abandon spreadsheets entirely, in favor of a database. Initially reluctant to embrace the idea, one look at the sample reports and forms from a small, prototype Access system convinced them. There's an old saying, common around our office: "When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" and this is a perfect example. With no database familiarity, the client had fallen back on the reliable and comfortable spreadsheet as a solution. In the process, however, they had backed themselves into a corner where the presentation and manipulation of the data was concerned. Sometimes it takes the "fresh eyes" of a technology expert to identify the best tool for a job.
The owner of a local small business got in contact with us, through friend-of-a-friend connections, to get a "second opinion" regarding her computer needs. She needed a convenient and economical way to centrally archive her files. Her technical consultant recommended a pricey solution: a Windows-based server. Our experience with servers has taught us that they can be a great benefit when necessary. They can also be more trouble than they are worth, especially for small businesses without the means to hire dedicated IT personnel. Furthermore, we believe many small business servers are underutilized, serving as little more than glorified central hard drives. Such would have been the case here. Instead of a costly server, and the requisite expertise needed to maintain it, we recommended she purchase a desktop computer with a hard drive large enough to suit her needs. A simple peer-to-peer network provided all the service she needed and none of the headaches associated with network and server maintenance. Our suggestion provided the base functionality her business needed, without adding useless additional hardware or necessitating an expensive freelance IT professional on retainer. Additionally, the machine was functional as a workstation, saving her even more money when the time came to replace an outdated workstation.
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