THE TORTOISE BEATS THE HARE A discussion paper from Tisski Ltd, on how simple technology can sometimes be the best.

www.tisski.com Tel: 0247 7712050

The tortoise beats the hare – a discussion paper from Tisski Ltd, on how simple technology can sometimes be the best.

Key Benefits:

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• Tried and tested method and technology - this might be seen as an old school approach in the world of technology but this solution met all of the clients key requirements. Using middleware for the purposes of linking programs and devices is tried and tested, the risks of teething problems are minimal, unlike with newer technology.

• Cost savings - rather than go for the obvious solution which would have offered more functionality but at a higher cost to the client, a cost that wasn’t worth paying as it was overkill for what they needed. Deploying a middleware bridge between Microsoft Dynamics NAV and the sales team’s tablets meant that the project could be completed within the budget given.

• The Sales team had the stock and product information that they needed to hand - the overall objective, to ensure that the team had all of the information that they needed to hand when speaking to their customers, was met.

When people think about implementing new software or technology solutions they often jump to the conclusion that, in order to solve a problem effectively, the solution has to be complicated. A recent project completed for a major watch supplier proves that this isn’t always the case.

Project Overview - the challenge!The client approached Tisski because they were looking for a way to synchronise the stock information held within their Microsoft Dynamics NAV system with the tablet devices used by their sales force. This information included both images and product specifications.

The objective was to ensure that when the sales team were speaking to their customers, they had all of the relevant information to hand; in an attractive format. This allowed them to use product and stock information as part of their sales presentations and enabled them to add any stock orders placed by their customers to their iPad for synchronisation with Dynamics NAV when they returned home or to the office.

Client’s key requirements• Simple, long term solution• No need for real time synchronisation or updates of

stock numbers• Solution must be compatible with tablet devices• Visually appealing • Avoid high development, implementation, and ongoing

running costs• Easily scalable to accommodate any growth in the

sales team.

The challenge for the Tisski development team came from the budget element of the project. The obvious solution, which is not always the best one as we soon discovered, would have been to use the mobile version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV. However, the cost implications of this were too high when compared with what the client actually required.

For example, the mobile version offers real time stock updates. This is a fantastic benefit for organisations dealing with fast moving, perishable, or seasonal products, however it was not a key requirement for our client.

To implement the mobile version would have meant purchasing individual licences for each member of the sales team, this would have involved a monthly cost on top of the cost of the initial implementation. The cost simply couldn’t be justified.

Project planning and implementation - the solutionOnce we were clear on the requirements we set about looking at a simpler solution that would avoid the costs associated with purchasing a read/write user licence for each member of the sales force. The development of a solution was made easier by the fact that there was no requirement for live, 24/7 stock updates.

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Tisski have been more than a provider of software services; they are a key partner in our

business and trustworthy friends. I would not hesitate

to recommend them.

Gordon Lauder,Managing Director,

Central Foods

Customers Love Tisski:

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This meant that we could explore other options that would enable Dynamics NAV to communicate and synchronise with a mobile device, in this case the sales team’s iPads, with synchronisation occurring between the two manually or when the iPad was docked.

To meet the requirements of the project we decided to go forward with deployment of trusted middleware, software that links operating systems and databases, to handle and swap tab delimited .txt files. This may not seem like the most sophisticated of solutions, but it offered a number of benefits to the client.

The sales team would receive an automated email with the up to date stock information on a daily basis. The middleware would then allow this to be downloaded to the iPad in the correct format, ready for use throughout the day.

BenefitsTried and tested method and technology – this might be seen as an old school approach in the world of technology but this solution met all of the clients key requirements. Using middleware for the purposes of linking programs and devices is tried and tested, the risks of teething problems are minimal, unlike with newer technology.Cost savings – rather than go for the obvious solution which would have offered more functionality but at a higher cost to the client, a cost that wasn’t worth paying as it was overkill for what they needed. Deploying a middleware bridge between Microsoft Dynamics NAV and the sales team’s tablets meant that the project could be completed within the budget given.The sales team had the stock and product information that they needed to hand – the overall objective, to ensure that the team had all of the information that they needed to hand when speaking to their customers, was met.

ResultsThe results of this were that the project was delivered on time and within budget. The solution met with all of the client’s requirements without the high running costs or the risk of future development being needed as a result of disruption from service pack and other software and operating system upgrades. Something which could not have been guaranteed with other synchronisation methods.

Deploying middleware to get Microsoft Dynamics NAV to communicate with the sales team’s iPads may not be the sexiest of solutions. However, it was the best solution for the client and the one which most met their requirements. Just because there were more technologically advanced solutions available didn’t automatically make them the best solutions. At the end of the day, it’s about meeting the requirements of the client and the objectives of the project, and this certainly did that.

Results:

• The project was delivered on time and within budget

• The solution met with all of the client’s requirements without the high running costs or the risk of future development being needed as a result of disruption from service pack and other software and operating system upgrades

• Deploying middleware was the best solution for the client and the one which most met their requirements

• The fact that more technologically advanced solutions were available didn’t automatically make them the best solution for the client

• Tisski’s ‘thinking outside of the box’ saved the client 1000’s of pounds

• Project delivered within timescale – no additional consultancy days required.

Tel: 0247 7712050

The tortoise beats the hare – a discussion paper from Tisski Ltd, on how simple technology can sometimes be the best.

Customers Love Tisski:

Tisski and their project consultants have always gone the extra mile in helping us

achieve our milestones………no matter how challenging these have been. Knowledgeable

Tisski developers have worked as an integrated part of our development team

delivering both XRM extensions and complex CRM plugins. They have been tireless in getting these solutions right for us and have dealt with end user requirements

and feedback as well as detailed technical discussions within our development

environment – truly getting involved in the end to end development cycle.

We would not be where we are with the project without their support, guidance and commitment to our project and our Go-Live

date.”

Rachael Fountain,Spirax Sarco