5.2.1. IT System Requirements

Hardware

• PC & Server
• Dell PowerEdge 2500 server
• Dual PIII 1GHz processor
• 1GB PC133 RAM
• 2 * 18GB + 4 * 36GB Hard disks
• MS Small Business 2000 Server
• Network
• 3COM ISDN LAN modem
• 3COM 3300 XM switch (24 Port)

Software

• Arcserve Advanced Back-up software
• Innoclulan Workgroup Anti-Virus (25 User License)

5.3. Project Team

The project is still ongoing and having passed through a number of phases now there has been a number of people and organisations involved in the implementation.

The internal team has been led by Martin McVicar, the Managing Director. The project has been managed by Colin Gray, Combilift’s IT Manager. Colin’s background on the materials side of the business has proved invaluable. His deep understanding of the business processes and the supply chain has helped inform the development of the project.

Early in the project Dan Quely from Ernst & Young was employed to check the quotes and provide an independent, professional opinion. His expertise was in hardware and, again, it proved invaluable to have a third party, independent point of view.

The external team included Ernst & Young as discussed earlier. Their involvement was at the front of the project and they helped drive out the business requirements for the eBusiness development. Again, Combilift reiterated the importance of obtaining an independent point of view.

Catseye (www.catseye.ie), as discussed earlier were the company chosen to design the new website.

5.4. Project phases

The project broke down into a number of discrete phases. At this point in time the first two have been implemented and the third phase will be completed this year.

• Phase One
  This involved networking all of the standalone PCs and installing a proper back-up system. Prior to this phase most systems weren’t backed up at all due to the fact that the PCs were standalone. This phase was started in July/ August 2001 and was completed by the end of October 2001.
• Phase Two
  This involved developing the website to draw in more customers and position the Combilift brand as a “solution sell” business. This phase has only recently been completed.
• Phase Three
  This phase will see the development and launch of the Combilift Extranet. This will enable the dealer network to obtain the information they require on, for example, spare parts and technical queries.

5.5. eBusiness Project Benefits

At this point in time the benefits have been concentrated in improved internal efficiencies as a result of the reduction in departmental overlap resulting from the networking.

It is too early at this stage to tell but it is hoped that the new website will result in much increased traffic and leads generated for the dealer network. Search engine optimisation will be key to success here. The website will also benefit potential customers by providing sufficient information for them to make informed choices about short listing suppliers.

Finally, the dealer extranet will benefit the dealers substantially by saving them time in ordering spare parts, administering the transactions and in finding out technical information for the product. The extranet will also benefit Combilift, as it will give them the leverage to continue to grow the business exponentially.

5.6. Set backs and difficulties

1. Time taken to implement website
Combilift were open about the fact that the website was initially meant to be up in January but didn’t actually get completed until March. The problem was that it had to go through a number of design changes before they were entirely happy with it. This related to the fact that they were not exactly sure what they wanted when they started out on the project. They admit that the failure to plan properly at the start of the project probably hindered them in this particular phase of implementation.