Check Point New System Proposal
Upon reviewing Riordan Manufacturing Inc.'s current and historical sales and marketing information, it is apparent that the company is in dire need customer relationship management (CRM) system. Such a system will allow Riordan to seamlessly manage all of their interactions with current and future customers. The overall goal of this new system will be to organize, automate, and synchronize all sales transaction, marketing, customer service, and technical support.
In its current operating state, Riordan has historical records regarding marketing and sales in many disparate databases, stored in paper files, and even some that are on microfiche(Riordan Manufacturing, Inc., 2012). At best, their sales team utilizes a hybrid method of tracking their statistics via pen and paper and software (Riordan Manufacturing, Inc., 2012). This of course, poses a real challenge in understanding customers purchasing trends and anticipating the future needs of their customers.
To resolve these issues and provide Riordan a system that enables them to operate at the most efficient level possible across all four locations, I have proposed a cloud based decision management (DM) systemwith a (CRM) designed to compile all sales and marketing information as well as past, current, and prospective customers contacts and potential needs. As it is cloud based, this system will allow employees across the sales and marketing teams from either location to access marketing tools and sales data. As it stands, Riordan loses a significant amount of man hours searching for client files tracking down sales team members to discuss their personal notes on specific clients. The data management provided by this system will enable which in turn increases their productivity. This system create an ease for generating reports to showcase the state of the business.
The rollout will take some time given that the vast majority of Riordan's files are written documents filed away that will have to be scanned into the system. In addition, software will need to set up at each location with a centralized server room likely based out of Riordan's headquarters to ensure adequate security. This will prove to be a challenging process as the amount of incoming information will steadily grow along with the need to store or archive historical data.
The quality of data being retained is of great concern to any company, After all, a company can make sound business decisions based on false or skewed figures. For this reason, the system includes safeguards that confirms the integrity of all information entered into the system and forces the end user to verify all information that is entered. As an added measure of security, edit authority would only be issued to certain end users while others will only be capable of viewing information within the system. This would be controlled by issuing log in credentials to users upon rollout of the system.
While this system will be quite costly in the onset due to the sheer size of the data warehouse needed, the dividends will begin to rain down throughout the company soon after implementation. Not only will Riordan operate more efficiently internally, customers will also reap the benefits of this new system. This system will provide customers the ability to create accounts and place orders online in a matter of minutes. As a result of the integrated platform, when the order is complete said customer will have an eta of order completion and deliver and be issued a purchase order instantly.
References
Riordan Manufacturing, Inc. (2012). Marketing Information System. Retrieved December 16, 2012, from Riordan Manufacturing