Logistics Information System Construction Need Consulting Services 2002-8-8 China Third Party Logistics Network
Foreword
The necessity and urgency of the construction of the logistics information system is already widely recognized, but there are not many companies in the implementation of information systems in the domestic logistics industry. Although many companies use logistics software, most of them are local applications. From the effect, it is mainly manifested in reducing the workload and error rate of manual operations, providing some simple query functions, etc., complete integration from information, and meets the requirements of corporate management and long-term development. So, how to build a information system that is both in line with the company's existing management and meets the future development requirements? Although the development of logistics has just started, the work of building logistics information systems is a relatively successful precedent as a reference, but from the historical experience of domestic industry in China and the status quo of China's logistics development, introduction consultation Service is the key to building a successful logistics information system.
Universal experience in domestic enterprise informationization: introduction service
More than 20 years in my country's implementation of informationization, overall, although nearly 1,000 companies have purchased and implemented large management software, only 10% - 20% of companies have achieved better overall implementation And others do not have a little fruit for many years, it is to become "half pull" project, and even more, the large amount of funds invested and the blood and blood, the project can't. Although the overall implementation has not much case, some applications have achieved good results or to obtain a small number of lessons, summarizing success and failure is anti-two-aspect of lessons, and companies have deficiencies in informationization is the largest. The reason, and the introduction of external consultation power combined with business characteristics is universal experience in the construction of information systems.
There must be a correct understanding of informationization
The first error recognition is to associate informationization is automated by manual operation, and do not recognize that information can bring management innovation. Under this concept, there are two more typical practices: First, it is separated from the overall management target of the enterprise to implement informationization. As a result, several sets of mutually related small systems are applied, forming "information island"; another The one is a one-sided emphasis on the personalization of the information system, emphasizing that software is in line with the existing process, and ignoring the continuous improvement of their own business after the application information system. After a period of development, the company will find that these information systems will not meet the new needs of enterprise development, and they have to give up the original system. Even if the original system repairs make up, it will also cause the software's constant expansion, and the maintenance cost is constantly rising, and eventually become a "chicken rib". In the case where the current level of corporate informationization is generally improved, if it is not considered at the beginning of the construction system, it will experience such a repetition process, which will make the company in a disadvantage in the competition. In addition, the information system switches to another information system and the contradiction of the system implementation phase is much larger than the implementation of a new information system. A truly effective logistics information system is first a management system, which is the plan and management of the enterprise, external resources, and can face the whole process of the enterprise supply chain, which greatly exceeds the function of the traditional MIS system. It will give the company's new vitality and assistive power, and will promote, curing the reform of modern management. The establishment of a set of information systems will be involved in enterprise management system, management model, management method, management idea, management mechanism, business process, organization, rules and regulations, etc. Many companies have an unclear, and some enterprises "one hand" will be completed separately by the work of information system construction, which is destined to have successful information system construction will not succeed. Because the application information system is characterized by "three-point technology, seven-point management, twelve data", IT only accounts for a small part.
Another mistake is that all issues of enterprises can be solved by information systems. Under this concept, enterprises have a high enthusiasm, and the selection software is often a focus on software providers, and the functions are fully pursued, and the company follows the management model of software settings, and the business process works. Self-acting business needs. In fact, every company has its own management characteristics, and after years of running test, there is your own uniqueness. The information process of the enterprise is to improve the existing unreasonable management model, rather than the full disorder, and re-starting a strange operation mode. The information system is like an advanced machine, there is a certain range of uses, each company has its own characteristics and the main contradictions that need to be solved, which requires the software according to the needs and actual situation of the company to determine the implementation goals. And steps. The above two error aware of the most common cases in the failure of the information system, although it is a bit incredible: an enterprise is informaburies, but it is not understandable to the information and information systems, and therefore leads to the failure of the project. However, due to not paying attention to professional consultation, the deviation of the information system construction is caused, which in turn leads to failure of the project, which has become a major feature in the informationization process of Chinese enterprises and is still constantly occurring. Successful cases are generally in advance, and each step in the informationization process is introduced into professional consulting power, and the company's understanding of the company's information is guaranteed, and this is also the construction of logistics information systems. The lesson should be taken first.
The planning of information systems is very important
The overall planning, process optimization, demand definition, and demand control in the implementation of the information system are the key to ensuring the smooth implementation of the information system and achieve good results. However, the actual situation is that the initial enterprise often does not present clear demand, but with the in-depth of the information system, the new demand is continuously proposed (ie, the so-called demand expansion) is continuously proposed. At this time, due to the contradiction between project control and demand, it is easy to lead to a series of issues. If you meet the purpose of project progress and cost control, it is easy to meet new needs to make customers with conflict, causing the project to be implemented smoothly. However, once the established implementation is changed, the cost is increased, and the project extension will tend to exceed the expected, which makes the entire item lose control. Therefore, in the premiere definition and planning of the project, consultants with relevant experiences are required to participate, according to their experience in similar projects and their professional knowledge in IT technology, IT applications, and expansion, and The customer is fully communicated, and it is possible to plan, analyze and predict demand in planning.
In the construction of the information system, due to the introduction of new technical means, the business processing process will inevitably make corresponding changes can be guaranteed to actually play the role of the information system. Business process restructuring and modeling is not simply reflecting the management process of the company, but absorbs the management experience of relevant enterprises at home and abroad, and the length of the company is for me. However, because the company leaders only familiar with the management model of the company, lack the opportunity to exchange the exchange of exchanges in the "Delivery", plus the habitual forces, the various resistance of the inner and outer and outer parts, difficult to put forward and implement the business process with their own strength. The construction information system is an innovation, in order to achieve the best results, companies need to hire senior management consulting consultants to guide and participate in implementation, so that they will play in business processes, modeling, implementing technology routes, implementation plans. positive effect.
Management in the information process
Since the information system construction is wide, the time span is long, the technical content is high, so even a well planning system, there is a great difficulty in implementation. During the implementation, the project personnel implementation and project management experience becomes particularly important. But the company itself is difficult to have such talents, but also need to rely on external consulting power.
The construction of the information system is still a long-term process, and it takes long-term, sustainable efforts. Especially in China's current situation, all walks of business have developed rapidly, and management progress is also relatively fast. This requires that the company has a stable external partner with the growth of the company, making recommendations and programs for the information construction of the company. However, for general customers, pure software vendors often take advantage of their own capabilities, applications and costs, and cannot go forward after informationization to a certain extent, and professional consultants can tight Keep up with the footsteps of management and technology development, providing continuous, leading services for the information construction of the company. The demand for consultation for the construction of logistics information systems is particularly highlighted
In my country, the development of the logistics industry is in the infancy, and the process of informationization has just begun. Logistics companies generally understand the information system is not enough, which is very similar to the situation in the beginning of domestic industry information. At the same time, due to China's accession to the WTO, the huge gap between domestic and foreign logistics development and the characteristics of logistics business itself need to introduce consulting services in the construction of logistics information systems. Specific performance is as follows:
How to combine the characteristics of the logistics industry, how to use a variety of information technology?
In recent years, various information technology has been continuously emerged for the informationization of logistics companies, providing a number of optional tools. There are Internet virtual Internet, ISDN, DDN, and even satellite communications, wireless technology, etc. in network interconnections, and RF, Barcode, POS system and other technologies provide efficient information entry means, which have advanced database technology, XML, Java. Software development tools or standards, technologies such as GPS, GIS, GSM, GPRS and other remote positioning and dynamic tracking, and advanced logistics management software applications such as WMS, TMS, SCM, CRM. How to reasonably use these technologies to provide services for a particular logistics company? The application of the application is neither more advanced, and it is not possible to pay attention to the high investment of new technologies. It is necessary to consider competitive trends, investment in output ratio, etc. Factors. The key to the problem is that logistics companies are often lacking in this area, unclear how to use these technologies as the company's business services. Introducing external consulting companies can help companies better understand and apply advanced technologies to achieve the best cost performance.
The gap between domestic and foreign logistics development, requires high starting point of logistics information system, and the time short exploration is short.
At present, the overall level of domestic logistics industry is not high, most operational processes are irregular, and the degree of informationization is low. In developed countries, the logistics industry is a relatively mature, low profit margin industry. In a market environment of microeland, foreign logistics companies have formed a relatively advanced management method and an information system that is adapted to. The flourishing of China's economy has enabled WTO to enable many multinational companies in foreign logistics industries to optimize the Chinese market, and they will take China, and they introduce them to China's successful experience and information systems. Although China has its own national conditions, it is common to use the information system to reduce costs and improve service quality. Domestic logistics companies must compete with them in all levels of multinational enterprises, and they need to compete with them, and the construction of advanced logistics information systems is the core of competition. The huge gap between the realities of low information level and the challenge of the target of the international advanced level information system needs to introduce consulting services that are familiar with international advanced management and logistics information systems.
Logistics information system must adapt to business flexible changes
China's logistics enterprises have developed rapidly, but there is a big uncertainty in the logistics market. The management of logistics companies is also explored, which forces logistics companies to continuously adjust their market positioning, management model, operational model, business process, organizational institution, etc. This has become a major feature of China's current stage logistics industry. At the same time, since the logistics enterprise is generally small, the financial resources are limited, and it is also hoped to be planned, installing, which requires a comprehensive consideration of various possible development when building logistics information systems, and the system must have corresponding flexibility. . Only by using the power of external consultation can expand the vision of a single business to foresee the changes in the development of the company can plan, design and implement a flexible system. Logistics information systems need to have a wide interface capability
The logistics business systemization, networked characteristics require the barriers of the department and the region, but due to historical reasons, the characteristics of China's logistics status are: more infrastructure, low hardware level, and most of the dispersion control, the means of integrated resources The existing huge logistics facilities cannot be well utilized. In order to maximize investment output, logistics companies often integrate external resources as an important competitive strategy of enterprises, and put information systems as the main technical means of integration. However, due to the incoming level of information about external resources, the extensive interface of the system is required to be adapted. How to adapt to a variety of external data connectivity and implementation of external data control, in terms of technology, business processes, and management decision-making are difficulties and priorities of enterprises, requiring professional consultants to provide strong help.
Consultation in the construction of logistics information systems
What stages need to be introduced in the information system construction? What is the purpose of introducing consultation at different stages? How to choose consulting companies? Some suggestions will be made below these issues.
When will I need to introduce?
Before entering the corporate information system project, it is necessary to introduce external consultation to provide information systems for decision-making layers, including logistics concepts and industry conditions, business process optimization, and implementation methods, system applications, and implement risk prevention, etc. Aspect, help the corporate decision-making layer correctly understand the logistics information system, the assessment system may bring the role and impact of the company, need more investment, etc., and jointly form the project work team, set the work of the project work team, working methodology , Quality control specifications, etc.
Formal standby and program planning phase. The consultation is most important in this stage. As mentioned earlier, this time work is the key to the success or failure of the project. The expertise and skills of the external consulting company are needed, based on the process, demand and other aspects of the company, comprehensive utilization of key issues analysis, business process reorganization, etc., to resolve how to build efficient internal management and Operation system, how to optimize business processes, what kind of information technology means and organization, performance evaluation system to meet the company's strategies and process needs, and finally form a complete IT solution.
Implementation phase of the information system. Project schedule, various departments, various division of professionals, summary, IT technical support, various stages in the implementation process, etc., all kinds of interest, etc., need to use external consultation power and rich Experience can be carried out smoothly. At this stage, external consulting companies are required to train in the entire company, allowing relevant employee to understand the role of the system, and the roles they act as and the changes faced.
In important milestones or all completion stages implemented in the information system, external consultants need to assist in effect evaluation and identify results. The external power is often able to conduct professional, objectively evaluate the implementation effect, find out the problems in the implementation, and provide recommendations for the expansion of the company, and improve the shortcomings of the existence.
How to choose consulting company
There are many principles and precautions that help logistics companies choose consulting companies, but often involve many professional knowledge, which mainly introduces several simple practical principles.
First, consult a knowledge-intensive service, the main carrier of knowledge is human. Choosing consulting companies must first see if the consulting company has a team composed of talents with rich expertise and industry skills. The following talents are required in consultation with logistics information systems: experts in logistics management, comprehensive use of various IT technology and expertise, information system planning, implementation experts, logistics business and logistics management in various IT technology and various advanced logistics information technology Aspects of experts. Second, see if the consulting company has successful experience in the relevant fields, whether there is a comparative management method in team management and providing project consultation. The consulting industry also has its own characteristics of its business, and mature consulting companies often form a set of mature, standardized consulting business processes. From the view, it is mainly to see if their document management is specified, complete, and there is a relatively clear definition of various workflows.
Finally, it is necessary to investigate whether the consulting company has a long-term development plan and ability. Logistics companies need to participate quickly and fully touch the best practice of the industry through professional consulting firm, develop new management vision, master practical management skills, seek effective lifting paths, and to be able to get sustained support. Therefore, it is also important to investigate the investment in consulting companies in internal training, internal training mechanisms, and knowledge sharing mechanisms are also important.
Author: clothing with wave Source: ChinaByte
