The time demands of implementing such a system should not be under-estimated. Recently, I have only managed to spend a couple of hours a day on the new system, with my day to day tasks having to take priority over the data checking. We are at the stage where the initial momentum of trying to get the system up and running has slowed to a crawl as we get down to the nitty-gritty of checking and re-checking the data already inputted into the software. The checking process includes testing various routines, adding agreements and creating invoices etc. We have come across several issues, all of which have been answered by the software supplier, Solarvista. But the answers have in themselves created some headaches for us - but as I mentioned in an earlier post - we will have to adapt. There has also been a hardware change. This in itself hasn't had too much of an impact on the progress made so far, but it is worth mentioning. We had originally opted for the XDA IIi from O2 along with a voice and data contract to cover the hand-held solution for the engineers (Solarvista having put us in touch with O2). We currently use Vodafone as our mobile provider and in the interests of finding the best deal, approached them to see what they could do for us - they eventually came back to us with a deal clincher and subsequently two shiny new PDA's have arrived on my desk, ready for me to start testing. They are Qtek 2020i's - Vodafone's answer to the XDA and which appears to be identical to it in all respects. We are at a stage where we could conceivably begin using the software for call logging. But, until all of the checking has been completed, we run the risk of causing confusion for both helpdesk staff and engineers - the last thing I want to do is to begin using a system with unchecked, incomplete data. I want the helpdesk and engineers to be able to use the system fully and accurately from day one, there will be enough queries without compounding the issue by going live with an inaccurate data set. In the meantime, I seem to be apologising on a daily basis for the perceived lack of progress in beginning to use the system.
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