Where do you work?  How far do you travel?

Work is performed nationally and internationally.

What is your availability?

The answer varies depending on several changing factors.  Sometimes availability on short notice is possible, but it is better to book time as far in advance as possible. 

What are your rates?  What are standard consulting rates?

Please send details about your project and a quote will be sent ASAP.  Special rates may be available for non-western countries.  Please indicate if you would prefer hourly or an all-inclusive fixed rate.

Consulting firms and outsourced staffing firms in the USA mark up the hourly rate they pay for labor plus expenses, and charge the total to the client.  The rate consulting firms and outsourced staffing firms charge varies depending on local market, but typically ranges between $150-$200 per hour in the USA.  Often, the customer ends up paying for a lead consultant, a project manager, and a trainee (or the time it costs to train the trainee).

How long does a typical implementation take?

A "typical" implementation is not easily defined.  Microsoft Great Plains is a very robust product and each customer's needs are different - even within the same industry.  That said, and depending on client-side issues, an implementation including training and go-live support can be performed correctly and completely in 3-6 weeks for the "typical" mix of purchased modules and number of users.

As a Great Plains Certified Professional, possessing years of implementation experience training new consultants and users, you will save time and costs by using your own staff to assist with the implementation where possible.  This reduces implementation time/costs and increases staff's product knowledge even before formal training commences.

What is your training methodology?

Training should never be rushed and it should always be more than a 2-4 hour presentation of "this button does this" and "that module window shows that".  Training should focus on "why", not just "how" and be easy for the user to relate what is happening on the screen to processes that are happening on the floor, warehouse, etc.  With optional fixed rate pricing, there is no pressure to watch or race the clock every day. 

At the end of the project, your users will be very well trained and able to understand the processes and how information entered flows throughout the system.  They will be able to handle every required transaction, almost any post-implementation issue, and understand every required reporting tool and reports produced. 

Do you perform complex development work?

Special relationships exist with experienced and highly qualified developers who have spent years developing only for Great Plains products and share the mantra that  "if it can be imagined, it can be done".

What is a Contracted Professional?

You hire services directly.  If you are a Client, and hire a Microsoft Great Plains Partner, that firm may then hire a contracted professional.  You pay the mark-up (firm's profit).  If you are a Microsoft Great Plains Partner, the project is completed under your firm's name.

My company insists on using a local firm.  Can you be our internal advisor?

Yes.  An onsite Business Needs Analysis will need to be performed to become familiar with your business, staff, current issues, and specific needs.  The progress of the implementation can be followed on or offsite. 

May I use your services for the implementation, then switch to a local firm or other source for support?  Absolutely.  All implementations are performed in accordance with Microsoft Great Plains' Best Practices and extensively documented.  Additionally, many customers do not take advantage (and others are never told) of the award-winning Microsoft Great Plains remote product support included with all software purchases.  It is simply the best, most knowledgeable, and fastest response help-desk around.  They sit around all day bored and eager for problems.  Most problems can be resolved remotely at no additional cost. 

Post-implementation support (up to 30 days, remote) is standard at no additional charge for labor.  These are all viable options available to you after the implementation is completed.

Do Contracted Professionals work for Microsoft Great Plains Partners?  Why?

What tools do you use to perform work remotely?

Remote work can be performed in various ways depending upon the task using a thin client such as Citrix, MS Terminal Services (preferred), PC Anywhere, WEBEX, or other solution.  Remote Assistance is already built into Windows XP Pro and Windows 2003 Server (preferred method).  You can easily email an authorization invitation to remotely control your PC or server

. 

[How?: Start > Help and Support > Remote Assistance > follow the wizard]

Don't worry - your computer remains private and inaccessible until you send the invitation, and it automatically reverts to that state when the invitation expires.  You control all that.

What are some examples of tasks that can be performed off-site?

Some projects, such as report writing, that can be completed via regular email.  Working remotely or off-site also makes it possible to have work performed after hours.

What does your being a network person (MCSE) mean to me?

It means that you are also getting a qualified Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer to set up your network.  If you have only a few users, your internal network may be set up as part of the Microsoft Great Plains implementation using Microsoft technologies, including Small Business Server which is a great all-in-one solution for small companies up to US$25 million in size and less than 75 users.  The Premium edition includes SQL 2000 Standard at a very low cost. 

Troubleshooting or optimizing an existing network, or setting up a larger network would be out of scope and would require an additional per hour surcharge for work performed.

What should I know now about implementing a new system?

Management's commitment and support for the implementation must be absolute.  It is primarily the responsibility of Management to manage the change and acceptance of the new system and processes.  Get all users and management involved, informed, and onboard before the consultant walks onsite.  Allow them (all of them if possible) to sit in on the sales presentation demo before you buy the product so they can see, understand, and ask questions about what is coming.  The demo should happen before you buy the product, not when the consultant arrives to implement it.

Microsoft Great Plains is a proven product.  However, it is not a panacea for non-system or non-process related organizational problems.  Management should consider very carefully if their existing "problems" are truly system related or actually people related before investing in a new system.  People problems, if they exist, may still remain and no system is going to magically fix those problems.  That is a task for your awesome management and people skills.