Its Worth A Shot

If you are unfamiliar with our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM™business software, we will start by saying we will refrain from bombarding you with acronyms and buzz words. We will not use them to describe our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) software products. Our first tip is that if after reading about our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) software for five minutes you still don’t understand what our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) software does, you can stop ask us, at any time: "Okay, but what does it actually do?" It’s worth a shot.
The most important part of a software selection process is defining the processes within your organization and determining functionality that is critical to your operation. Many times customers get lost in the bells and whistles and forget about their core business functions. If you are a distributor, distribution is your core business function and you should be looking at OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) because it has been designed specifically for distributors. Don’t expect an accounting package with a little distribution tacked on to be very functional.
In addition, you should be focusing on the specific type of distribution you are conducting. Software designed for make-to-stock distributors may not work well for a make-to-order distributor. Software designed for electronics distribution may not work well in a food/fish distributor. Software designed for general merchandise may not work well for apparel, footwear and accessories. If you are in the distribution or fulfillment business, you’ll perhaps want to focus on functionality related to order processing, warehouse management, and Internet sales and, customer relationship management. We are rare breed, our industry-specific OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) software works equally well in all of these environments. Most of our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) software packages have initially been designed with industry-specific customers in mind; asking our customers will often give you an idea as to the type of operation our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) software was designed to work in.
When you look at the detailed functionality of OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) we can demonstrate the many detailed functionality requirements of your operation. This is where other software often makes mistakes by emphasizing functionality they currently don’t have and would like and, generally overlook core businesses processes that their current system handles well. For example: if you become awestruck with functionality that allows you to access your system remotely from a browser on your PDA, and as a result, you may overlook critical functionality related to demand planning, you may end up with a system that provides great visibility to the fact that your business is failing. Never assume a software package “must” be capable of handling something you consider a standard business function. Some examples of detailed functional requirements are as follows:
E-commerce capabilities
Multi-warehouse demand planning
Back-order processing
Lot or serial number tracking
Forward picking
Batch order picking
Returns processing
Multiple units of measure
Shipment confirmation
Don't settle for "yes, we can do that" responses from the software vendor. Verify can they do it, but also that they can do it to the level you require. Ask detailed questions as to exactly how it works in their system. Look at the specific programs used to achieve the task and verify the data elements required to achieve the task are present. Don't allow the software vendor to not answer your question. They sometimes do this by answering your question with technical jargon they know (or hope) you won't understand. Don't be afraid to stop them and make them restate their answer in different ways until you understand it (I do this all the time). "Ask questions YOU understand the answers to." Keep that quote in mind as you discuss functionality with software vendors.
It’s very likely that our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) software package can do everything you wanted it to do. We generally find that you will not have to compromise on some of the functionality. Shortcomings are rare in functionality, yet we will address those short-comings through customized changes, or in rare cases, off-line workarounds.
When addressing the issue of modifications, we have become convinced that "we do customize" it’s inherent to the ongoing development of OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) rather than, “we cannot customize!” Our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) software lives on the opportunity to do everything you want it to do, the way you want it to do it. It's important to treat our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) software as you would treat any of your processes, systems, or pieces of equipment. the costs and benefits of customization makes sound decisions that are in keeping with the business objectives of your organization.
In addition to functionality, consider usability. Functionality of OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) answers the question “it can do” while usability of OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) answers “how do we get it done?” You may want to especially look at any high volume tasks that occur in your organization. What does it take to process? Is it easy-to-use? Does it require more of my human resources, or less? Does it help all of my staff in sharing the information?
Implementation
Like most other projects, the success of a software implementation will be based upon the skill of the people behind the software who are involved, experienced, have the expertise, provide the training, deliver the support and, assist in the project management and the effort put forth a successful implementation and long standing efficient use.
Adequate time should be dedicated to make sure every aspect of every process is thoroughly tested. At Master System this is a standard. Here we share just a brief example of how we validate your choice of OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) and we answer the questions of” “What Happens?”

Does the PO receipt screen have all the information I need to perform the receipt such as vendor item number, item description, unit of measure?
What happens when I receive more than the PO quantity?
What happens when I receive less than the PO quantity?
What happens when I enter multiple receipts against the same line?
What happens if someone tries to change the PO quantity after I have entered a receipt?
What happens if someone tries to change the PO quantity at the same time I am entering a receipt?
What happens when I reverse a receipt?
What happens when I reverse a receipt after it has been paid?
What happens if the ordered unit of measure is different from the stocking unit of measure?
What happens when I receive an early shipment?
What happens when I try to receive against a cancelled PO?
What happens when I change the receipt location?

Now, when we say: “what happens?” We mean: How were the PO quantities affected? How were the in-stock quantities affected? How were the inventory and payables accounts, and general ledger entries affected? How were allocations affected? How were inbound quantities affected? It’s all about inventory control!



The goal here is to prove prior to implementation rather than after. And we do this with every key process in every key program.
During testing there will still be some issues that won’t be identified until after the system is up and running. While small issues are to be expected in any implementation there is no excuse from us to not address each and every one of them and, help you in identifying any major issues prior to implementation.
As the system is been thoroughly tested we work with you to begin (if you have not already begun) the process of employee training. We don’t think we have ever been told by any distributor that we have over trained their employees. Remember, you are customer and, training employees after the system is turned on is part of our ongoing support of our customer’s.
The training consists executing the functional procedures for the tasks your employees must perform their jobs. We provide this training as hands-on training. For most positions you will want to make sure that each employee has entered transactions during the training. Using actual transactions is a good way to make sure you have covered the variety of transactions the employee is likely to encounter. Once you employees have repeated the task many times over a series of training sessions, they are much more likely to remember how to do it.
Post-Implementation
We don't let it end with the initial implementation. Your new OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) system is likely to have additional functionality that can improve your business processes. Once you become comfortable with our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) system, just cal us for support. Rely on our OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) documentation and review our detailed functionality. Support from Master System is a continuous process. It is very unlikely that OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) will be a truly optimized system for your business.

Extra: Browser-based applications.

The ability to access your business software from any location that has Internet access is attractive. All the OFFICE MASTER SYSTEM(TM) Anyone that shops online should be familiar with using a program within a browser to place an online order, eMaster™ fits the bill. Just imagine conducting many of you business activities this way, eMaster™ fits the bill. eMaster™ is this eCommerce and B2B. In addition, the integrated built-in easy-to-navigate drop-down selections provides multiple channels of Internet access, 24/7/365. eMaster™ easily handles your high-volume, low-dollar sales data entry tasks. eMaster™ is attractive and easy to learn, far more productive for your business. We are not aware of any other comparable full service Internet integrated software solution.