Q: I have a Auto spare parts manufacturing unit in Peenya. We currently do all our workflow management, inventory control, Sales management and Clients relationship over hard copies which circulate. We do have some computer systems that are used for XL files and Word documents. We have heard a lot about Intranets and how it can ease the life of SMEs at a very low cost. Do you think it can fit in our kind of setup. What kind of investment am I looking at both in terms of hardware and software? Do I need to scrap my existing systems? I already have a lot of data concerning my Sales and Clients - Can all that be transferred to an Intranet too? Please advice.

A: Yes. Intranet can fit in any kind of setup. Intranet is an application, which runs on a web server placed in your premises. The purpose can also be served by an application, which runs on client-server technology. Both Types of Applications are equally good except for one difference. There is only one installation (On Server) is required in case of Application based on Intranet while the other need Installation on all the machines where you want to have access to your Application.  The Application can be made customised for you which can take care of your workflow. All the queries and Documents will be routed according to business rules you follow at your enterprise meaning you can adopt to the workflow which suits your enterprises best.

Your existing data can also be transferred to this Application. You need to make sure that this requirement of yours is clearly spelled to the software Vendor from where you are getting this application made or bought.

There are readymade Tools also available in the market, which serves your purpose, but a cost analysis is to be done when taking a decision whether to buy a product or get an application made for you. The factors which is the most critical whole evaluating the options are a) cost of the solution and b) the level of customization, which you would get. Generally, The readymade products or Tools in the market, which allows a high level of customization are highly priced and if you look for a price range which you can afford, those product do not allow you the level of customization you need. Hence the decision of choosing between Buy or get made has to be taken with lot of care.

If you are getting the Application made then getting your existing data into the database of this application is not a problem at all. You can just spell it as one requirement and it can be done. But, if you are taking a decision to Buy a product available in the market then again you need to carefully examine whether this product will allow you to insert your old data into the system, as the products available in the lower end of the market generally do not support this kind of requirement.

As far as the cost of the Application on Intranet goes, I can just give some ball park figures:
Hardware - You just need one server which will cost between Rs : 75000 - 175000 depending on the configuration you choose for yourself.

Software - The development of this kind of application will range from Rs. 150000 - 350000 depending on the complexity of your business, it’s work flow and business rules.

This section has been answered by a panel of experts from eMIDS Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

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