Implementation
At Cubicorp, we are focused on delivering solutions, not just software. Our experienced implementation professionals are called "Solution Specialists" who take pride in making sure that Cubic products help our customers achieve their intended business goals that initiated the product purchase in the first place. Solution Specialists are involved with every customer prior to signing contracts in order to ensure high-level product fit, verify the customer's business goals and set expectations with regard to the implementation.
Because Cubic software is business process intelligent, it extends across traditional functional silos (modules) found in most other enterprise systems. Cubic is a fully integrated enterprise solution and is not delivered in separate modules; therefore, it does not require integration of application modules. Customers only use the portion of the system they need and are not required to pay for additional functionality.
Methodology
Cubicorp has a unique implementation methodology. Due to our fully integrated, process-oriented software, we are able to produce a business blueprint as part of every implementation, without additional financial burden. Further, by combining industry experience with advanced IT skills and in-depth product knowledge, our Solution Specialists guide customer staff quickly and economically through the implementation process. Our goals are simple - to make sure our implementations are a success while minimizing consulting costs to the customer. Our implementation methodology includes:
Business Blueprint
Due to the process-intelligent nature of Cubic software, Cubicorp develops a business blueprint as part of every implementation in order to identify the “AS-IS” processes (if they do not already exist), define the “TO-BE” processes, and to define the GAP / necessary actions and tasks required in order to achieve the desired TO-BE business model. The Project Charter phase of the business blueprint is the “roadmap” of the implementation. The overall blueprint defines how the customer’s organization plans to run its business and includes:
- Business process definitions and integration with other entities
- Business process monitoring and related tools
- Key performance indicators and critical success factors
- Reporting and business forms
- Organizational structure, business rules and workflow
- Downstream and upstream interfaces with the extended supply chain
Project Management
As part of the deployment of a Cubic solution, Cubicorp, as a rule, provides a Project Manager to manage the costs, timelines, technical performance and resources on the project, in conjunction with the customer’s Project and IT Managers.
Business Analysis
An implementation commences with an analysis that consists of:
- Current workflow modeling analysis (AS-IS)
- Cubic-specific workflow modeling (TO-BE)
- Formulation and review of the GAP analysis according to the time-tested Cubicorp Business Analysis Methodology. The related deliverables are discussed in detail in the Business Blueprint
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Hardware Installation
Cubicorp will provide the required standards for hardware installation to ensure a successful implementation. At the option of the customer, hardware may be installed by Cubicorp or by a third party of the customer’s choosing (the Installer). Cubicorp will require a third party Installer to provide a technical specification and hardware plan in order to confirm the suitability of the hardware to be installed.
Network Installation
The customer’s staff, together with the Installer, ensures that the installed network complies with the required specification for the successful deployment of a Cubic solution by way of specific performance and benchmark tests.
Software Installation
The following software installation falls within the scope of the Cubic implementation project:
- Installation of Microsoft SQL Server
- Installation of the Cubic databases (Training, Simulation & Production)
- Installation of the GUI, client and other application software
Business Forms
Business forms are documents that are used either internally or externally for communicating information with trading partners. These documents usually consist of pre-printed stationery. Some examples are: Invoices, Checks, Credit Notes, Purchase Orders, and Bills of Lading.
All business forms are reviewed during the implementation. The format of all forms and stationery can be selected from the current business forms available in Cubic or may be customized to user specification.
Reports
Reports are documents that provide information as an integral part of customer Operations or its Management Information System. Examples of such documents include financial reports such as Income Statements, Balance Sheets and Cash Flow Reports, as well as operational reports such as Inventory Status, etc.
Report layouts and specifications can be selected from existing reports available in Cubic or may be customized to user specification.
Data Migration
Data migration plays an important role in the success of any software solution implementation. The business areas and functional groups from where data originates, as well as those areas that it needs to be migrated to in the Cubic system, will be identified during the Business Blueprint phase of the project.
Cubicorp provides the customer’s IT staff with well-qualified templates so that they may prepare the legacy data that is to be migrated into Cubic. These templates have embedded tools and purification mechanisms to identify and correct data inconsistencies.
The data migration process also makes provision for “live” production data, as well as historic data to be migrated to the production database, archive/s or warehouse/s, as agreed to with the customer. Report development and user training can also be performed against migrated data.
Interfaces
Due mainly to its open architecture, efficient design and strong import and export capabilities, Cubic provides for seamless integration with other systems through simple interfaces.
Cubic offers real-time or batch interfaces with full integrity checking and chain-on functionality. Cubicorp staff is very experienced in interfacing to external systems such as: Shop-floor Control, Point-of-Sale, HR and Payroll, and Advanced Planning and Scheduling.
Extended Tool-set
Included in the Cubic license as a standard offering and bundled into the Cubic software are many additional tools such as data archiving and mining, batch scheduling, document management, decision support / business process modeling, EIS & reporting. These tools offer significant saving for users of Cubic, in initial costs as well as in operational overhead.
