Every company has a unique business structure, so setting up a system for each company is always a new process. The following is an example set of steps to configure the system. The proposed approach is not mandatory. Its own methods and approaches are possible.
First of all, it is necessary for the company to clearly formulate goals that its trying to achieve in terms of technology. For example, Increasing employees productivity, Increasing company manageability, Lower costs, and etc.
Company’s goals are going to be transformed into system requirements. This will determine what functions should the system perform. For example, Automation of routine tasks, Obtaining up-to-date data on the company’s business processes, Obtaining up-to-date reporting, etc.
Next, you need to research more information about the company and the market its is operating on. Such knowledge will be required for the formation of a system model. For the initial information base we recommend to use the Brief form (questionnaire).
The moment initial information based is built, you can begin to configure the first draft of the model.
We recommend (optional) to use one of the two configuration methods:
- From Operations to Reports. The most common way, since it allows you to quickly form the interface part of the system – data entry forms (skeleton). After or during the creating of Operations, you can create the necessary Catalogs and Registers. After creating Registers, we suggest to pre-configure necessary Reports, since they will formed on Registers basis. The method is most applicable in cases where the system is focused on the automation of business processes.
- From Reports to Operations. This method allows you to immediately form the Data Output Forms – Reports and build the entire system for collecting and processing the necessary data from it. After creating Reports, we suggest to ore-configure Registers, the data from which is used to generate Reports. Next, we will create Operations that generate data in the Reports. Moving forward, build a necessary Catalog list during the Registers and Operations creation process. The method is most applicable in cases where the system is designed to obtain up-to-date reporting.
At the initial stage, one of these methods will allow you to immediately form the user’s understanding of the system and then build a model of the system that is functionally consistent with customer requirements.
After creating a system model in the form of ready-made forms Catalogs <-> Operations <-> Registers <-> Reports, begin adding automation elements of data processing and calculations. See more:
- Data Source Expressions;
- Calculations;
- Setup Data Sources and Element Sources;
- Setup filling of the table “based on” and “selecting”;
Next, you need to enter test data and check all the functionality of the system’s trial testing. From data input to their processing and reflection of data in the final reports.
The setup process is simple and therefore the first prototype of the system can be obtained very fast. It is quite simple and quick to make any changes to already pre-configured system elements. Trial period will allow you to gain experience and on its basis to make extra changes and additions. So moving iteratively: configured – tested – made changes, is considered as a final draft before presentation to a client.
After trial testing, you can begin to use the system in real conditions. The pilot operation will identify possible errors and perhaps the system will require additional configuration, taking into account the wishes of end-users.
The last step will be to assign every user with the proper access control.