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SharpOwl

SharpOwl Integration and Reporting

TCS Computer Services can develop integration solutions for the synchronisation of your data stored in the SharpOWL Professional Services Automation (PSA) software. The integration solutions can work with your Accounts, Billing, CRM, HR and other Line of Business Applications (LoB).

We are also able to provide bespoke Analytics, Reporting and Business Intelligence solutions that can utilise the information contained in both your SharpOWL database and the databases of your other LoB Applications.

The Issues

TCS recognise that many businesses rely upon not just one LoB Application, but a suite of specialised applications that perform specific functions well, such as Project Management, HR and Accounting. The consequence of this means that much of your organisation's data is likely to be duplicated in each application.

The challenge is, therefore, to ensure that the duplicated data is synchronised consistently and frequently to ensure that all your departments are singing off the same song-sheet.

Some of the issues TCS Computer Services have encountered in the past with existing LoB Integrations are:

Too Narrowly Focused

Although some software vendors will offer integration services at the time of supplying their LoB solution, many integrations are written to cater for the transfer or synchronisation of data between just two specific applications and often for just one or two specific types of data.

This narrowly focused approach to dealing with data synchronisation causes many issues when, e.g. names need to be updated, new clients are added, charge rates need to be updated or expenses are collated.

Out of date Scripts

Even if the original solution vendors write a synchronisation script, the scripts are often not maintained or become out of date when, e.g. your infrastructure changes or new versions of the LoB applications are installed.

Often, we find that scripts are not known in the organisation and are "turned off" through fear of what might happen if they are activated.

Also, we find that the original vendors are focused on selling licences of their flagship products and do not have the dedicated resources to maintain old scripts.

Inconsistent Manual Processes

You may also find that there are often manual processes that are being performed on an ad-hoc basis by your staff.

Do they export lists of clients or employees from one application and import them into another via Excel?

Do you find Maiden Names not updated or Fee Rates left unchanged?

Are Employee or Client names spelt differently in one application to another?

This ad-hoc synchronisation could be wreaking havoc with the quality and integrity of your business data.

Our Approach

What is required is a more holistic approach to data integration. We are not trying to sell a "big bang" approach by saying that every last application must be integrated, but you should at least maintain an overview of what is and is not integrated and know which integrations are performed manually and which are automated.

Know your Data Architecture

TCS can get to know your "data architecture" and map out those integrations which are performed automatically and those which are performed manually.

We can show you where your data "flows" throughout your organisation.

What works, what doesn't?

It may seem an obvious question, but does that integration script written by supplier X still work?

By first getting to know your Data Architecture, we can then work out where data should be flowing and consequently find out which parts of your system are working and which are not.

Con...sis...ten...cy!

We wont try to get you to integrate everything, because we recognise that it isn't always necessary, but having worked out your Data Architecture and which processes are working, we can then determine the most efficient timing and order of when and where data should flow to help maintain consistency.

Our Solution

TCS Computer Services do not offer a software solution for systems integration. We often find that a specific piece of software is often not needed. What we do offer is expert technical advice on how to make the most of your existing technology to achieve the data synchronisation goals we set together.

Whether we use an Enterprise Information Integration tool such as BizTalk, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) or even simply rely upon the tried and trusted methods of implementing a set of synchronisation scripts that are triggered when specific data tables are modified, we always use the approach above to deliver one or more of the following solutions.

Maintain an Overview

A high level overview of your Data Architecture is key to maintaining a handle on how data is flowing around your organisation.

TCS will work with your IT/IS support staff and key stake holders/owners to deliver a set of clear, concise and comprehensive documentation that conveys an understanding of your business's Data Architecture.

Keep it Up-to-date

We recognise that data environments change over time and therefore TCS can help you keep your documentation up-to-date by periodically monitoring your environment for changes.

By monitoring change, we can quickly respond to and notify you of any impact upon your business processes.

If you are planning a change, then a quick reference to your documentation will help you gauge the likely impact of that change.

Schedule and Automate

Once TCS is up to speed with your organisation's Data Environment, we will be able to offer expert advice, planning, design and implementation of key synchronisation and bulk transfer processes that fulfil your planned Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) or Enterprise Information Integration (EII) strategy.

We can also maintain these processes for you at very cost effective rates ensuring that they are run reliably and consistently.

Our Experience

TCS Computer Services has carried out a number of integration projects involving the SharpOWL Professional Services Automation and Time Management System and have also built a number of bespoke Software Applications and Reporting tools to provide an integrated platform on which to build a suite of MIS reports.

We can deliver software solutions that sit under or alongside SharpOWL. Our solutions help fill the naturally occurring gaps that are often present when a packaged software product is integrated into an organisation. Software packages cannot do everything, which is where TCS Computer Services can help.

Your Call

TCS are able to offer development and support services over many different scenarios involving the SharpOWL PSA application, click here to view several case studies describing our capabilities.

If you have SharpOWL and need your data to be integrated with another 3rd Party Software Package or Bespoke/In-House Database/WareHouse or you need a report on your data from both SharpOWL and another proprietary software package or database, please contact us for a free, no obligation, competitive quote or to discuss your requirements in more detail.

In the mean time, please refer to our Cyril Sweett Intranet Development and Support Case Study. Also, for more information about the SharpOWL solution itself, please refer to IRIS's website here.

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