Table of Contents Summary Introduction Findings Conclusions Recommendations
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Summary On the Spot Courier Services is a quickly growing corporation that will need to implement efficient and robust shipping and accounting systems in order to effectively handle continuing growth. The current method of processing shipments and accounting records on paper worked well when the client base was small, but, as the company expanded, this method has proven to be inefficient and could potentially prevent business expansion. The owner, Bill Wiley, has requested a business application solution that will allow staff to track shipments easily from pick-up to delivery, and provide real-time data to staff and customers. In order to accommodate the need for business growth and expansion, the company will need to invest in necessary supporting software, hardware, and networking components. Introduction This report will identify potential solutions that On the Spot Courier Services could implement to fulfill their current business need, and also to plan for future business needs and growth. The courier service needs a viable solution as soon as possible to effectively handle their current business activities and clients. In order to provide a high level of customer service to attract and retain customers, the courier system must be able to provide a web-based customer solution and able to track shipment locations in real-time. The tables at the end of this report contain pricing and quotes from vendors based on pricing and information available on the hardware or software vendors website (i.e. Dell.com), or from the vendor NewEgg.com. The cost estimates for the website design and application design are subject to change as the project develops and more requirements are added. Findings Currently, On the Spot Courier service is relying on paper forms to track shipments. Customers call in orders for package pickups and deliveries, and they are recorded on a form. Because the pickup, receipt of the package in the warehouse, and delivery of the package are all recorded on paper forms, real-time data is not available. Responding to customer requests for account records has become more time consuming and difficult as the paper file system has grown larger. As the volume of business has increased, the paper based system has become unmanageable for the business owner and manager. Each of the solutions offered in this report will require the purchase of network hardware, servers, and workstations with peripherals. The current process of tracking package pickups will change dramatically, but the changes will greatly increase efficiency and productivity. The proposed inventory and shipping system will require that the information that had previously been entered on the paper forms to now be entered into software on desktop computers, Jennifer Pierce CIS 281-01 Page 3
laptops, and tablets. Drivers can use portable printers to print out bar code labels while they are on the road, and management in the office can print out replacement or updated labels on desktop barcode printers as needed. The shipping label bar codes will be read into the system using wireless bar code. The drivers will be able to track real time delivery status updates by updating the pickup request details directly from a hand-held device. In order to support the web application and multiple wireless devices, the company will need to subscribe to a business class data service from a local provider, and will need to install a small business or enterprise-level network switch to support their server, wireless access points, printers, and workstations. For the servers required, the business will need to acquire a small business or enterprise-level back-up solution, and the required server and software licensing. These items will be required to successfully implement and support the solutions discussed in this report. Part of the solution requested is to provide a website for customer orders, and also an application for office workers and management to track pickup requests and customer accounts. The website design cost obtained for the purpose of this report is reasonable and should support the desired ability for customers to submit pickup requests via a website. The website will also allow for real-time status updates on the package location and stage of delivery. The application development costs are hard to determine, as estimates on development hours and resources can potentially escalate as the scope of the project becomes more defined during the development process. The average cost for a small project lasting 2-3 months would run approximately $40,000 to $90,000 1 . Inventory software solutions, sometimes referred to as boxed solutions, are available by many different software vendors and vary based on their options and customization. Some of the inventory solutions provide interface support for accounting suites like Peachtree or QuickBooks. The ability to interface between the accounting system and the shipping and inventory system is crucial to keep the business running smoothly. Manually entering requests, invoices, payments, charges, and other transactions in two different systems can be very time- consuming and prone to human error. Vendor software solutions may accrue additional costs that are sometimes missed when obtaining a quote, such as implementation, maintenance, and upgrade fees in addition to their base price and per-seat licensing. Quickbooks, Peachtree, and other vendors may allow software to be installed on a dedicated workstation or laptop, which may seem like an inexpensive solution. However, this is not a recommended solution, as most workstations are prone to hardware failure and would not support disaster the recovery level required in case of catastrophic failure of the hard drive.
1 http://www.reinteractive.net/posts/102-how-much-will-my-web-application-cost , By Mikel Lindsaar, 20 Aug 2013 Jennifer Pierce CIS 281-01 Page 4
For disaster recovery options, the best solution is to install the vendor software on server class system. The server class system should have a backup solution installed that stores backup data on a separate hardware system for redundancy. If possible, backup media should be stored off- site in a fire proof vault for an extra level of disaster recovery. The new server system will require a robust local network that can handle the increasing traffic and additional devices. Local internet service providers can supply small business level service, and can also provide fiber connections, T1 connections, and additional options as bandwidth needs increase. For the proposed solutions, a small business or enterprise-level switch will be required to handle all of the networked equipment needs. As internet traffic increases, a firewall solution is recommended to help secure data and financial transactions over the internet. In order to minimize hardware failure during power outages, a backup power source (UPS) should be implemented that will allow management to safely shut down all of the server and networking equipment during a power outage. As the business grows, the server and network solutions will require a server cabinet that is large enough to hold the existing servers, switches, firewall, and a rack-mountable UPS. The server cabinet will help consolidate and organize equipment, and allow space for additional servers and networking equipment as the business grows. Conclusions The current paper form solution that On the Spot Courier Service has in place is not effective for managing and tracking the amount of customers and business that they currently support. The business could potentially lose customers due to the inability to accurately track packages in real-time, and due to the large potential for human error in tracking customer accounts on paper. Options exist to successfully support the current level of business, and also to accommodate for expansive growth. A technology solution, such as those included in this report, should be implemented to provide the necessary website and application, network infrastructure, and hardware that will accommodate the current business and allow for future growth.
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Item Description Quantity Cost Workstation DELL OptiPlex 462-3585 Desktop PC 1 $690.00 Laptop DELL Inspiron i15RMT-7566sLV 1 $750.00 Tablet Samsung 32GB Galaxy Note 10.1" 2 $1,100.00 Wireless Scanner Wasp WWS550i Freedom Cordless Barcode Scanner 2 $612.00 Barcode Printer XEROX WPL608 Thermal Transfer and DirectThermal Industrial Barcode Printer 1 $690.00 Portable Printer Datamax-O'Neil LP3 Portable Thermal Label Printer 2 $1,810.00 Document Printer HP LaserJet Pro 400 M475dn MFP 2 $1,000.00 Backup Device NETGEAR ReadyNAS 314 RN31400 1 $600.00 Application Server DELL PowerEdge T620 1 $3,000.00 Server License Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (included) 1 $0.00 User CALs Microsoft Windows Server 2012 - 5 User CALs - OEM (not included) 1 $159.00 Antivirus Suite Symantec Norton Antivirus 2014 (up to 10 PCs) 1 $150.00 UPS APC Back-UPS XS 1000VA UPS - 600 Watt - Lead acid 2 $200.00 UPS Batteries Dell XJ547 Controllers Accessories Battery Backup Unit 1 $75.00 Wireless Routers Cisco Systems Cisco Small Business RV180W Wireless router 2 $500.00 Data Service ComCast Business (per month) 1 $70.00 Web Page Development Basic Site w/graphics * (estimated cost, $50/mo maintenance) 1 $1,200.00 Voicemail System Google Voice (Free edition) 1 $0.00 Microsoft Office Suite Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010 - PC - DVD-ROM 1 $160.00 Accounting Suite Intuit QuickBooks Pro w/ Enhanced Payroll 2014 (up to 5 users) 1 $300.00 Inventory Management Suite Fishbowl Inventory and Mobile (compatible w/Quickbooks, up to 5 users) 1 $7,195.00 * http://webdesign.about.com/od/beforeyoustartawebsite/a/how-much-should-a-web-design-cost.htm TOTAL $20,261.00 Recommendations Tier 1 Solution The Tier 1 solution below provides support for current business needs, and accommodates for a small amount of expansion through added workstations and peripherals as more employees are hired. Portable barcode printers and a desktop barcode printer will make labeling packages a simple process. The wireless barcode scanners can be used to accurately and easily receive in and track package movements. The QuickBooks and Fishbowl software solutions listed below allows for multiple users and mobile devices, and are interface compatible. The website design cost estimate is listed below, and will require a monthly maintenance fee. The Microsoft Windows Server with User CALs allows for 5 user connections to the server, and more licenses are easily acquired. A modest backup device will accommodate the necessary backup and recovery scheme. The UPS device will help protect against hardware failure during power outages.
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Item Description Quantity Cost Workstation DELL OptiPlex 462-3585 Desktop PC 2 $1,380.00 Laptop DELL Inspiron i15RMT-7566sLV 1 $750.00 Tablet Samsung 32GB Galaxy Note 10.1" 4 $2,200.00 Wireless Scanner Wasp WWS550i Freedom Cordless Barcode Scanner 3 $918.00 Barcode Printer XEROX WPL608 Thermal Transfer and DirectThermal Industrial Barcode Printer 1 $690.00 Portable Printer Datamax-O'Neil LP3 Portable Thermal Label Printer 4 $3,620.00 Document Printer HP LaserJet Pro 400 M475dn MFP 2 $1,000.00 Antivirus Suite Symantec Norton Antivirus 2014 (up to 10 PCs) 1 $150.00 Backup Device NETGEAR ReadyNAS 314 RN31400 1 $600.00 Application Server DELL PowerEdge T620 1 $3,000.00 Server License Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (included) 1 $0.00 User CALs Microsoft Windows Server 2012 - 5 User CALs - OEM (2 servers) 2 $318.00 UPS APC SMT3000RM2U Smart-UPS (Rack-mountable) 1 $1,148.00 Server Cabinet Norco C-24U 24U Rack Cabinet 1 $550.00 Switch Cisco Small Business 200 Series SLM2024T-NA Smart Gigabit Switch SG200-26 1 $245.00 Wireless Routers Cisco Systems Cisco Small Business RV180W Wireless router 2 $500.00 Data Service ComCast Business (per month) 1 $70.00 Web Page Development Basic Site w/graphics * (estimated cost, $50/mo maintenance) 1 $1,200.00 Voicemail System Google Voice (Free edition) 1 $0.00 Microsoft Office Suite Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010 - PC - DVD-ROM 1 $160.00 Accounting Suite Intuit QuickBooks Pro w/ Enhanced Payroll 2014 (up to 5 users) 1 $300.00 Inventory Management Suite Fishbowl Inventory (compatible w/Quickbooks, up to 5 users) 1 $7,195.00 * http://webdesign.about.com/od/beforeyoustartawebsite/a/how-much-should-a-web-design-cost.htm TOTAL $25,994.00 Tier 2 Solution The Tier 2 solution below provides support for expanding business needs to a greater degree than the Tier 1 solution. Additional User CALs, workstations, portable devices, printers, and scanners have been included in the total cost to accommodate the hire of new employees and an increased level of business. In order to organize and secure the existing network and server equipment, and to allow for the addition of additional hardware items, a server cabinet is needed. A rack-mountable, 24-port Cisco switch will allow for all of the current devices on the network to connect, as well as some additional networked equipment. The UPS has been upgraded in Tier 2 to a rack-mountable unit that can handle the server and network equipment load.
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Item Description Quantity Cost Workstation DELL OptiPlex 462-3585 Desktop PC 4 $2,760.00 Tablet Samsung 32GB Galaxy Note 10.1" 4 $2,200.00 Laptop DELL Inspiron i15RMT-7566sLV 1 $750.00 Wireless Scanner Wasp WWS550i Freedom Cordless Barcode Scanner 5 $1,530.00 Barcode Printer XEROX WPL608 Thermal Transfer and DirectThermal Industrial Barcode Printer 2 $1,380.00 Portable Printer Datamax-O'Neil LP3 Portable Thermal Label Printer 2 $1,810.00 Document Printer HP LaserJet Pro 400 M475dn MFP 2 $1,000.00 Server Cabinet Tripp Lite SR42UB 42U Rack Enclosure Server Cabinet 1 $1,040.00 Antivirus Suite Symantec Endpoint Protection (3 years support) 5 $488.00 Backup Suite Symantec Backup Exec Small Business Edition (3 Agents) 3 $3,950.00 NAS Server SANS DIGITAL EliteNAS EN208L+BXE Server 1 $2,870.00 Application Server DELL PowerEdge T620 1 $3,000.00 Web Server DELL PowerEdge T620 1 $3,000.00 Server License Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (included) 2 $0.00 User CALs Microsoft Windows Server 2012 - 5 User CALs per server (not included) 2 $318.00 UPS APC Back-UPS XS 1000VA UPS - 600 Watt - Lead acid 2 $200.00 Switch Cisco Small Business 200 Series SLM2024T-NA Smart Gigabit Switch SG200-26 1 $245.00 Firewall SONICWALL 01-SSC-3851 NSA 3600 1 $2,095.00 Wireless Routers Cisco Systems Cisco Small Business RV180W Wireless router 2 $500.00 Data Service T1 data service * 1 $500.00 Computer Network Wiring Installation HomeWyse network installation 5 $795.00 Microsoft Office Suite Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010 - PC - DVD-ROM 2 $320.00 Application Development Application development cost (small project, $40K - $90K - 2-3 months work) ** 1 $40,000.00 * T1, data service - $400 - $500+ average http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=574290 TOTAL $70,751.00 ** per article: http://www.reinteractive.net/posts/102-how-much-will-my-web-application-cost, By Mikel Lindsaar, 20 Aug 2013 Tier 3 Solution The Tier 3 solution below provides additional capacity for expanding business needs to a greater degree than both the Tier 1 and Tier 2 solutions. Additional User CALs, workstations, portable devices, printers, and scanners have been included, and more can easily be added and accommodated with this solution as the business grows. The largest cost of the Tier 3 solution is due to the estimated cost of application development. This cost may increase or decrease as the scope of the project is more clearly defined and documented. Additional application development costs may be accrued for future modifications and maintenance. A contractor quote to pull five network drops and terminate them has been added in this solution. A web server is included to support increased web presence, along with a backup suite, Symantec Backup Solution, to efficiently manage the backup jobs and recoveries. To allow for additional server backup storage, a NAS device is included that will support up to 16 TB of data. An enterprise class antivirus system, Symantec Endpoint Protection, will provide better support and management of antivirus software and policies. In order to secure internet transactions, a SonicWall firewall solution has been included. A larger network cabinet and an upgraded UPS will be required to handle the additional rack- mounted server and firewall device.
Procuring HardwareSoftware Infrastructure Required To Support The Provision of Iddleware and DRM Other Software For IPTV OTT Services VAS Delivery Over The AP Fibergrid Network