Could you talk in brief detail about what IBM FileNet does for your organization and why you chose it?
Well, we looked at several other solutions, some of popular brands. We were looking for basic document management, a storage facility. The other requirement we were looking for was a business process engine that would manage workflows. We needed to be able to have flexibility to define the workflows exactly the way our process works. In our particular process, the documents are routed through several administrative, technical and financial groups before they’re approved. Each type of contract has different requirements.
We looked at several solutions. IBM FileNet gave us the most flexibility in defining the workflow process. We could customize the solutions, so the forms that people are asked to complete and fill in are all customized. Some of the other solutions out there, are not as flexible.
What was your process for selecting The Dayhuff Group to work with?
They were recommended by IBM for integration work. We had no knowledge of doing that, so we had to hire implementation resources. I suppose we could have gone to training and learned it, but it would have taken us twice as long to learn.
Can you describe the scope of work that Dayhuff Group performed?
We defined our business requirements but they defined the functional requirements, specifically what it needed to do. They helped facilitate creating individual workflows and specific steps that needed to be automated.
They configured FileNet to build the workflows. They also wrote some JavaScript in order to do some macros behind the forms, because what we added needed to relate the specific documents to our reference information for customers and vendors. It would fly back to our financial systems. Some of these developments have forms behind the forms, which required some customization on their end. They did the technical design and then the development of the workflows, forms and code behind the forms.
Can you give us a sense of the size of that initiative in either dollar terms or personnel hours?
It’s approximately a $500,000 project. Hardware and software cost $312,000 and the labor cost about $190,000.
When was the project completed?
The main project was completed in September, 2012.
The team created a high-value solution that modernized workflows while sticking to the budget and timeline. Positive user reactions reflect effective coordination between stakeholders during onsite development. Post-launch support has been responsive and thorough.