Mike on Manufacturing

The Economics Favor Videos for Software Training

By Mike Hart 

A major source of revenue for ERP software companies and their resellers is providing live training, both on site and via off site seminars.  I believe that a significant portion of this revenue will erode in coming years because the economics favor video training over live instruction.   

Live instruction has a low cost-benefit ratio.  Not only are good trainers expensive, it’s the travel cost that eats you alive.  It is rare for trainers to live in your locality or for seminars to be hosted in your city.  To justify the travel cost, training sessions are stretched over several hours or days, which lessens their effectiveness because of information overload. 

Beware of the Technology Freak!

By Mike Hart 

Anyone who runs a small manufacturing business is wise to learn how to recognize a technology freak and avoid any involvement with that person.
 
What is a technology freak?  It’s a person who falls in love with technology for its own sake.  It’s a person of mediocre ability who knows just enough about technology to impress non-technical people with his supposed expertise. 

Can You Farm Out Implementation?

By Mike Hart  

You are the owner of a small manufacturing business and you decide to upgrade from general accounting software to a manufacturing software package.  Can you farm system implementation out to a consultant?   

For the majority of small companies, those that only need 5, 10, or 15 computer users, using a consultant for implementation is not a viable option.