Optimall - general And technical questions

The question on this page cover the most important issues on our application for sales force automation. They tackle the following aspects:

• brief description of the solution
• AROBS's experience with solutions of this type
• the advantages offered by Optimall
• the types of connection required by the system
• the price of Optimall
• the criteria used to choose the Optimall modules
• duration of implementation
• usability issues
• scalability
• interfacing Optimall with ERP/accounting systems
  
• customizing Optimall
• risk management
  
• warranties offered for the application
  
• technical support
  
• confidentiality issues
  

Question: What is Optimall?
Answer: Optimall is a computer application that can significantly improve the performance of retail companies. The Optimall system uses Palm terminals and allows data to be transmitted in real time from the sales/merchandising agent to her/his company, directly in the local ERP (business administration or accounting system).
Optimall can also be regarded as a means of increasing the company's profit margin and a proof of its commitment to solving the customer's real requests.

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Question: What can you tell us about AROBS's experience with solutions for Sales Force Automation (SFA)?
Answer: AROBS has been developing SFA solutions since May 2003 and has implemented this system for over 40 Romanian retailers.

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Question: What are the main advantages of the Optimall system?
Answer: With the system in place, managers can set aside more time than before for solving truly stringent problems such as making the management of the business more efficient and increasing the sales force productivity and implicitly the company's revenues. Other measurable advantages are: the instant and shared access to information, inventory optimization, the ability to continuously monitor the activities of the sales agents, reductions in distribution costs, fast information gathering from the field, instant information delivery from the field to the headquarter. The modular structure of the product also makes possible the addition of features at the most appropriate moment. It may also be worth mentioning that Optimall can be interfaced with any software application for business administration or accounting. Optimall has already been interfaced with approximately 20 such applications.

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Question: Must I be connected to the Internet to be able to use the application?
Answer: Being connected to the Internet is not mandatory. Companies that are conducting their sales activities in areas lacking access tot the Internet can use special GPRS terminals ("General Packet Radio Services"), fitted with the Connex card (Connex is a major Romanian provider of mobile phone services). These terminals allow sales agents to hook to the AROBS communication server, which enables the two-way transmission of the data flow between the agent and its company's business administration system.

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Question: How much does the Optimal system cost?
Answer: The price of the system varies with the number of modules ordered, with the total number of installed terminals, the number of points of operation where installations are to be done and the peculiarities of your business administration system. You will find the exact price after providing us with all this information.

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Question: What criteria can I use to decide which Optimall modules I need?
Answer: The nature of your business and your budget. The Optimall Pre-Sales and Optimall Van-Sales PDA operating modes are currently the most sought after. The Merchandising operating mode is important for retailers distributing convenience goods, where constant monitoring of merchandise shelf placement can lead to spectacular sales increases. Optimall allows for subsequent addition of modules, which means that your can start by investing only in the essential one(s).

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Question: How long does it take to have the Optimall system implemented?
Answer: Implementation time depends on a multitude of factors such as the number of terminals and the business administration system used (we have already interfaced the vast majority of ERP/accounting systems present on the Romanian market). A typical interfacing with an ERP takes 1-2 weeks on average, while an installation without interfacing only takes 1-2 days. Activity related customizations that are not included in the standard solution of Optimall add to the standard implementation time (e.g.: customization of the reports the system is expected to generate).

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Question: Is it difficult to work with Optimall?
Answer: Our user interfaces have stood the "test of time". They rely on intuitive graphical elements and on standard denominations from the retail field. Getting used to all the features of the systems required sales agents no more than a week. Most agents regard Optimall  as a really user friendly solution.

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Question: Is Optimall a scalable solution?
Answer: Definitely. Upon request, we can add new features to the existing modules or develop new modules.

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Question: Are there any adjustments required for my business administration system in order to have it interfaced with Optimall?
Answer: No, all the changes are made within our product. Optimall has already been interfaced with over 20 business administration systems (ERPs, accounting systems, etc) and we expect to add all the remaining systems to this list. Consequently, having it implemented will require no changes to the business administration system(s) you already have in place.

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Question: How do you go about customizing the solution?
Answer: The AROBS team and you people outline the customization details, which are then used during implementation.

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Question: What risk management procedures do you have in place for the Optimall product?
Answer: We outline and implement these procedures with you. The activities geared toward system improvement, testing and implementation have the highest risk level attached to them. Therefore, we are treating them with the greatest attention possible.

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Question: What warranties are you offering for the application?
Answer: Stipulations from the warranty certificate are offering details on this issue. Prior to signing the contract you may request such a certificate for analysis. Over the warranty period AROBS takes it upon itself to solve any problem owed to other causes that the improper use of the Optimall system's hardware and software. Malfunctions caused by the beneficiary's carelessness will also be solved, but only for the fee specified in the contract.

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Question: How can I get technical support for the application?
Answer: We are highly interested in establishing long term relationships with all our clients. To make this possible we have set up a Customer Support department which will help you handle any problems you might have with Optimall. The maintenance agreement you will sign with AROBS stipulates our obligation to provide you with technical support in the shortest time possible, by phone, remote-control, or even on site. We are also supposed to provide you free of charge with any update of the solution. We guarantee you that your problem will be solved no later than one work day (24 hours) from receiving the request. For special (unusual, difficult) situations we will present you with a plan for handling the problem in the shortest time possible. We will then proceed with the plan implementation.

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Question: How do you protect the confidential information that you acquire while working with the client?
Answer: This issue is covered in detail by our Privacy statement.

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