Frequently Asked Questions
Jump to a Question
- We are a large company, are your solutions scalable and robust enough for us?
- We are a small company, will your solution work for us at a price we can afford?
- What is the difference between hosting and web enabled?
- What is the difference between Managed Solutions (ASP) and Managed Services?
- Ok, I am interested in evaluating your solutions, what are my next steps?
- How much will your solutions cost?
- Do you develop the software that you sell?
- Can you integrate the software that you sell with a product that I already use in my office?
- Can I install your solutions by myself?
- Who will provide for ongoing support?
- What information should I have ready when I make contact with SystemLink Support?
- We have multiple offices in several countries. How do you serve companies like us?
- Do you do data migration from one software application to another?
- Do you have any barcode experience?
- Do you have warehouse management expertise?
- Do you have manufacturing expertise?
- Do you have any CRM expertise?
- How long has SystemLink been in business?
- You have several competitors in the area, what sets you apart from the rest?
- How many clients do you currently support?
- What other services do you provide?
- How will SystemLink implement our new software?
- What about training our employees?
- How will you keep in touch with us once we are operational?
- What about software maintenance and upgrades?
- What kind of telephone product support do you offer? Is it included in the software price?
- What happens if I want to add a new functionality in the future?
- What if I want to add more users?
- Ok, I am interested in evaluating your solutions, what are my next steps?
Questions and Answers
Q. We are a large company, are your solutions scalable and robust enough for us?
Business owners know that software solutions can be powerful, enabling them to pursue new opportunities and achieve new competitive advantage. They also know that business software can be expensive to implement, difficult to use, and complex to maintain. But not with our solutions. We offer integrated, affordable business management solution designed to be scalable and robust for small, midsize and large businesses. Business owners can now have a single system that automates their critical operations, including sales, marketing, finance, purchasing, inventory, distribution and manufacturing, and offers an accurate, up-to-the-minute picture of their business. SystemLink solutions are affordable, so you can achieve a rapid return on your investment. It's also simple to use, giving all of your users a consistent, intuitive environment that they can learn quickly and use effectively. And it's powerful, enabling you to manage your business today and grow to new levels of success.
Q. We are a small company, will you solution work for us at a price we can afford?
We want our relationship with you to last as long as your software solution. We're committed to you for the long haul. It's an old-fashioned approach for a technology company, but that's what we think customer service should be all about. We offer solutions for all budgets and business requirements. We happily serve clients of all sizes from a single user system to global multi-site operations.
Q. What is the difference between hosting and web enabled?
Web-enabled describes applications that run on the Web or on Internet-based networks such as an intranet. They can be accessed with a Web browser. Web-enabled applications involve adding a Web face to traditional applications that may have been created even before there was a Web. They traditionally run on your in-house server and you own the license for the software.
Web hosting is a type of service that provides organizations and users with online applications and systems for your applications. Web hosts are companies that provide space on a server they own for use by their clients as well as providing Internet connectivity, typically in a data center. The organization and users do not own the application software but will need to pay a monthly fee for use of the service.
SystemLink offers you the alternative of choosing web-enabled or hosted depending on your needs, budget, requirements and preferences. With our solutions you have the freedom of choice.
Q. What is the difference between Managed Solutions (ASP) and Managed Services?
Managed Solutions or ASP is where the entire system is rented, just like with any hosting services. Managed Services are where the servers and operating systems are rented and the applications are licensed to the client. In a Managed Solutions (ASP) environment the hosting company looks after all aspects of the system. In the Managed Services the hosting company will only look after the hardware and operating systems, unless the Managed Services company is also the application VAR, like SystemLink.
SystemLink offers you the alternative of choosing ASP or Managed Services depending on your needs, budget, requirements and preferences. With our solutions you have the freedom of choice.
Q. Ok, I am interested in evaluating your solutions, what are my next steps?
It is vitally important for both yourselves and SystemLink that the chosen solution is the right one for you. In order to achieve this SystemLink would need to have a good understanding of your requirements and at this point an insight into your business processes. This would be achieved via initial meetings and telephone conversations culminating in a structured demonstration of the components of the application we feel meet your needs. In addition you will be furnished with a number of suitable reference sites, which can be contacted independent of ourselves for opinions of both the software and the service levels we provide.
Q. How much will your solutions cost?
The application cost is dependant on the number of concurrent system users and the levels of functionality you require. The software applications we recommend are typically modular in design, therefore you only buy what you need. Additionally, the applications are available in small business, corporate and enterprise editions therefore a perfect fit of your needs can be accommodated, offering both flexibility and scalability as your business grows.
Q. Do you develop the software that you sell?
No. We offer industry standard business solutions developed by the world's leading software companies. However, we do have a team of software developers that will tailor out-of-the-box applications to meet your specific business needs.
Q. Can you integrate the software that you sell with a product that I already use in my office?
Yes. SystemLink's development team has the expertise to write source code which will allow your new software to integrate with your current program. Furthermore, it is common for us to write applications beyond what the out-of-the-box solution provides in order to tailor your solution to meet all of your needs.
Q. Can I install your solutions by myself?
Yes but this is not recommended. SystemLink has many years experience of deploying and installing the solutions we recommend. Obtaining the best performance from your system is critical in ensuring personnel embrace the new applications and make them work for you. Configuring databases and platforms to maximize performance is just one area of expertise that separates us for the rest.
Q. Who will provide for ongoing support?
SystemLink offer a total "one stop shop". Once your new system is installed, commissioned and your staff trained in its use you may take out an annual support agreement or contact our support desk on an ad hoc basis, which is available within business hours. Logging of support issues and the monitoring of support issues can also be done 24/7 via the SystemLink web site.
Q. What information should I have ready when I make contact with SystemLink Support?
Your company name and the name of the person calling is generally all that is required. When logging the issue it is helpful if you can clearly relate the steps taken before the problem occurred and any action taken after.
Q. We have multiple offices in several countries. How do you serve companies like us?
Many of SystemLink's clients are both multi-national with multiple offices. SystemLink is a global organization with offices in Europe, North America and Africa, which facilitates local support and services. In regions where there is no SystemLink presence our network of alliance partners are ready to assist under our direct control.
Q. Do you do data migration from one software application to another?
Absolutely yes. So long as data from the legacy system can be extracted the solutions we recommend can be populated including historical data if required.
Q. Do you have any barcode experience?
Yes.
Q. Do you have warehouse management expertise?
Yes.
Q. Do you have manufacturing expertise?
Yes.
Q. Do you have any CRM expertise?
Yes, this is one of the core applications we sell.
Q. How long has SystemLink been in business?
The first SystemLink office was founded in 1987 in Toronto, Canada with the UK office following in 1990.
Q. You have several competitors in the area, what sets you apart from the rest?
Our methodology and emphasis on client satisfaction is our prime differentiator. Coupled to this is our many years of experience in implementing business solutions as well as our highly technical and professional team of IT Consultants, Business Consultants and Software Developers.
Q. How many clients do you currently support?
Around the world we support close on 1,000 customers.
Q. What other services do you provide?
SystemLink provides a full range of IT services, including managed operations, network support and hardware procurement. Our development team can also provide web store design and integration to back-office systems.
Q. How will SystemLink implement our new software?
In a manner most appropriate for you and in accordance with our methodology. SystemLink carries out a full system requirement analysis in order to ascertain your business processes and fully document your requirements. The analysis includes a review of all your hardware and IT infrastructure, and therefore how the software will be installed. Each element of the solution is described including how this will be commissioned and what database switches are needed.
Click here to view a flow-chart of our PRINCE 2 Methodology.
Q. What about training our employees?
The system requirements analysis includes a full training plan.
Q. How will you keep in touch with us once we are operational?
We will monitor your progress after completion and sign-off of the project, and offer you support arrangements. We will visit you annually to ensure the system is doing what was prescribed and to plan for upgrades. Bi-monthly newsletters and email blasts will keep you in touch with new developments.
Q. What about software maintenance and upgrades?
Upgrades to the system take place every year to 18 months.
Q. What kind of telephone product support do you offer? Is it included in the software price?
Software support is most commonly via the telephone to our support desk or email via our web site/internal support desk system. Support is offered during business hours although out of office time arrangements can be made.
Q. What happens if I want to add a new functionality in the future?
Not a problem. Any new modules can be just installed and commissioned as and when required.
Q. What if I want to add more users?
Simple. Just purchase additional user licenses as and when needed, which are installed in minutes.
Q. Ok, I am interested in evaluating your solutions, what are my next steps?
It is vitally important for both yourselves and SystemLink that the chosen solution is the right one for you. In order to achieve this SystemLink would need to have a good understanding of your requirements and at this point an insight into your business processes.
- Tell us what your biggest system problem is, and what you'd like as the ideal solution.
- Schedule a meeting with one of our business consultants to review your company's exact needs.
- Fill out our short questionnaire…and we'll get back to you right away with tangible solutions to enhance your operation.
