• Estimating the project effort is difficult. Without proper guidance, the potential for significant cost and time overruns is high.
• New technologies are often being installed, involving a learning curve and potential surprises within the IT function.
• Since the company's people don't know the new system well until they use it, it can be difficult to know up front what options will provide the best results.
• Certain business processes will change - sometimes in fundamental ways. People need to be guided through the reasons for these changes as well as the details of the new system.

It takes a lot of effort. Even with a core team dedicated to the project, many tasks must be accomplished while the company's people are at the same time performing their daily jobs.

But the single biggest challenge is to avoid disruption to the business. A "shakedown" period and some level of adjustment is to be expected whenever a major new system is turned on, but dramatic delays in key business processes such as taking orders, making deliveries, or processing payments can hurt customer relationships and lower stakeholder value.

A Well-Structured, Well-Managed Project is Key to Success
Your implementation success depends on a well-structured, well-managed, and properly staffed project. It begins with a thorough plan that identifies all key tasks, assigns clear responsibilities, realistically considers project team capacities, and incorporates a solid understanding of the environment, the technologies, and the capabilities of the new applications.

SurePath™ for AXIOM/mx Open - The Support You Need for the Results You Expect
The SurePath™ for AXIOM/mx Open service addresses project challenges and establishes the framework for a well-structured, well-managed project. It supplements your project team and in-house staff with the guidance and resources you need to rapidly and effectively implement AXIOM/mx Open in your own unique environment.

You expect streamlined business processes, improved competitive performance, and a positive impact on the bottom line from the AXIOM/mx Open product - with SurePath™, you can realize these important goals faster and more confidently with:

A Proven Methodology

The SurePath™ project template takes the guesswork out of defining what needs to be done, who should do it, and the scope of the effort. It also reduces project start-up time by quickly developing:

• Project phase definitions
• Detail task lists, with clear responsibilities
• Realistic time and cost estimates

A library of solution definition tools reduces the effort and ensures the quality of output from many project tasks. Tools include:

• Current process assessment guides
• Conference room pilot scripts
• Best practice guidelines and performance metrics

Expert Guidance

An experienced senior project consultant will outline comprehensive project management tools and controls to track progress, recognize potential problems early, and avoid common problems such as "scope creep". Your SurePath™ consultant can act as an advisor or as project manager depending on your needs. He/she can also help with tasks such as:

• Business case alignment for senior management
• Business process assessment and re-definition
• Knowledge transfer

The SurePath™ "Solution Assurance" Process focuses on achieving a smooth cut-over to the new system. It includes developing key tools such as:

• Project Implementation Strategy
• Conference Room Pilot (CRP) plan
• Post CRP Review
• Go-live Plan and Readiness Assessment

Application and Technology Knowledge

Comprehensive functional and technical training provides your people with a thorough introduction to the capabilities of the AXIOM/mx Open product.

Product usage consulting helps you make the implementation decisions that will enable you to utilize the AXIOM/mx Open product capabilities to their best advantage to meet your specific goals.

Optional technology consulting reduces the learning curve for effective utilization and management of new supporting technologies such as Progress and UNIX or Windows.

Optional integration and/or extension services delivered by professionals with a thorough understanding of the AXIOM/mx Open product architecture and the underlying technologies reduces the time required to meet special needs unique to your environment.

Industry Experience

SurePath™ for AXIOM/mx Open is the only implementation service developed and staffed specifically for the needs of companies in the metals and wire & cable industries. It is tailored to focus on the needs of metals producers, metals processors, or wire & cable manufacturers. Just as AXIS technical professionals are experts at the software and tools, AXIS functional consultants are familiar with the special terminology and special challenges of your segment of the industry.

Together, these key aspects of SurePath™ combine to provide you with what you need most from your AXIOM/mx Open implementation project:

• More Predictable Cost
  With SurePath™, you begin with realistic estimates of the effort and associated costs of your implementation effort. Extensive pre-defined tool-sets reduce the effort and cost of many tasks, while continuous attention to project controls provides early management visibility to potential unexpected costs before they occur.
• Faster ROI
  With SurePath™, your project is more focused and efficient, with less potential for time-consuming sidetracks. With qualified resources to supplement your staff, more tasks can be performed in parallel. You can move to the new system sooner and begin to reap its benefits.
• Less Risk of Disruption
  With the SurePath™ "Solution Assurance" process, you are ready when the day comes to turn on your new system. The "shakedown" period is shorter, and you are positioned to quickly address the issues that inevitably arise with more assurance.
• Better Results
  Most importantly, with SurePath™ you will more fully and effectively use AXIOM/mx Open's capabilities to realize your goals for streamlined operations, competitive advantage, and an improved bottom line.

Tailored to Fit Your Unique Environment
The SurePath™ project template will be tailored to fit your unique environment and needs. The first step in the AXIOM SurePath™ process is to use the standard template as a guide to quickly develop your project plan to match the relative size and complexity of your company structure, operations, and systems environment. Task responsibilities will be allocated to your staff and the SurePath™ team based on the skills required and the resources you have available for the defined tasks. The entire SurePath™ process focuses on getting started, and completing your implementation as fast as possible while ensuring the desired results.