X7 Services

Services

GFI provides a complete rage of services for the implementation of X7. Experimented teams dedicated to each specific task accompany our client through the whole project. With GFI specialists and partners we offer our assistance not only on It implementation but also to create, adapt and display technical and commercial processes such as billing rules, data census, meter reading routes, collection…

Our teams are specialized in implementing IT for utilities companies are used to intervene worldwide. Our methodology allows quick though efficient and quality oriented services.

Project Management

It is a permanent activity running at every stage of the project. It aims at defining the general policy, following the planning, validating key issues, arbitrating conflict and managing the relationships with the client.

Knowledge transfer

Implementing X7 has a very strong component in knowledge transfer. It is mandatory for the success of the project to obtain from the users an acceptance of both the software and the new organization.
Then, it is very important to deliver immediate answer to every question that could be raised up, especially at the beginning of the live operation of the system.
That is why GFI organises close assistance to end-users with on site support during that critical period.

Change management

To achieve staff acceptation it is necessary to comply with the following keys of success:

• Anticipation of changes and good understanding of company processes and organization
• Early involvement of users from managers to data entry staff
• Identification of driving force within users group (administrators and end-users)
• Direct and through driving force communication
• Step by step implementation
• Demonstration to users of the opportunity to develop their skills and personal knowledge

Change management strategy mainly consists in anticipating changes and preventing risks of “anything new” rejection coming from users.

It deals with prevision and prevention of what is the most probable to appear.

Communication

Failure a new customer information system implementation project most of the time lies in the fact that :

• Management staff is not involved
• Future users do not understand the reasons of changes (what is going to be better after?)
• Company staff has not been sufficiently consulted, or at least feel as if they were not sufficiently consulted

To prevent this risk, GFI organises various communication actions at each phase of the project via meetings and presentation to different hierarchical levels of the Client Staff: with Executives, with End-users and also Administrators.

Software parameterisation and adaptation

X7 is very open, and a detailed analysis of the functional requirements of the Client is necessary in order to define relevant customisation, parameters, and possible evolution or adaptation of the software.
Service is done using all relevant information (e.g. billing rules, prices, lists of used codes…) provided by the client.

Data Migration

During the preliminary phase, GFI analyses existing systems and discusses with the client IT experts in order to understand how data was structured in previous systems.
The analysis will aim at matching data from the existing systems in CLIENT with data in X7. It shall also point out to data cleaning issues, provided that data from the existing systems needs cleaning.

GFI expert should provide at the end of the analysis phase a report explaining

• The equivalence of information between the existing system
• Data cleaning recommendations

Training

GFI trains users that have been identified as “driving force”. These staff will in their turn train end-users. This provides the client with more qualified personnel able to manage the system on their own and to provide training for possible new personnel.
Training on X7 use has been designed by modules for each actor considering his function.
Each training module includes a presentation, a demonstration of X7 and exercises.

Installation & Testing

GFI first installs X7 software and database on a server. The Client staff assists GFI in this task as part of their “hands-on” training. This installation takes place after this personnel has been trained. Extensive testing is done on this server.
The database and software to be installed are first tested in GFI offices to verify its compliance with the specifications.

Client’s trained staff performs its usual series of acceptance test regarding data migration, parameterisation customisation and billing before go-live.

Go-live and assistance

Big Bang or Roll-out: X7 Go live procedure can be chosen with our assistance. Once the system is implemented, GFi provides a technical assistance during the regular use of the system. The service is adapted to each client, including hot-line and on-site missions.