This service focuses on the operational needs of the business from both process and user perspectives.

The service provides the following cover:

Software practice management
Modern software packages are usually very well designed and wholly intuitive to use. Furthermore, it is common for software solutions to provide many different ways of arriving at what appears to be the same goal. Unfortunately this has contributed to the failure of many modern businesses to identify training needs by leaving users to work out the best way to achieve an end result. Knowledge sharing is of increasing importance and organisations whose staff utilise the same software packages in different ways can massively reduce business potential.

Software performance analysis
By working with management teams and their staff, existing and new software solutions can be analysed, mapped on to the business operations and assessed for suitability. This assessment process leads to regular statements of needs which can be used to form the basis of software modifications, amendments to conventions of use or, where required, alterations to the business processes.

Software fault resolution/supplier performance analysis
Experience within many organisations has shown that system managers rarely have a sufficiently clear grasp of business processes. They may lack an understanding of application software so that problems are not effectively understood or subsequently resolved.

Indeed, ECC feels that to expect this from personnel is unrealistic, given the range of skills and depth of experience required in what are two entirely different disciplines.

Return on investment analysis
Maximising ROI is a theme that extends across the entire ECC service. One area where this can be fairly easily measured is in software and system utilisation by analysing:

	The time taken to complete a task before and after an investment has been made
	The positive effect such time reductions have on customer responsiveness and overall competitiveness
	The value of the amassed information to the business after the implementation of a particular system

Streamlined procurement procedures
Whenever a need is identified within the enterprise, a streamlined system will be put in place to identify a solution to that need, with associated costs. The validity of the solution will be visible to all interested parties at all points of the analysis and procurement process, which will in itself ensure:

	That the objectives of the proposed solution match exactly the identified need
	That the solution fits into the overall IT plans of the company
	That the financial implications of the solution are communicated to budget holders in an efficient and timely manner
	That the individual(s) tasked with authorising the expenditure can do so in an efficient and timely manner
	That orders are placed with suppliers as soon as the authorisation process is completed