摘要: |
A successful fleet management information system selection process merges a structured approach with the user's professional knowledge. Two series of structured questions define needs: those asked of the organization and those asked of vendors. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) defined the equipment and fleet management needs through the structured methodology brought by Keane, Inc., a consulting firm. The organization must examine itself. These six questions set the general direction, and are not expected to be firm or unchanging: What are the goals for the fleet management system? What information is needed to make strategic and operational decisions? What is currently being done? What functions and processes do the work? What other units must be kept informed about the work? What are the functional, hardware, and network requirements? A strong discovery process will determine what is available in the market to potentially meet the goals and requirements developed. A request for information (RFI) adds detail. Vendors' demonstrations in response to RFI measurements show how they meet most needs, along with how well they understand the way you manage your fleet. Learn from them, but also teach them. Refine the RFI evaluation process to measure responses to the request for proposal (RFP). Then, construct the RFP. Put the identified requirements into clear, concise language. Next, use the evaluation plan developed in the discovery process to evaluate the responses. Finally, select a vendor. Once the vendor has been selected, NC Purchasing and Contract executes a contract to purchase the goods and services selected. |