Need help finding a vendor

appleweed · 6th July 2008, 12:13

Dear Everyone,

I need your help!

We are planning to shift our corporate headquarters by the middle of August, and we need a systems implementer to shift the entire organisation on to an OS X based platform. The premise behind this is pretty simple, the top management team already use and like OS X, and the way forward with Vista looks bleak. We do not use any proprietary software aside from Oracle Financials, which is accessed through the browser and is installed on a Red Hat Linux backend. We expect all our future software to be in someway accessed through a browser (SaaS) or be OS X compatible.

Our requirements are:

We want an implementer who has worked on prior projects, preferably on a larger scale than ours.
Our plan is to pilot the shift with three to four users.
Our initial user base will be fifteen to twenty users.
This will expand over the next six to twelve months to thirty plus users.
After sales support in terms of an AMC needs to be discussed.
The extent of your support mechanisms need to be assessed
User data migration and training is also a consideration.
Possible usage of Xserves on the backend.

To date we have spoke to Computer Direct Access, and ProTechnology. Unfortunately the response from both of them has not been very good.

Any help that anyone can provide would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Omar Kassim

Magnus · 6th July 2008, 12:18

This is very interesting. I think many here will follow this with great interest and if you can keep posting back what happens (if anything) I'd appreciate it.

appleweed · 8th July 2008, 10:52

Thanks for your response Magnus. Unfortunately I have not had any luck yet.

I grew up in Dubai, my own experiences show that IT vendors out here generally are not attuned to catering for enterprise needs - when compared to the way in which international firms cater to the enterprise. I am yet to come across an extremely competent vendor for any type of hardware or software service (our Oracle Financials implementor was not very good!) - perhaps it's a reflection of our business being and SMB rather than a larger corporate, however I think that the level of IT services in general is pretty poor!

Looking for an implementer for OS X that will meet our requirements seems to be a pipe dream! I am considering going at it on our own, however the biggest issue seems to be end user support, that would be difficult to provide in-house, cost effectively. The other problems are data migration (which can actually be handled with a little legwork) and user training, i.e. moving from a Windows based platform to OS X.

It may even be an idea to eventually spin off into a competent OS X based enterprise implementer..

If anyone has any thoughts, recommendations or general advice, please do let me know!

Regards,

Omar Kassim

gajanan · 8th July 2008, 11:25

True about Computer direct access. We bought 15 Mac Pros from them including an Xserve AND a maintainance contract. and for 4 months they couldn't configure the file permissions errors or set up retrospect properly.

I agree that big IT vendors aren't equipped or trained for corporate level IT requirements, but you could always go for freelance or hire temp staff having proper apple certifications for such needs. I would keep an eye out for any leads, but i am sure many here would be interested. Please keep us posted.

fangpyre · 8th July 2008, 12:08

You make it seem that end users are covered.
Fact is the term "service" in the Middle East is what you do to your car on a cyclical basis.

Like Gajanan said, I'm sure many here are willing to help you with it (count me in).
But it would be like you doing it in-house, but with a lot more people.

Magnus · 8th July 2008, 12:22

Here's the deal - just host one of our EMUG meetings at your facilities and we'll have it messed up... I mean up and running... in no time

fangpyre · 8th July 2008, 13:04

Do coke spills stain?

appleweed · 13th July 2008, 10:00

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your responses!

Coke spills do stain - heh. Feel free to bring along a mop and we should be fine!

I had a more extensive meeting with Computer Direct Access (Mr. Jagannath is their Service Manager), I have a little more confidence that they may be able to execute our requirements. However, it has reinforced the fact that the level of competence amongst IT implementors is perhaps not the best.

Gajanan, can you tell me a little bit more about your experience? My only big issue with freelancers or temporary staff is accountability - if someone messes up, who do you hold responsible? At least with a vendor, in a worse case scenario you could explore legal options - with an individual this would be extremely difficult.

I am almost tempted by the option of a bunch of guys from Emiratesmac! Let me have a think of this - if anyone is interested perhaps we can throw an adhoc team together?

I have also been privately contacted by Mr. Venkatesh Sridhar or Caprient FZ LLC. They seem to be an SMB focused implementor who focus on migrating platforms (amongst other things) - I will let everyone know how this goes..

Please feel free to continue adding your ideas and thoughts below (even if they may be related to cleaning Coke stains!)

sisamon · 22nd July 2008, 18:00

As this seems to have turned off topic I think I will join.
I am in the process of setting up my own business running on OSX. This is going to be quite peculiar as what we do is not very usual (analytical marketing lets say) but I will be working a lot with databases (ProgreSQL), statistical packages (R) and integration with office using applescript (frist) and Ruby/Python (later).

My needs also include good security (two factor , ssl and LDAP...) i have researched the topics quite well and I am starting to deploy the solution using a prototype machine.

More traditional staff is running the typical back end services (including (S)FTP, WebDAV, AFP server, and subversion and Alfresco server eventually)

So the net result for you guys is that I may be able to help with some "esoteric" issues on Mac.

I recetnly compiled Apache 2.0 on tiger, it took me some time to figure out but I would like to encourage people to start looking at the mac as a truly capable enterprise platform... or better nto as this is one of my key competitive advantages

Feel free to post a line, I look forward to meeting you at your server room

Magnus · 22nd July 2008, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by sisamon

Feel free to post a line, I look forward to meeting you at your server room

Sounds very cool, and I didn't even understand most of it

Sounds like we could do some stuff for Shuffle with you and your company - interested?

6th July 2008, 12:13	#1 (permalink)
appleweed Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 9	Need help finding a vendor Dear Everyone, I need your help! We are planning to shift our corporate headquarters by the middle of August, and we need a systems implementer to shift the entire organisation on to an OS X based platform. The premise behind this is pretty simple, the top management team already use and like OS X, and the way forward with Vista looks bleak. We do not use any proprietary software aside from Oracle Financials, which is accessed through the browser and is installed on a Red Hat Linux backend. We expect all our future software to be in someway accessed through a browser (SaaS) or be OS X compatible. Our requirements are: We want an implementer who has worked on prior projects, preferably on a larger scale than ours. Our plan is to pilot the shift with three to four users. Our initial user base will be fifteen to twenty users. This will expand over the next six to twelve months to thirty plus users. After sales support in terms of an AMC needs to be discussed. The extent of your support mechanisms need to be assessed User data migration and training is also a consideration. Possible usage of Xserves on the backend. To date we have spoke to Computer Direct Access, and ProTechnology. Unfortunately the response from both of them has not been very good. Any help that anyone can provide would be much appreciated. Regards, Omar Kassim

8th July 2008, 10:52	#3 (permalink)
appleweed Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 9	No luck! Thanks for your response Magnus. Unfortunately I have not had any luck yet. I grew up in Dubai, my own experiences show that IT vendors out here generally are not attuned to catering for enterprise needs - when compared to the way in which international firms cater to the enterprise. I am yet to come across an extremely competent vendor for any type of hardware or software service (our Oracle Financials implementor was not very good!) - perhaps it's a reflection of our business being and SMB rather than a larger corporate, however I think that the level of IT services in general is pretty poor! Looking for an implementer for OS X that will meet our requirements seems to be a pipe dream! I am considering going at it on our own, however the biggest issue seems to be end user support, that would be difficult to provide in-house, cost effectively. The other problems are data migration (which can actually be handled with a little legwork) and user training, i.e. moving from a Windows based platform to OS X. It may even be an idea to eventually spin off into a competent OS X based enterprise implementer.. If anyone has any thoughts, recommendations or general advice, please do let me know! Regards, Omar Kassim

22nd July 2008, 18:00	#9 (permalink)
sisamon Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5	Not totally related... As this seems to have turned off topic I think I will join. I am in the process of setting up my own business running on OSX. This is going to be quite peculiar as what we do is not very usual (analytical marketing lets say) but I will be working a lot with databases (ProgreSQL), statistical packages (R) and integration with office using applescript (frist) and Ruby/Python (later). My needs also include good security (two factor , ssl and LDAP...) i have researched the topics quite well and I am starting to deploy the solution using a prototype machine. More traditional staff is running the typical back end services (including (S)FTP, WebDAV, AFP server, and subversion and Alfresco server eventually) So the net result for you guys is that I may be able to help with some "esoteric" issues on Mac. I recetnly compiled Apache 2.0 on tiger, it took me some time to figure out but I would like to encourage people to start looking at the mac as a truly capable enterprise platform... or better nto as this is one of my key competitive advantages Feel free to post a line, I look forward to meeting you at your server room

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6th July 2008, 12:18	#2 (permalink)
Magnus Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 7,837	This is very interesting. I think many here will follow this with great interest and if you can keep posting back what happens (if anything) I'd appreciate it.

8th July 2008, 11:25	#4 (permalink)
gajanan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Born in AUH living in DXB Posts: 223	True about Computer direct access. We bought 15 Mac Pros from them including an Xserve AND a maintainance contract. and for 4 months they couldn't configure the file permissions errors or set up retrospect properly. I agree that big IT vendors aren't equipped or trained for corporate level IT requirements, but you could always go for freelance or hire temp staff having proper apple certifications for such needs. I would keep an eye out for any leads, but i am sure many here would be interested. Please keep us posted.

8th July 2008, 12:08	#5 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,152	You make it seem that end users are covered. Fact is the term "service" in the Middle East is what you do to your car on a cyclical basis. Like Gajanan said, I'm sure many here are willing to help you with it (count me in). But it would be like you doing it in-house, but with a lot more people.

8th July 2008, 12:22	#6 (permalink)
Magnus Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 7,837	Here's the deal - just host one of our EMUG meetings at your facilities and we'll have it messed up... I mean up and running... in no time

8th July 2008, 13:04	#7 (permalink)
fangpyre Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,152	Do coke spills stain?

13th July 2008, 10:00	#8 (permalink)
appleweed Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 9	Hi Everyone, Thanks for your responses! Coke spills do stain - heh. Feel free to bring along a mop and we should be fine! I had a more extensive meeting with Computer Direct Access (Mr. Jagannath is their Service Manager), I have a little more confidence that they may be able to execute our requirements. However, it has reinforced the fact that the level of competence amongst IT implementors is perhaps not the best. Gajanan, can you tell me a little bit more about your experience? My only big issue with freelancers or temporary staff is accountability - if someone messes up, who do you hold responsible? At least with a vendor, in a worse case scenario you could explore legal options - with an individual this would be extremely difficult. I am almost tempted by the option of a bunch of guys from Emiratesmac! Let me have a think of this - if anyone is interested perhaps we can throw an adhoc team together? I have also been privately contacted by Mr. Venkatesh Sridhar or Caprient FZ LLC. They seem to be an SMB focused implementor who focus on migrating platforms (amongst other things) - I will let everyone know how this goes.. Please feel free to continue adding your ideas and thoughts below (even if they may be related to cleaning Coke stains!)