Generix Project Methodology for Solochain WMS & MES

Introduction

This document is based on the project methodology used by Generix to implement SOLOCHAIN WMS & MES.

In addition to the proven project methodology Generix leverages Generix Back Office, Customer Solution Releases (CSRs) and SOLOCHAIN Usage (Desktop) and Process (Mobile) Flow recorders to support the configuration, testing, and training of SOLOCHAIN based on the Features and Uses Cases required for your project.

Gartner is leading technology research organization that provides actionable, objective insight to corporate executives and their teams. Gartner ranks the top WMS solutions in the world, the 2023 Gartner Critical Capabilities Rep²aort included SOLOCHAIN and 17 other leading WMS solutions.

Noted by Gartner, a Generix SOLOCHAIN Top Strength:

Implementation Tools:  Ranked # 1

Project Methodology Overview

The Generix SOLOCHAIN project methodology includes 15 Milestones, divided into 3 Phases:

1. The Analysis (Solution Definition) Phase refers to the project milestones for analyzing and documenting the customer’s process and requirements, configuring the application, and demonstrating the solution to ensure it meets the customer’s requirements.
2. The Implementation Phase refers to the project milestones for the physical preparation of the site, the development of modifications, functional and integrated testing, as well as the training of super users and end users.
3. The Go Live Phase refers to the final project milestones for the preparation of the environment (cleaning of data), simulation of go live activities using real life examples, the operational go live, and the transfer to customer care when the solution has stabilized.

Project Milestone Overview

All project milestones and phases are critical to ensure the successful delivery of a quality solution, however some milestones and phases are lengthier, contain more steps, and require more resources.

In the diagram below, the size of each circle is meant to represent the relative weight of each milestone in comparison with the others.

In the following project milestone sections, the following details are identified:

• Objective/Overview
• Importance
• Duration
• Deliverables/Actions
• Meetings
• Documents

Note: All phase durations are approximate, they actual durations will depend on the project and client process (Feature, Use Case) complexity.

Project Management

Project management is key to ensuring the successful delivery of a quality solution. Project management is not an official Generix milestone, it covers the entire duration of the project.

Objective/Overview

• Plan and schedule each project milestone/phase
• Maintain an action plan and ensure overall coordination of open actions and deliverables
• Manage the Generix Project Team
• Ensure compliance with the contractual agreements undertaken by both parties
• Validate invoicing
• Monitor budget

Duration: Entire duration of the project

Deliverables/Actions

• Steering committee presentation
• Meeting minutes
• Budget indicators

Meetings

• Functional project review (weekly)
• Technical project review (ad-hoc)
• Monthly steering committee
• Weekly project committee

Documents

• Project plan (GANTT)
• Budget indicators

Kick Off Milestone

This section is related to Generix Kick Off milestone in the Analysis (Solution Definition) Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Project handover from the Sales Team to the Professional Services Team
• Selection and assignment of the Project Team
• Creation of client order/release and set up project in our internal tracking tool (Back Office)
• Creation and validation of the project plan (GANTT)
• Creation of client’s cloud/model

Importance

• Establish a project plan and Go Live date that are accepted by both parties
• Alignment on the implementation methodology

Duration: 1 week

Deliverables/Actions

• Project plan (GANTT)

Meetings

• Knowledge transfer session from Sales Team to the Project Team
• Client introduction call
• Kick off meeting: presentation of the teams, of the project plan (GANTT) and of the implementation methodology

Documents

• Project plan (GANTT)
• Kick off presentation

Exploration Milestone

This section is related to Generix Exploration milestone in the Analysis (Solution Definition) Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• As a pre-requisite, the client provides process mappings, operational reports and labels, AutoCAD warehouse layout and process videos to enable thorough understanding of the client’s processes
• Exploration sessions to review client processes
• Identification of required interfaces and triggers
• Identification of required operational documents and triggers
• Solution reference manual (SRM) documentation (client processes)
• Future process mappings (Visio)
• Fit-gap analysis: identify, brainstorm and present gaps (if any) and proposed solutions
• Make decisions on processes to be implemented in subsequent phases (nice to haves)
• Identify open actions/next steps
• Seed file (master data) introduction and review
• Introduction meeting for interfaces
• Introduction meeting for site preparation

Importance

• Confirm client processes and aligning on the processes, setting the foundation for all other phases (it is the most important milestone in the project)
• Comprehensive documentation, reviewed and approved formally by all parties is key to success. This milestone will define the scope of the project

Duration: 6 – 8 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Process mappings (current mappings supplied by the client, future mappings supplied by Generix)
• Reports/labels used (client)
• Data to import – seed files (client)
• Process videos (client)
• AutoCAD warehouse layout (client)
• Solution Reference Manual (SRM)
• Fit-gap presentation

Meetings

• Exploration sessions
• Introduction to seed files (import files) and seed file review sessions
• Fit-gap presentation

Documents

• Fit-gap presentation
• Future process mappings
• Solution Reference Manual (SRM)

Configuration Milestone

This section is related to Generix Configuration milestone in the Analysis (Solution Definition) Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Configuration of system, which commences in parallel with the analysis of the process exploration
• Preliminary testing of the configuration in preparation for the working sessions and demos (Workshop Milestone)
• Continuous update/fine tuning of the configuration during the workshops to prepare the solution for functional and integrated testing

 Importance

• The configuration milestone is the first hand on, concrete step in delivering a functional solution which will be employed by the end users

Duration: 5 – 6 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Initial configuration ready for the upcoming workshops and next steps of the project

Meetings

• Internal configuration meetings

Documents

• N/A

Workshops Milestone

This section is related to Generix Workshops milestone in the Analysis (Solution Definition) Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Alignment on the conceptual design (feature freeze, concept approval)
• Schedule and perform workshops to demonstrate configured solution
• Documentation of gaps, decisions, configuration changes that may be identified during demonstration sessions
• Update system configuration
• Conceptual design approval by the Client

 Importance:

• Introduction of the application to the Super Users
• Validation that the configured solution supports Client’s needs

Duration: 4 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Formal demonstrations of the configured instance
• Updated gap presentation if additional gaps are identified during workshops

Meetings

• Demonstration workshops
• Fit-gap analysis presentation (if gaps were identified)

Documents

• Fit-gap analysis presentation

Interface Analysis Milestone

This section is related to Generix Interface Analysis milestone in the Analysis (Solution Definition) Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Review core interface mappings and identify required fields to be added
• Document interface mappings
• Analysis of the customization requests and their potential impact

Importance

• Ensure all data required for successful functional process is transmitted by interface

 Duration: 2 – 4 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Interface Control Document (ICD) containing interface mapping

Meetings

• Interface workshops to review data to be exchanged

Documents

• Interface Control Document (ICD)

Site Preparation Milestone

This section is related to Generix Site Preparation milestone in the Implementation Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Introduce the Client to all activities that must be undertaken to prepare their physical environment (warehouse/plant)
• Provide the client with a technical requirement document detailing set up and configuration of their servers (for on-premises licenses only)
• Preparation and configuration of SQL and application servers for the application (for on-premises licenses only)
• Cloud Ops preparation (SaaS)
• Installation/configuration of equipment
• Set up of physical environment

Importance

• Allows the client to access to the application
• Provide guidance to the client in equipment purchasing and physical environment preparation activities

Duration: 10 – 16 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Technical requirements document

Meetings

• Introduction meeting to review technical requirements document
• Ad hoc support

Documents

• Technical requirements document

Interface Configuration Milestone

This section is related to Generix Interface Configuration milestone in the Implementation Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objectives/Overview

• Configuration of data exchange between all systems identified in the Interface Control Document (ICD)
• Implementation of communication channels between all identified information technology systems

Importance

• Interface configuration allows for clean flow of communication between various systems as well as ensures data integrity
• The functional and integrated test scenarios are defined during this step

Duration: 1 – 2 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Application configured and ready for the upcoming testing

Meetings

• Internal configuration sessions

Documents

• Update of test scenarios

Functional Testing Milestone

This section is related to Generix Functional Testing milestone in the Implementation Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Preparation and approval of detailed test scenarios to be completed, which include unit tests as well as tests of end-to-end processes in the application
• Preparation of the testing environment and data (i.e., import of master data)
• Definition of roles and responsibilities for testing
• Testing of all defined scenarios by both parties
• Creation of process flows for each test performed by the Generix team to help support client testing
• Training and supporting the client in their testing
• Review of indicators to monitor progress, issues, and resolutions
• Identify issues and implement solutions

Importance

• Ensure that all the client requirements have been implemented
• Make sure that all processes are functional
• Ensure product quality

Duration: 4 – 6 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Test scenarios
• Testing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Process flows
• Approval of test scenarios
• Testing acceptance

Meetings

• Testing training sessions
• Weekly indicator review
• Ad-hoc support meetings to help client with their testing

Documents

• Test scenarios
• Testing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Process flows
• Testing acceptance

Integrated Testing Milestone

This section is related to Generix Integrated Testing milestone in the Implementation Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Preparation and approval of detailed test scenarios to be completed, which include end-to-end process flows between various client’s systems (ERP, MES, etc.) and their interaction with SOLOCHAIN
• Preparations and approval of all scenarios using physical equipment (handhelds, printers, scanners, etc.)
• Definition of roles and responsibilities for testing.
• Testing of all defined scenarios by both parties
• Creation of process flows for each test performed by the Generix team to help support client testing.
• Supporting the client in their testing
• Collaborating with third parties (MES, ERP, etc.) to successfully complete the tests
• Review of indicators to monitor progress, issues, and resolutions
• Identify issues and implement solutions

Importance

• Ensure that all the client requirements have been implemented
• Make sure that all processes are functional and the information flows correctly between the various systems
• Ensure product quality

Duration: 4 – 6 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Test scenarios
• Testing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Process flows
• Approval of test scenarios
• Testing acceptance

Meetings

• Weekly indicator review
• Ad-hoc support meetings to help client with their testing

Documents

• Test scenarios
• Testing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Process flows
• Testing acceptance

Super User Training Milestone

This section is related to Generix Super User Training milestone in the Implementation Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Schedule creation
• Definition of roles & responsibilities
• Preparation of theoretical training document
• Preparation of demos/creation of data
• Training sessions/demos
• Training approval

Importance

• Train the trainer approach: Super Users are trained on the application use and tools are provided to Super Users that will subsequently train the end users
• Ensure Super Users have the knowledge required to lead operational team at Go Live

Duration: 2 – 3 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Theory PowerPoint presentation to help with end user training

Meetings

• Super user training sessions

Documents

• Theory PowerPoint presentation

End User Training Milestone

This section is related to Generix End User Training milestone in the Implementation Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objectives/Overview

• Client creates the schedule and plans the agenda of his personnel training
• Super Users prepare the theory that is presented via a PowerPoint presentation
• Creation of data
• Training and demo sessions performed by Super Users

Importance

• Train the end users on the application to be deployed
• Ensure Super Users have the knowledge required to lead daily operations via the application

Duration: 4 – 6 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• N/A

Meetings

• End User training sessions led by Super Users

Documents

• Theory PowerPoint presentation

Cutover Milestone

This section is related to Generix Cutover milestone in the Go Live Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Discuss cutover strategy:
  • How to integrate master data
  • How to treat pending orders: inbound, transfer, work, and outbound orders
  • How to create inventory
• Define and plan all steps required
• Creation of a detailed schedule with hourly actions per key resource for the 2 days of cutover
• Identify resources involved and ensure each resource is aware of the cutover plan and their responsibilities
• Preparation of the cutover queries to clean the database
• Ensure production server is fully operational and interfaces configurations are shifted from test to the production instance
• Perform connection tests between the production environment and the ERP/TMS
• Perform a mock cutover to identify any potential issues prior to cutover
• Plan the stop of operations and ensure there are no pending orders
• Perform wall-to-wall inventory count to ensure inventory accuracy

Importance

• Performing a mock cutover reduces the delay and potential issues during the cutover
• Cleaning the database and uploading final master files ensures data integrity for Go Live
• Performing a wall-to-wall inventory count is a good practice to assures inventory accuracy once live
• Transfer all open orders makes a clean transition into the new application

Duration: 2 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Cut over plan

Meetings

• Cutover planning sessions
• Working sessions during cutover

Documents

• Cutover plan
• Go Live Acceptance Document

Mock Go Live Milestone

This section is related to Generix Mock Go Live milestone in the Go Live Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Simulating Go Live by using actual data and physically performing operations to identify any remaining issues and resolve them prior to the Go Live

Importance

• Identifying and eliminating potential issues reduces risk of delays during the Go Live
• Having a last ‘sanity check’ that will drive the final approval of the Go Live

Duration: 1 day

Deliverables/Actions

• Formal ‘Go/No Go’ decision

Meetings

• Mock go-live planning
• Regular updates during activities
• Mock go-live debrief and report presentation

Documents

• Mock Go Live report

Go Live Milestone

This section is related to Generix Go Live milestone in the Go Live Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Provide client with a full-time support on questions and issues that arise in operations
• Resolve issues as soon as possible

Importance

• Success of the solution deployment

Duration: 2 – 4 weeks

Deliverables/Actions

• Formal project acceptance
• Project post-mortem

Meetings

• Full time support (hyper care) available at the beginning of Go Live and slowly reduced after a couple weeks as the solution stabilizes
• Weekly Steering Committee meetings to review Go Live status
• Project post-mortem meeting

Documents

• Daily Go Live Key Performance Indicators
• Project Acceptance Document
• Post-mortem PowerPoint presentation

Customer Care Handover Milestone

This section is related to Generix Customer Care Handover milestone in the Go Live Phase of the SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Objective/Overview

• Provide support for continuous improvement projects requested by the client
• Provide support for questions and issues encountered by the client
• Provide support with application versioning upgrade when requested by the client

Importance

• Ensure that the solution remains stable, and that the clients operational process are fully supported by the solution

Duration: Continuous

Deliverables/Actions

• Issue resolution
• Implementation of requested developments and customizations
• Application versioning upgrades

Meetings

• Ad hoc or recurrent if continuous improvement project is in progress

Documents

• Any previous described document that applies to a continuous improvement project that is in progress
• Update of the SRM (Solution Reference Manual)

Key Project Milestones

Throughout the project, there will be key milestones and approvals to be signed by the client. The client acceptance of the milestones is mandatory to ensure that all requirements are being met by all parties through the implementation. The project can only move to its subsequent step if the approval of the previous step is provided in a timely fashion.

Below are the identified milestones requiring client’s approval throughout the project:

Project Resources & Governance

This section is related to project resources (personnel) and governance related to the Generix SOLOCHAIN implementation project.

Generix Project Team

To manage the project successfully, Generix builds a dedicated team with each member having different skillsets and responsibilities. The Generix project team will be composed of:

• Project Sponsor
• Project Leader
• Business Process Analyst
• Implementation Advisor
• Integration Expert
• Technical Expert
• Customer Care Team (post go-live)

Generix Resource Definition

Project Sponsor

• The Project Sponsor represents the Executive Management
• The Project Sponsor commits to:
  • Represent the management team of Generix Group
  • Coordination of the various Generix Group departments
  • Ensure the project runs smoothly
  • Participate in steering committees
  • Make decisions regarding complex questions presented during steering committees
  • Report project progress to the executive team of Generix Group
  • Ensure project financial health

Project Leader

• The Project Leader is responsible for the management and supervision of project’s scope, timeline, and budget
• Their main duties are to:
  • Monitor project budget and timeline
  • Ensure overall coordination of open action items and deliverables
  • Guarantee quality of the delivered solution
  • Supervise Generix Project Team
  • Lead weekly project review meetings with both the client and internally
  • Approve schedules in collaboration with the customer’s project manager
  • Guarantee respect of contractual agreements undertaken by Generix Group
  • Ensure customers respect the committed to deliverables in the committed to timeline
  • Lead steering committee meetings
  • Validate invoicing

Business Process Analyst

• The Business Process Analyst is/are responsible for configuration, documentation, testing the solution and training of the client’s superusers
• Their main duties are to:
  • Analyze clients’ requirements
  • Configure the application according to clients’ requirements
  • Perform functional and integrated testing
  • Document client processes
  • Document customizations if required (user stories)
  • Train the clients Super Users on the application as well as how to train end users
  • Train end users when specifically requested by the customer (out of the standard project scope)
  • Provide support to client’s questions
  • Participate in weekly project review meetings

Implementation Advisor

• The Implementation Advisor is responsible for the TO BE application design and mapping
• Their main duties are to:
  • Act as a subject matter expert in the configuration and customization of the application
  • Lead analysis sessions and gather the customers’ requirements in compliance with specifications
  • Make recommendations and realign the client and project team towards business and operational best practices
  • Identify the necessary interfaces and data to be migrated
  • Lead and supervise the configuration of the solution
  • Approve the deliverables established by the Business Process Analysts

Integration Experts

• The Integration Expert is responsible implementing and documenting all interfaces with external systems
• Their main duties are to:
  • Analyze data requirements
  • Document interface mappings
  • Configure standard interfaces
  • Coordinate developments when required
  • Provide support during interface testing

Technical Experts

• The Technical Expert is responsible for the IT infrastructure
• Their main duties are to:
  • Lead client meetings to review all technical tasks to be accomplished
  • Provide ad hoc support on technical tasks

Customer Care Team

• The Customer Care team provides support to the client post Go Live
• Their main duties are to:
  • Create and supervise project plans for continuous improvement projects as requested by the client
  • Provide support on client questions and issues encountered by the client

CLIENT Project Team

To manage the project, Generix recommend that CLIENT assigns a dedicated team with each member having different responsibilities and field of expertise. CLIENT project team will be composed of:

• Project Sponsor
• Project Manager
• Operation Project Lead
• Business process Experts
• IT Project Lead
• IT Expert (Architect, analyst, developers, etc.)
• Super Users

CLIENT Resource Definition

Project Sponsor

• The Project Sponsor serves as the representative of the Executive Management
• There are committed to:
  • Represent the management team of CLIENT
  • Ensure smooth running of the project
  • Participate in steering committees
  • Make decisions regarding complex question presented during the steering committees
  • Control and approve project’s financials

Project Manager

• The Project Manager is responsible for the project management and supervision
• Their main duties are to:
  • Co-Lead steering committee meetings
  • Participate to on weekly overall project review with Generix
  • Lead weekly project review meetings with both his Operations and IT project leads
  • Ensure coordination of open actions and deliverables within CLIENT team
  • Guarantee delivery quality and ETA of CLIENT team
  • Supervise the CLIENT Project Team
  • Approve schedules in collaboration with Generix project manager
  • Ensure contractual agreements is being met by Generix
  • Ensure commitment of CLIENT project team
  • Lead and supervise internal change management initiatives
  • Validate invoicing
  • Monitor budget

Operations Project Lead

• The operations project lead is responsible for leading CLIENT business process Experts, actively participating in the Solution definition as well as leading the testing and end user training.
• Their main duties are to:
  • Supervise business process experts required to understand CLIENT processes
  • Lead weekly internal functional committee if required
  • Participate in the solution definition Phase
  • Perform functional and integrated testing
  • Support documentation of CLIENT process
  • Train end users
  • Provide support to answer Generix questions
  • Participate in weekly project review meetings
  • Gain sufficient knowledge to become lead in the deployment phase

IT Project Lead & IT Experts

• The IT project lead is responsible for leading CLIENT IT Expert team, actively participating in interfaces analysis and Site preparation as well as conducting/supporting integrated testing.
• Their main duties are to:
  • Supervise the IT Expert team and ensure
  • Lead weekly internal technical committee if required
  • Ensure overall coordination of open actions and deliverables related to interfaces or site preparation/equipment requirements
  • Guarantee delivery quality and delivery timeframes on all IT related aspects (interfaces, site preparation, equipment, etc.)
  • Identify necessary interfaces and data to migrate
  • Support interface mappings and documentations
  • Configure/support configuration of standard ERP interfaces
  • Coordinate developments when/if required
  • Provide support during interface testing
  • Responsible for the IT infrastructure
  • Provide ad hoc support on technical tasks
  • Ensure proper documentation of all IT related aspect to support deployment phase
  • Lead IT team for future deployment phase

Super User

• The “super users” are the customer’s representatives who will participate throughout the implementation in carrying out user tests and training. They are essential during Go Live as they will be part of the onsite support team helping end users in cooperation with the Generix team. Following Go Live, the super users become the representative/knowledge keepers of the solution within the customer teams. The can then provide immediate support to end users, answer questions, open tickets on the support portal and work on continuous improvement projects with Generix.
• Their main duties are to:
  • Participate in the establishment of the final solution during the exploration phase
  • Carry out functional and integrated tests jointly with Generix teams during the implementation
  • Participate in “super user” training offered by the Generix team
  • Provide training to end users
  • Actively participate in change management and end-user mobilization
  • Be the point of reference to the client’s team during and post go live
  • Enter support tickets on the Generix portal
  • Work on future improvement projects involving the solution

Governance

The table below details the recurring meetings that take place during implementation:

Diagram of the Generix Project Team

Diagram of the CLIENT Project Team