Frequently Asked Questions

Does Zest work on a project or a retained basis?

Zest can work on either a project or retained basis. Rather than predetermine this, we feel it is important to work with any business in whatever way suits them best, not us!

If a client would like us to commit to a certain amount of time per week/month across different work streams, then we are of course happy to work on a retainer basis.  If a client wants us to work on specific projects with fixed start and end dates to better help them manage their budgets, then we can adapt accordingly.

A lot of our fees can be recovered early in the process providing our clients with a quicker payback on our services and we take pride in this.

What sort of budget do I need to be considering to support an ERP implementation programme?

ERP projects are unique and need to be costed on a case by case basis. Business size, employee count, sites, processes and intricacies all play a role in both the length of a project and its overall cost. Essentially, the costs will come from a few different categories: initial software purchase, user licenses, consultancy, hardware and ongoing maintenance.

Please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your project and the potential costs once we have more information.

I’ve heard that many ERP implementations fail. How can I be sure of a return on my investment? What are the measures of success?

Please download and read the Zest BPM guide to ERP projects at the bottom of the ERP Services page here. There are of course many pitfalls and risks as with any critical project so there are a number of prerequisites to fulfil before starting the activity – in addition to the necessary checks and balances throughout the process.

How long does the initial assessment of the business take?

Again, this very much relies on the size of the business and easy access to key people and information. In our experience early assessments can be carried out in 1-5 days.

What makes Zest different from other suppliers in the same market?

Aside from having a vast amount of experience in every element of business, Zest personnel take pride on being workers, not consultants. We can offer everything you get from a classroom trained consultant but from people who have lived and breathed these roles on the front line. We have heard it said that you are as likely to find us on the operation floor, moving pallets around and checking an inventory as you are to find us running a group training session from a meeting room. This is something we are proud of. After all, how can we truly understand your business if we have never performed any of the roles within it? Zest can be a legitimate extension of your business.

In addition to the above, Zest is truly independent and is therefore not exclusively tied to any software or suppliers.

How long does the Supply Chain Health Check take? Is it provided completely FOC?

The Supply Chain Health Check should take no more than 3 days, though is usually completed within 2 days. These days are the time taken to gather sufficient evidence and data to ensure a thorough analysis. Results and recommendations derived from the Health Check would be delivered within one week of the completion of gathering data.

There is a prerequisite questionnaire to be filled out which is supported by a brief telephone conversation. During this process we are happy to sign and maintain any confidentiality agreements. Typically, we would then spend a day on site, but this again relies on access to the right people and information. As an incentive to new clients, we offer the first day’s consultancy on a gratis basis.

How is it conducted? Do you need to interview staff?

The health check is run through 3 different stages. The first of these is gathering information, followed by the mapping and analysis of that information. The final stage is the preparation and presentation of the results of the analysis. Normally the business would be asked to get involved in the first stage only. We wouldn’t look to interview staff formally though we would require access to data and would have conversations with the workforce to fully understand how they operate, where they are happy and where they have concerns.

What documentation will I receive to confirm the audit findings?

Upon completion of the health check, Zest will provide a detailed document that will explain exactly how your current model operates (the ‘current state’ of your business). This document will clearly highlight links and processes that can be improved upon and will also provide notes on areas that are working particularly well. You can see an example of this type of document here.

Is Zest able to identify new suppliers to improve the supply chain? Or do you simply renegotiate deals with existing suppliers?

If any link in your chain is found to be working inefficiently or at an overly high cost, Zest will make recommendations on alternative suppliers with proven track records. Having said that, businesses often have long standing relationships with their suppliers so the preferred method of improving any weak link is to put it out to tender to a select few suppliers including the current one. The tender process would include very specific requirements and would allow your current supplier a fair opportunity to improve their offering to meet your requirements.

Are these suppliers reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they remain competitive (as per utilities)?

Reviewing your suppliers should be a regular occurrence anyway. KPIs should be in place as should service level agreements. The results of these should be discussed with each supplier at suitable intervals. This feedback will allow suppliers time to react to any area they are not quite succeeding in. As each business changes regularly to suit ever changing market conditions, it is recommended that suppliers should retender every year, or bi-annually, to update your requirements and ensure they remain the best fit for your business. Zest can facilitate this on a client’s behalf, from partner selection, service level agreement analysis and/or managing the complete annual retendering process.

How can Zest help my business manage its imports/exports more efficiently/profitably?

Not every business has a dedicated supply chain department. Not every business wants one. However, every business should now be aware of the importance of monitoring and evaluating their supply chains for value, efficiency and sustainability. Zest can help here by taking control of the initial set up of the supply chain, monitoring it, evaluating, offering recommendations as well as managing freight contracts, customs agents and transport bookings. Zest can become an extension of your business, working in line with your strategy with an overall aim of transferring our skills into your business.

When software/ERP systems are put in place to support the business process management, are they existing packages or bespoke?

This is really defined by the business’ requirements. There is no predetermined best fit for any organisation, so Zest can offer access to both off the shelf and bespoke packages. Generally, we would recommend limiting how bespoke any software is to ensure ease of use and industry standards however, we recognise that different businesses have different intricacies to consider. In all cases a selection process would be undertaken offering a mix of software types with rigorous investigation completed to decide which offers the best value for the long term alongside the required ROI.

Is there a helpdesk in place to provide 24/7 support?

Zest will always be reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide help whenever a client requires it. Zest can also offer a dedicated helpdesk function to support any areas of a business. The terms of that, including the required hours of support, would be discussed and designed around a business’ specific requirements.