Fri. Jun. 20, 2008
[Editor’s note: Michael Bukowski is the Dell Channel Liaison who comes from a background in computer technology and networking. This is his personal experience with custom factory integration, or CFI.]
Jeff Johnson did a post a few weeks ago about the CFI process and what benefits it has on channel partners. While the reasons internal IT departments would utilize this service differs from a VAR standpoint, I think there are some key benefits that CFI can deliver to some of our channel market vendors.
First, reduction of complexity. A few years ago I was tasked to help with a manufacturing Dell site launch. It was a new site so the networks weren’t active yet, some of the fixtures were still being installed, there was even some paint still drying on the walls. One of my tasks was to help set up the systems for the new reps who were in training. Basically, we had a floor full of desks and a room full of unboxed PCs. I remember getting that excited, anxious feeling when I’d take a brand new computer out of the box. Oh, I loved the smell of new electronics, the shine of the un-scuffed plastics, the dull untouched keys… ahhh, I was like an unsupervised child in a Toys-R-Us. That is, until I realized that every one of these systems had a blank image. My Toys-R-Us instantly turned into freakish house of horrors, a sick and cruel joke. Hours and hours and hours of running from one system to the next, getting all of the applications installed, configured, tested. To this day I still get a sinking feeling when I see unboxed PCs. Fortunately, the network was up and running the day after and we were able to image all of the remaining systems using CFI. You want a benefit of CFI? How about a sanity saver?
Looking back, I was lucky. The systems we installed were a part of the same domain, the same network, using the same programs, the same security, and the same permissions. Not a problem if you only have one customer with an incredibly simple network. But as a channel partner, imagine having to keep track of this for every customer you have, though most of you don’t have to imagine. After about 10 or 15 different networks, they all seem to melt into one huge cluster of routers, switches, cables, permissions, domains, LANs, WANs, SANs, the dreaded hybrids, now come the clouds… this is why most IT personnel go on tangents when an end user changes or installs anything. CFI is your ticket to freedom. It frees up your engineers and technicians from having to do mundane, repetitive, simplistic tasks and gets them back to doing the important things, like preventative maintenance, security updates, network testing, and all the other IT problem solving tasks that require a trained touch.
Second, speed. The only thing a customer loves more than a well-trained VAR with a familiar friendly face is a well-trained VAR with a familiar friendly face that can save them time. In business, time is money. Nothing more to say about that.
Third, and this one is key at this point in time, you can still get CFI with XP images. I have a few different systems running on a few different platforms, from XP to Vista to a few flavors of Ubuntu. Personally, I haven’t had had a problem with Vista since the driver support was increased. Part of my job, however, is to see what’s going on out there in the world of computers, and anyone with internet access knows that Vista has had some issues (I’ll be polite). With all of the negative churn, it makes more and more business owners a little skeptical of the OS which has created an outcry for XP. Though we’re currently offering “downgrade rights” on XP systems, its business as usual for CFI, which saves you time in ordering and offers your customers the XP option.
These are, of course, my personal experiences with CFI, which I’m happy to get to share with you. Some of you may share similar stories; others may have had a completely different experience, which I’d definitely be interested in hearing about. But if you’d like to learn a more about the formal CFI process and benefits, have a look for yourself.