BUSINESS CONSULTING
Business requires far more than technology to be competitive and successful in today’s market. FITIRI consulting provides a full range of analytical, modeling, process design and compliance services to prepare your business for the road ahead. FITIRI consulting provides ancillary services to facilitate decisions and allow you to focus on your target market and utilize your company’s core expertise to maximize profits.
The following outline lists our areas of expertise. Click on a service of interest:
Process Design and Compliance Services
Security and Control
Compliance
US
Export Regulation Compliance
Change
Management Process
M&A
Integration Process
Analytical Services
Financial Analysis
System
Modeling
Communications Technology and Product Analysis
Growth
Strategies and Analysis
Process Design and Compliance Services
Security and Control Compliance
In today's global economy, businesses and service providers must demonstrate that they have adequate controls and safeguards when they host or process customer data or provide auditable financials. FITIRI consultants understand the standards required to bring your firm into compliance with:
- Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 70, the internationally recognized auditing standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
- Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), passed in 2002, implements new requirements for companies that are publicly traded. Section 404 specifically concerns itself with information management, detailing IT safeguards that must be built into financial reporting.
- ISO, the International Organization for Standardization and The International Engineering Consortium (IEC) created the joint standard ISO/IEC 17799 the e-commerce community’s international benchmark for information security management.
- The Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which protects patient and employee health related data.
- Credit Card Security Standards: Visa’s Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP); MasterCard’s Site Data Protection (SDP); American Express’ Data Security Operating Policy (DSOP); Discover Information Security and Compliance (DISC) program; and Visa Canada’s Account Information (AIS) program – all focused on safeguarding customer accounts and making online card usage safer.
FITIRI consultants use the applicable standards in crafting policies, procedures and standards as set by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) sponsored by the US SEC, or the Information Systems Audit and Control Association’s CobiT Standards, or the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) standards – all of which are used internationally.
The ever increasing cost of compliance is mitigated by FITIRI consultants ability to create procedures and processes that are scalable and changeable with internal resources:
FITIRI consultants train your trainers on the basics of your specific compliance requirements. This insures ongoing compliance without the associated accelerating costs of consulting year after year.
US Export Regulation Compliance
Distributing products and services globally is an attractive growth strategy, but export and financial regulations can make the difference between anticipated profits and an unexpected loss. Regulations vary by service, product, technology, country and even change with time. This is particularly true for technology products and services, where many products are restricted to certain destinations and many others require formal licensing. It is the responsibility of the exporting company to insure compliance to these ever changing regulations and penalties for noncompliance can be extremely costly – sometimes involving criminal indictment of company officers.
FITIRI consultants have the experience and expertise to help companies work through this entire process and put in place a long term export compliance program. This will allow exporters to focus on product and market concerns and avoid the anguish of noncompliance to regulations.
Change Management Process
FITIRI consultant have helped companies make both minor and major changes to their operations that reduce costs, improve efficiency and prepare for the next stage of growth while minimizing impact to the current operations. Many companies grow too quickly on a structural foundation that is not sufficient to support the next level operational growth. Here, FITIRI consultants can assess the situation by reviewing the organizations history, current structure and work flows. Once this is complete, we can develop an organizational and work flow model to optimize operations based on your company’s specific requirements and objectives for present and future business. FITIRI can then assist in the gradual or rapid implementation of such changes into your organization. This would include training and documentation services for management and employees as necessary. Monitoring and measurement services can be provided to determine the effectiveness of such changes and can be incorporated into an ongoing process of continuous improvement within the organization.
FITIRI consultants have implemented change management programs in companies for:
- Defense Contracting
- Late Stage Technology Startups
- Software and Hardware Development
- Energy Services
- Exploration & Production
- Food Service
M&A Integration Process
Even the best merger or acquisition can fail if the integration is not executed properly. Many times companies put extensive effort into constructing and closing the deal, but provide minimal resource for the integration of the companies. The most common reason is executive management needs to tend to ongoing business issues and does not have time for integration issues. Effective integration takes careful and detailed planning, excellent communication, process design and management follow through. This is where FITIRI can help. Our consultants can represent executive management during the integration process, performing the majority of planning, communication and follow-up required for a successful integration while freeing up the executive management’s time for other matters of business.
Financial Analysis
FITIRI consultants have developed numerous financial models to assist companies in various areas including;
- Product and Service Pricing
- Project / Opportunity Analysis
- Make vs. Buy vs. Partner Decisions
- Business / Operating Plans
- Cost Analysis
If your company needs temporary resources to develop financial models to help make strategic or tactical decisions, improve efficiency or decrease costs, FITIRI consultants can help.
System Modeling
Today’s energy and communication systems are utilizing complex technologies that were not even conceived in the prior decade. Systems are becoming more complex often requiring multi-vendor solutions. Often, such systems are not operating at peak efficiency which can easily translate to poor performance and excessive costs due to excessive capacity. FITIRI consultants have helped numerous customers optimize systems for capacity and cost. In the energy market, system modeling includes pricing, utilization, and supply and demand for both Power and Natural Gas and in the communications market, this includes wireless systems, switching systems and transmission systems.
Communications Technology and Product Analysis
Companies looking to purchase communications equipment such as Broadband Wireless, Switching and Transmission Systems and Network Management Systems need professional and objective advice prior making an expensive decision. Purchasing such equipment is a long term partnership between the supplier and the customer and the right decision must consider the supplier’s ability to support the customer and enhance the system to meet the customer’s near term and long term needs. All too often a customer receives many promises from a vendor prior to making a purchase but once the purchase is made, the customer receives minimal support.
This scenario can be avoided by using FITIRI consultants to help you assess products, operations, support and services prior to making any decision. FITIRI can help you develop and analyze the results of an RFI/RFP as well as help develop and negotiate a contract to insure your expectations will be met long term. If it is an international deal, additional considerations regarding payment, taxes, tariffs, export regulations and non-performance relief need to be considered. FITIRI consultants have experience with such arrangements between customers and suppliers in the US, Africa, Mexico, South America, Asia and Europe.
Growth Strategies and Analysis
Globalization has increased competitive pressures on companies but has also opened up new markets for technology and energy companies. Such growth can be maximized by entering new markets directly or through distribution channels. These channels can be opened up using strategic alliances, joint ventures, acquisition or licensing agreements. In most cases the key to creating a profitable venture lies with choosing the right partner, who is most likely, not the most obvious partner. FITIRI consultants have the experience necessary to make the right decision – the first time. First Time Right!
FITIRI consultants have helped companies achieve strategic growth through comprehensive analysis of markets and potential partners from around the world. These have included:
- Manufacturing technology transfers in the Middle East, South America and Asia
-
Strategic acquisition of technologies in the areas
of;
- Broadband Wireless
- Fuel Cells
- Software Products
- Video Systems
-
Market entry of technology products through
distribution agreements in;
- Mexico
- South America
- Africa
- Mid-East
- Asia
FITIRI consultants can provide you with complete, objective analysis of competition, markets, entry strategies and strategic partner due-diligence.
