Technology in Architectural Practice

Does anyone have advice on how to procure a technology assesment. By that a mean a complete asssesment of needed computer upgrades company wide. All departments, i.e. production, accounting, marketing etc., applications, infrastructure, email, network etc. 

We are in need of an overhaul, and our though is to generate an RFP to solicit some proposals for this service. Lookkng also for computer consultants who understand A/E firms needs, the obvous being graphic intensity, and could do a comprehensive look. Firm size is about 30.


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Walter Zapor Assoc. AIA
Senior Associate
KCBA Architects Inc.
Hatfield PA
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Dosen't your firm have  already have someone on staff with the skills to do that?

If not, hire someone who knows the tools they're working with.

A good starting point for such a survey could be very simple. Collect the recomended hadrware specifications from your software vendors, and compare that to what you have.
 
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Rudolph Beuc AIA
Architect
R. Beuc Architects
Saint Louis MO
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Walter,

i think you are on the right track asking for this to be done. My firm does this kind of assessment and it is very rare for a firm to have the foresight to do a technology assessment. Most of the times i have to correct issues that come from in house staff who think they understand the complexities of an firms technologies need. it is like doing your own engineering, you can probably come close to a solution but its not the best idea. 
And please do not use minimum specs from software vendors they will not work, those specs are usually very far off from reality and are often fudged by marketing people to help sell the product. Also the assessment almost always pays for itself because of the amount of money saved by not buying too much to overcompensate as well as passing along saving from most tech firms will have with computer vendors and software partners. 

there are a few firms that do this type of assessment and i would be happy to send you list. although most of them are in the ones i know are in the New York area. 

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Robert Cervellione
Principle
Cerver Design Studio
575 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 

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