SMS for 50k - myth or reality?

[jason.r]

Doing some research on SMS solutions out there.

We are a small (25 employees) charter operation in need of SMS implementation. I'm just doing some research to see if our expectations about SMS solutions are realistic.

Requirements:


Web-based (don't have to install anything on our computers, can get to it from any place)
Secure (username/password to access, with role-based security)
Functionality HAS TO include (Issue reporting, Issue management, management reports, policy management, audit, email notifications) anything extra is a plus.


Our budget is $50,000 (US) (the budget is for the entire implementation, hosting, and any other fees)

Can you recommend anything (websites/pricing)?
What can we expect for our money?
How much does the "adequate" SMS implementation cost?

Thank you in advance for all your help.

Jason

[Horatio Leafblower]

One of my clients uses Avinet, an Australian-based company. Not sure what the fees are.

[Miles Gustaph]

Sounds quite cheep! The web-based aspect of it is where your money is going, and will go in monthly fees!

If you don't want to spend that sort of money you can do the job nicely using other techniques.

[skyerocket]

Jason,

Ok, so to answer your questions this is a little difficult without knowing your actual requirements.

1 - your after a web based sms service, correct?

2 - where are you opporating? USA?

3 - Do you require a 2way service? to be able to both send and receive sms?

4 - are you looking to use directly and only for booking confirmations?

Yes Avinet is a super service and program and would highly recomend it. also highly recomend esendex.

cheers

skye

[Pedantic]

I can recommend Litson and Associates, great value for money here in South Africa. With the exchange rate, you will be smiling! Aviation Safety Management :: Litson and Associates (http://www.litsonandassociates.com/)

[tac1]

Jason, I have sent you a PM.

[ShinjukuHustler]

Some clarification needed here. Some of the responses seem to be relating to SMS (short messaging system) commonly know as 'text messages', however there is another response relating to the more important definition of SMS (Safety management system).

For text messages, do a web search, there are lots of providers out there, find one that suits and beat em down over price, play one off the other if you need to.

For a safety management system, don't go with one of these out of the box providers or some expensive consultant, they'll rip you off. SMS is not rocket science, get a few of your people, even one will do, your quality manager or equivalent would be ideal and send them on an SMS developemnt course ( A week or so at most) have them pre-read ICAO SMS 2009 edition...it's free, plus Transport Canada's SMS program (available for large or small operators)...it's also free; and then go set the thing up yourself.

Neither of which should cost you anything near 50,000USD!

Dont bother with offers of consultancy.

Hustle On :ok:

[Karl Bamforth]

Excellent response, I couldn't have put it better myself.

[Capot]

There are honest consultants, and they can save you an awful lot of reading and waste of time going up blind alleys, and especially a good one will stop you doing things you don't need to do.

They will look at your existing systems and procedures, which will probably contain a lot of what an SMS needs. They will tell you what you have to do, and if you want they will do the paperwork for you, although it's best if you do that..

For an organisation the size of yours it should be a week's work - maximum - for the consultant, if he/she knows what they are doing. That's spread over a longer period as you supply your input, approve the stages, train your people (ie get them together for an hour or two several times during the process, starting with the session that gets them nvolved from the start, if you have a good consultant. It would be priced priced accordingly.

I can be confident about this because that's what we do. With a Part 145 organisation we reckon that 95% of the SMS is already in existence, if it already has good procedures for error management and follows them. All that's needed is some rearrangement; simplification even, and a bit of new stuff about risk assessment..

So if you budget £10K for the whole process, including costs other than the consultant, you'll see some change, possibly quite a lot. And very little disruption. But you need a down-to-earth consultant, with a realistic approach, who knows the business backwards. They do exist.

So do people who will quote you $50,000 for doing SFA from a very luxurious office, and as has been suggested they are to be avoided. Beware BMWs.

PM if you like!

[jason.r]

Thank you all for your feedback - it's really appreciated.

I like the suggested DIY solutions, however they seem to require a FULL TIME Safety Manager - which we don't have at the moment.

As I was doing my research, I ran across SMS Pro (aviation-sms.com) - they seem to meet my requirements (web based SQL Server backed) and starts from $5k with some hosting fees, HOWEVER I don't feel like getting a sales pitch from them just yet.

Do you know of anyone using that product or heard any reviews?

Any info would be appreciated.

[ShinjukuHustler]

The DIY solution doesn't require a full time safety manager, I merely suggested that he/she be the one to take it on, assuming you had one.

It is not a time consuming thing, especially if your operation is small. You could consider giving it to one of your postholders or their nominated deputy. If you have a chief pilot, Dir ops, Dir Mx & Eng or an interested indivudual in the company; any one at all would do. It doesnt matter who puts it together really but that person should be in a position to be taken seriously.

A previous poster has recommended a S.African based company, I visited their website and it looks like a really neat product however I have not used it or any other system so cannot comment as an end user.

If you'll go with one of the service providers then ask them for a list of current clients, don't accept excuses of client confidentiality as a reason for not furnishing you with a list, it is BS designed to hide the fact that they probably dont have many or any. Do your research.

Hustle On :ok:

[Flann1gan]

Hi Jason,

I don't know if one of my colleagues already sent you a PM but I'd really like to get our solution, Q-Pulse (www.q-pulse.com/aviation-safety-quality.asp (http://www.q-pulse.com/aviation-safety-quality.asp)) on the shopping list.

I'm not going to give you too much of a sales pitch here :oh:- I only want to say that it will satisfy the aviation sms (http://www.gaelquality.com/aviation-safety-quality.asp) requirements you mentioned and at a fraction of the budget.

At the very least, it will give you something to compare against. :ok:

[view from above]

Hi All....

Unfortunately real SMS is not about procedures and IT tools. If it was we would not need one as we have all that stuff in Aviation.

How about people following the rules, managing human error and getting to the real causes of accidents i.e. root cause of daily issues that go unreported. All with the objective of organisational learning - Thats SMS.

Cost.....well, you need to change your safety culture. That is the challenge. Not doing this will mean you have another book on the already full shelf of expositions that no body follows (well only after an accident and its too late)

SMS is about professional behaviours - not manuals and charts.