For example, client X required a dashboard where each of the projects' variables would have been automatically calculated and a red-yellow-green would have been awarded to each of the project, in order to determine the project's status at a certain moment of time. Another client using the same product required that the red-yellow-green grades should be noted manually, with comments and motivations in each case. As such, for a product that basically had the same functionality, two slightly different versions needed to be created. Assistance for implementation refers to all operations required for the client to be able to start using the UMT application. In many cases, the client purchases not one, but several tens of licenses, for all its employees. Implementation first requires the instalment on the server and, subsequently, installing the application on each of the individual computers. The server and network manager needs to fully understand all the technical requirements for further operation and a two-week technical course is usually held with him even before the application is installed with the client.

Technical assistance after implementation is crucial in developing an excellent relationship with the client. First of all, all products can be customized even after implementation. As all relationships with the clients are defined by UMT as long-term relationships, the UMT team needs to be able to accommodate any request for change that the client may have after implementation. It is often the case that the testing team at UMT has not been able to identify all the possible programming and operational errors and a period of 1-3 months is necessary to solve all problems that will inherently appear after the product begins to be used within the client's business activity.

Further more, post-implementation assistance is also associated with training sessions with the client's employees, sessions that...

These sessions also create the premises for subsequent versions, as it is often the cases that suggestions are made by the client for product improvements. Constant feedback from the client is a must in the post-implementation process.
In terms of marketing objectives, United Management Technologies has always aimed at creating a base of loyal clientele, formed from few, but important clients. Additional, it has aimed to become the most important player on the product portfolio management niche. Let's analyze both these objectives and see to what degree UMT has been able to fulfil its marketing goals. First of all, as previously mentioned, UMT has succeeded in working only with some of the big names from different industries. Further more, continuous product customization and complete care for the client's requests, associated with high quality implementation services have ensured the development of long-term relationships with the clients. As previously mentioned, UMT has been working with some of the clients from the very beginning.

The second marketing objective was also attained. Indeed, UMT has managed to become the leading company on the project portfolio management market. All important consulting companies and market analysts, among them prestigious ones like Giga, Gartner or Metadata, have acknowledged this.

Nevertheless, the company needs to keep a close eye on the relevant elements of the marketing environment that may influence its evolution in the future. Among them, the most important could be the state of technology. I am referring here to programming tools, where efficiency can be determined by the programming applications that the company is set on and where a proper choice of programs to be used is a key for success.

Bibliography

1. United Management Technologies's website at www.umt.com