Importance of Having a Single One Point of Contact (SOPC) from Customer Side 🧑💼¶
At MerciGlobal, we emphasize the importance of having a Single One Point of Contact (SOPC) from the customer’s side for all communication and coordination purposes throughout the lifecycle of a project.
What is SOPC?¶
SOPC stands for Single One Point of Contact. It refers to a single designated person from the customer’s team who is responsible for:
- Communicating with MerciGlobal’s team. 📞
- Coordinating all activities, updates, and approvals. 📋
- Bridging internal discussions and aligning them with project goals. 🧩
Why is SOPC Critical?¶
Ensures Clear Communication¶
- With a central person handling all communication, there’s less risk of miscommunication.
- Eliminates the possibility of conflicting instructions from multiple individuals.
Maintains Confidentiality & Integrity¶
- Sensitive project information is channeled securely.
- No leakage or confusion due to multiple information sources.
Boosts Project Efficiency¶
- Faster approvals, clarifications, and validations.
- Helps MerciGlobal team to maintain a clear task flow and timeline.
Prevents Overlaps and Rule Violations¶
- Different stakeholders might suggest different workflows unknowingly.
- SOPC ensures one agreed path forward, avoiding contradictions.
Central Knowledge Repository¶
- SOPC becomes a knowledge hub for all activities, past decisions, customizations, and business logic.
- Helpful in scaling, upgrading, or troubleshooting in future phases.
Consequences of Not Having an SOPC¶
| Scenario | Risk | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple points of contact | Conflicting instructions | System design inconsistencies |
| Unclear responsibilities | Communication delays | Project slowdowns |
| No history tracking | Forgotten decisions | Rework and inefficiencies |
| Ad-hoc feedback from various people | Violation of ERP rules | Breakdown of automation and logic |
Best Practices to Follow¶
- Appoint an SOPC who understands your internal workflows and business rules. 🧑💼
- SOPC should maintain meeting minutes, key decisions, and change logs. 📝
- Regularly sync internally with customer-side stakeholders before communicating with MerciGlobal. 🔁
- SOPC must ensure any shared input is validated and conflict-free. ✅
Conclusion¶
Having a Single One Point of Contact (SOPC) ensures smoother execution, fewer errors, and a successful collaboration between the customer and MerciGlobal. It’s not just a convenience — it’s a strategic necessity for the success of system design, implementation, and long-term maintenance.
"A single voice, a unified vision, a streamlined success." 🗣️
MerciGlobal Team