Often times when we research software systems for our clients, we hear them say, "This software was made specifically for our industry." While this may or may not be true, there are some things you need to consider when looking for the right software:
- Does the production software or financial accounting software contain an Open Source Code or Closed Source Code? In relation to software, the owner of the software can exercise control over what users can do with the software. Can you purchase the software code so that the software can be customized (open source)? If so, once those customizations are made, can you own that code? If you change vendors and did not purchase the code and you want to implement an upgrade, you have to pay for that customization all over again. Bottom line, be careful with customizations - you may be stuck with a vendor you don't like or you may be stuck with software that has high maintenance costs for upgrades and support.
- What language is the business ERP software written in? Why is this important? If the software isn't in a language common to the software industry, then you will probably be paying a lot for the software, the customizations, maintenance and the training. If the labor pool for programmers in this expertise is small, it could be a very expensive software system to support and train to use.
- What is the relational database infrastructure like? Are the data tables relational? Relational databases use tables to store information. The model uses the relationship of similar data to increase the speed and versatility of the database. Relational databases are created using a special computer language, structured query language (SQL) that is the standard for database interoperability. SQL is the foundation for all of the popular database applications available today, from access databases to internet database structures. If the software you are thinking about purchasing does not have a relational database, it can become very difficult and time consuming to pull reports in the format you desire, or worse yet, the information may not be available at all.
- Research: Find out how long the product has been around and when it had its last update. Has it kept up with the industry trends, or was it purchased by some big company but has not received a face-lift in the last three years.
When someone states, "This software is made for your business" there's usually a big price tag associated with that. Today, many products out there can complete 85% or more of what your company does. You have to ask yourself what is the ROI (return on investment) associated with those customizations? Do the customizations solve a minor or major problem? What is the impact on the workflow management process if we don't have this customization? Think it through before you invest.
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In an article on CNNMoney.com, SBA chief Karen Mills said, "it is the small businesses that are going to drive the economy and the recovery.... We're the popular kids at the dance."
While some business owners are feeling ignored by the stimulus package offered by the government, others are feeling a lot of love from the "people's stimulus package."
Buy local programs have been popular in some areas for a while but since the recession, they've been gaining momentum all over the country. From Portland, Maine to Seattle, people are really beginning to rally behind grass root efforts.
Big changes come from small steps. According to the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), each dollar spent at a local business generates three times more money back into the local economy compared to a dollar spent at a chain store- that means more tax revenue and lower taxes.CNNMoney.com reported that business owners in New England are taking on the "10% Shift" to show consumers that just by spending 10% of your spending on local businesses can have a noticeable impact.
But is it actually working? Yeah. According to a survey of 1,100 retailers by Institute for Local Self-Reliance, businesses that participated in a grass roots campaign only saw a 3.2% average drop of sales, compared to 5.6% by companies who didn't participate.
Bigger corporations are starting to notice. Even Wal-Mart has started to hang "Local" banners over produce aisles to entice shoppers. Before we get wrapped up in all of the numbers, let's not forget that local campaigns are also good for the environment. Local businesses take up less land, carry more locally made products and are closer to residents, reducing traffic and pollutants.
Visit AMIBA.net to see what communities around you are adopting buy local campaigns, and how to get started with one of your own.
