Re: Integrator/Interconnect Management Software
terry <terry@cnw.com> wrote: :: I am in the process of researching a software package to handle sales :: process issues, service order tracking, operational costs (labor hours, :: materials, etc.) and integrate these issues as well as possible. This :: tool will be used by sales to track prospects through to the point of :: sale much as a contact management package would do. Then, the operations :: staff wil be able to use the package to manage the different projects and :: to schedule installation and service. Tracking of personnel and open :: orders is a very important part of the requirement as one of the problems :: in automating this type of process is keeping track of what is to be done :: and who is available to do it. :: I have looked at one package, "TIMES" by tigerpaw software. It has an :: integrated contact manager and allows customer orders to be entered and :: scheduled, with much of the tracking that is required. We find it :: somewhat adequate, but very cumbersome and difficult to use. Does anyone :: know of some other similar packages? Although there are exceptions, in the long run you would be better to develop an application in-house or have it written to meet your specific requirements. As long as it is written in a mainstream development environment, you'll always find support and various options for add-ons/enhancements as your requirements change (and they will change). Of course, a custom option will always "cost more" if you look at the initial price tag. What you need to accurately analyze is what the true costs of NOT having the application do what you need it to do. The help of a local consultant may save you a lot of money in the long term. Check the comp.xxxxx database and programming language newsgroups for members that "speak your language" and request a proposal on a custom system. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ /\\/\\/\\ Gus Faviere /\\/\\/\\ \\/\\/\\/ gfaviere@inforamp.net \\/\\/\\/ /\\/\\/\\ gfaviere@msn.com /\\/\\/\\ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~