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Builders
Beware
Considering
Building Your Own Software Solution - Read This First!
Every now and again a shop owner decides to
take on the challenge of building an estimating/business management
system from scratch. The one's I have come across usually
have a little bit of technical knowledge, maybe some previous
program writing experience, and that friend/employee who assures
them "A system built from scratch, no problem."
These owners tend to think that if they build a system themselves,
it will be less expensive, more reliable, and above all give
them a strong infrastructure for the future. In the beginning
of the software age this might have been the case, but in
today's environment having a "self built" mentality
presents some owners with many challenges and disadvantages,
which grow larger and larger everyday. Are you considering
building your own software solution?
Which
Type of Shop Can Rely On A Home Built System?
Not all shops are at a disadvantage when it
comes to building their own system. To determine which avenue
a shop should take, owners must know what type of shops benefit
from a self built solution and what type is better off purchasing
one. Companies with a small number of people, where only 1
person estimates, producing very few quotes daily, with little
to no re-orders, and selling a small number of products with
few options, may do fine using Excel or a home built shop
management system. But if and when one or more of these variables
change, the need for a better solution increases and owners
should look else where.
How
Much Does It Cost To Build Your Own?
Many times an owner thinks it is less expensive
to build a system then to buy one. This is one of the biggest
misconceptions of a self built system. I recently spoke with
Steve Gillispie from Acorn Signs who spent 6 months creating
a program from scratch before he ultimately stopped when he
found a solution that did everything he needed and more. Steve
said looking back "It's idiotic to try and build your
own system. The time involved and the programming knowledge
required is too much. Trying to build a system internally,
when other software systems are currently in the market, is
idiotic." He stated that "Software companies, such
as Cyrious Software which he uses, already have hundreds of
development hours invested into their programs; therefore
building a system yourself starts you off with a time and
knowledge disadvantage."
Software
for the Future of Your Business
If you are looking to be a competitive force in your market,
grow your business, and increase your sales, creating the
right infrastructure in the most economical way is key. In
an industry where time and money, building relationships,
and staying competitive is vital to a business' success, having
a system in place that assists with these areas is extremely
important and hard to achieve on your own. This is why many
owners today like Steve, are halting the production of a self-built
system and looking towards other solutions.
How Much Is Your Time Worth?
If you spent twenty hours a week developing your own system,
assuming it takes you only 6 months to create, how much money
does that system end up costing you? Let's assume it would
cost you $100 an hour to get a homemade system built. For
six months of work that's 480 hours for a grand total of $48,000
for a homemade system. Whoa! That's a rather large investment.
But it could be worth it if you get what you need, right?
What You Get
With a self-built system you get a custom system developed
specifically for your shop, with your pricing, cost structure,
and business methods. The only problem that exists is that
all of this is obtainable without building a system yourself.
The company that Steve decided to go was Cyrious Software.
Cyrious gave him the personalized software system he needed
including his own custom pricing, cost-structure, and business
methods in addition to what he wouldn't have with a self built
system, such as technical support. Steve said if he would
have kept with his self-built system not only would he have
to support it himself but he wouldn't have been able to take
advantage of features like reports, invoicing, CRM, and the
Activity Manager.
What
You Don't Get
With most estimating and business management systems on the
market today, you usually have the option of purchasing support.
This is a major aspect you can't get with a self-built system.
Most software users believe that support is extremely important,
and as Stan Yamamoto from FASTSIGNS® said "Software
is only as good as the support system behind it…The support
offered by Cyrious surpassed all of my expectations."
A good tech support staff is there to help solve questions,
problems, or issues that arise, when using the software. Who
would you go to in order to get answers to software issues
with a self-built system?
Purchasing
Software Includes Perks!
Being a software customer, usually entitles you to additional
perks. For example, Cyrious Software offers customers on support,
software upgrades at no extra charge. These upgrades include
many different advancements and improvements to the software.
If you choose to build your own system, you become the one
responsible for developing, testing, and supplying upgrades.
Unless you plan on staying with the same old system year after
year, upgrading your system will cost you additional time
and money. If you are unable to provide continual support
to enable your software to grow with your shop, is it really
wise to go forward with building a system yourself? Think
about it.
For
more information on using Cyrious software to increase sales,
we recommend that you contact Cyrious Software at 800-552-1418
(U.S.) or 001-225-752-2867 for international callers, or by
email at info@cyrious.com.
Industry
News Release
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2005
SGIA
Demystifies Federal Employment Law June 21 Web Conference
Debunks Myths, Complements Extensive Online Employment Compliance
Center
Fairfax, Virginia - When it comes time to look at wages, benefits
and worker rules, there’s a lot of confusion about what the
law requires. Even the most highly-publicized federal mandates
may not apply if your company doesn’t fall into the correct
categories.
“A
good employer will strive to strike a balance between what
employees want, what management needs and what government
mandates. But to reach that goal effectively, you need facts,”
said Danielle Waterfield, SGIA Government Affairs Associate.
Waterfield will lead “Debunking Federal Employment Myths,”
an interactive Web conference, Tuesday, June 21, 11:00 amnoon
(EDT).
The
“Debunking” Web conference will combine online meeting technology,
the resources of the Government Affairs One Stop Shop at SGIA.org
and the power of the telephone in an interactive format. With
your $79 registration fee ($149 non-members) you can include
as many of your employees as can fit around the phone and
computer.
“Separating
employment law fact from fiction is difficult at best, especially
if you’re one of the many businesses that does not have a
staff member dedicated to human resource issues. Unfortunately,
mistakes can cost you — big time.
“It’s
no secret that great benefits and wages can boost employee
morale and productivity. But management and employees are
often confused about which federal mandates apply to their
company — and which don’t,” Waterfield said.
Topics
for the session include federal wage and hour rules, including
overtime eligibility and paid breaks. You’ll also leave with
a bank of resources to explore when new employment law questions
arise. And because it’s an interactive session, you’ll benefit
from answers to other participants’ questions, issues you
may not have known to consider.
Register
online at SGIA.org, or call 888.385.3588, by June 7.
Quick
Quiz: Fact, Fiction & Federal Employment Laws
Take the following quiz to see how much you really know about
the federal employment laws that apply to your business. The
short answers are below.
True
or False? Federal law mandates paid vacation, holidays and
sick leave.
Are salaried employees eligible for overtime pay?
If the federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour but your state
has increased the minimum wage to $7.25, which rate applies
to your employees?
When can employees waive their right to overtime pay?
Under what circumstances can an employee younger than 18 operate
power-driven paper products machines?
Short Answers:
False. That said, failure to provide them could lead to morale
and productivity issues, and you may be required to provide
these benefits under your state’s labor law.
Sometimes. Pay structure alone doesn’t determine whether they’re
exempt from overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards
Act.
The higher pay rate applies. When federal and state employment
laws differ, the laws that win are those that most benefit
the employee.
Never.
Until they’re 18 or older, employees may not operate or unload
power-driven paper products machines. However, under very
specific guidelines, 16- and 17-year-olds may load certain
devices.
Get the Facts
Get the full story on these and other federal employment laws
that affect you on June 21, from 11:00 amnoon, with SGIA’s
“Debunking Federal Employment Law Myths.” In just an hour,
SGIA’s Web conference will demystify rules, clarify regulations
and show you how to find more answers. Register today: 888.385.3588.
SGIA
is Leading a New Generation of Imaging Professionals — “Specialty
imaging” comprises digital imaging, screen printing and the
many other imaging technologies SGIA members use, including
those they’ll tap in the future. These are the imaging processes
and technologies employed to create new products and to enhance
existing products including point-of-purchase displays, signs,
advertisements, garments, containers, and vehicles. To make
the most of your specialty imaging business, take full advantage
of the information on SGIA.org. Then, experience the specialty
graphic imaging industry first-hand at SGIA’05 (New Orleans,
Louisiana, September 28October 1).
SGIA (Specialty Graphics Imaging Assoc.)
10015 Main Street
Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone: 888.385.3588
E-Mail: sgia@sgia.org
Website URL: www.sgia.org
Digital
Fabric Printing Offers Something No Sign Shop Can Afford to
Ignore: Profitability
Have
you explored the world of digital fabric printing? If not,
then you could be missing out on one of the hottest trends
in the sign industry today. Click
here for full story
Humor
Mill: Joke of the Month
Problems
Printing Yellow
I
had been doing Tech Support for Hewlett-Packard's DeskJet
division for about a month when I had a customer call with
a problem I just couldn't solve. She could not print yellow.
All the other colors would print fine, which truly baffled
me because the only true colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow.
For instance, green is a combination of cyan and yellow, but
green printed fine.
Every
color of the rainbow printed fine except for yellow. I had
the customer change ink cartridges. I had the customer delete
and reinstall the drivers. Nothing worked. I asked my co-workers
for help; they offered no new ideas.
After
over two hours of troubleshooting, I was about to tell the
customer to send the printer in to us for repair when she
asked quietly,
"Should
I try printing on a piece of white paper instead of this "yellow"
construction paper?"
Think
you have the next "Joke of the Month"?
If
your joke is selected, you win $50 off your next purchase.
All you have to do is click the link and e-mail us your name,
e-mail address, and name of your business to enter. Submit
your jokes here.
Health
& Fitness
10
Tips for Spring Cleansing & Spiritual Renewal
1. Feel the power of Nature all around you
and within you. Know that this awesome force is available
to you, and allow it to influence the course of your life
and health. Identify the areas of your life that need some
work and plan specific improvements that incorporate the changing
seasons. Allow yourself to visualize your Perfect Life, and
nourish that vision through your cleansing and renewal process.
2. Spring is the time for renewing your life - letting go
of what you don't need (physical, mental, and emotional habits
that undermine your health) and bringing in what you need
anew (accepting positive health habits that will satisfy your
soul). Take a break from the TV to be more creative, or read
by candlelight without the electrical vibrations at night,
or just sit quiet to meditate and listen.
3. Get more outside exercise and spend more time in Nature.
Take hikes, plant a garden, or work in a community garden.
Create a balanced fitness program or modify the one you are
already following that will support your healthy, body/mind
happiness. Working up a sweat helps you dump toxins; this
will improve your health and lead to fewer doctor's visits.
Also add some reflective practices such as stretching, yoga,
or chi gong; these help support renewal by giving your body
time to gently de-stress and deepen the changes you are making
in your life.
4. Consider a special and specific detoxification program.
This could include substance avoidance (off sugar and caffeine,
for example), the Detox Diet, or a Juice Cleanse (with the
warming of the weather), such as the Master Cleanser (lemonade
diet), all discussed in my books and in several Articles on
my website. Herbal remedies for detoxification can also be
helpful.
5. Renew all aspects of your Life. Go through your piles of
papers, your clothes, and the corners of rooms in areas that
haven't seen light for years. Don't be afraid to let go and
let things flow. Give things away, have a garage sale, and
recycle or re-circulate what you can. "Being simple,
simply being." (Argisle-izm)
6. Begin to gently, yet seriously, re-evaluate the key areas
of your life - work (career), relationships, and health. Again,
look at what undermines your potential in these worlds and
allow clear guidance, suggestions, and actions to arise in
your being. Try to be more aware of the subtle areas of life
and the effects of foods. How does the food you eat make you
feel. Increased vitality and improved health will change how
you view your life and how much energy you have to create
positive change for yourself.
7. It is your healthy body that lets your Spirit fly more
freely. Nutritional supplements (as the raw materials--vitamins,
minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids) nourish and support
your body and mind, and this in turn enhances your higher
dimensions. The cleansing process de-stresses your body and
lets your energy rise and awaken your psyche. Freshly squeezed
juices and herbal teas are vitalizing, high-vibration nourishment.
Sprouts from seeds and grains are live, vital food. Aromatherapy
and smelling the beautiful sweetness of the spring flowers
will soothe your soul as well.
8. Be Earth-aware and Earth-friendly. Be conscious of where
things come from and where they go - and the real cost of
products you use - such as plastics and chemical products.
Re-use and Recycle. Support more earth-conscious businesses
and products. How do you vote with your dollar?
9. Cleansing habits to incorporate include deep and relaxed
breathing, yoga-type stretching, dry skin brushing, and wonderful
walks in Nature. When was the last time you de-stressed, downloaded
and digested your life experiences to catch up to the present?
After my detox groups, people are usually more attuned and
more aware of their habits, and have made long-term positive
changes. It is crucial for most people in our busy society
to take occasional food fasts (instead of fast foods), substance
breaks, and even appliance (electromagnetic) and news/TV vacations.
10. Do something that uplifts your Spirit, such as caring
for a loved one or an elderly neighbor. Trust your heart and
feed it joyful experiences. Put your Spirit on the line for
what you believe. Doing for another is key to completing the
circle of life, called Love. Building community is a positive
change for Earth as well as for our Spirit.
Serious
Problems / Cyrious Solutions
Each
month, we will raise one common problem in the sign and graphics
industry, and demonstrate how Cyrious Software directly solves
this problem:
Q:
Have you been looking for a software solution to help automate
estimating, automatically generate work-orders, and simplify
invoicing, but you're afraid your employees won't easily adapt
to the change?
A:
With Cyrious Software you can customize everything (estimates,
work-orders, invoices) to fit your company's familiar look.
For example, work orders and invoices are tailored to look
exactly like the ones you are currently using. All job information
needed to complete the job is exactly where your employees
are used to seeing it. This makes the transition to a software
solution extremely easy.
Quote
Of The Month
"Security
is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor
do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding
danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."
-
Helen Keller
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