Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!psgdc!rg
From: rg@psgdc (Dick Gill)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ncr
Subject: Re: SMALL BUSINESS CONSULTING NEEDED!
Message-ID: <303@psgdc>
Date: 28 Jul 90 18:40:24 GMT
Organization: Professional Solutions Group, Vienna VA
Lines: 86

In article <379@texsun.Central.Sun.COM> you write:
>
>Need your consulting expertise...
>
>I HAVE A MUSIC STORE.
>I AM CURRENTLY NOT USING COMPUTERS.
>I DO NOT WANT TO BUY A TURN-KEY SYSTEM
>  BECUASE I WILL WANT TO CUSTOMIZE THINGS.
>I DO NOT WANT TO DEPEND ON A SMALL COMPANY
>  THAT IS LOCATED 2 TIME ZONES AWAY FOR
>  SUPPORT.
>I DO NOT WANT TO BUILD MY SYSTEM FROM THE GROUND
>  UP.
>
>Ideally, an IBM or NCR based system using packages such
>  as Lotus, Dbase IV, etc. would be ideal. These
>  are defacto standards that seem to be malleable
>  and very well supported.
>
>How can I tie this to a point of sale system?
>
>Assume all the small business needs: inventory
>  control, accounting, etc., etc.
>
>Budget: 2k - 10K
>
>Do you think Lotus and Dbase are appropriate for this
>environment?
>
>What others packages are applicable?
>
>What can you reccommend?
>
>Chris Wood
>
>
>Chris Wood


Having been in the design and implementation end of business
software for 25 years (Ugh!), I have some thoughts on your
posting.

If you operate a well run and profitable music store, you might
first ask the question "why computerize?"  Remember that
computers are only a means to an end, and that many businesses
can get great payoff from "low tech" solutions like better
manual procedures.

Once you are convinced that y need a computer, I strongly urge
you to look for software packages written specifically for
businesses like yours.  Software firms serving a particular
industry (we serve lawyers) will develop a great deal of
expertise in providing the specific features that meet the
unique needs of, for example, the music store business. (Even
though you might not believe it, there are certain software
design features that virtually ALL music stores, including
yours, need.)  Look in your trade magazines or publications like
Data Sources to get a line on such vendors. The most important
selection criterion is good references from long-time users.

Lastly, you have to decide whether you want to be in the music
business or the software business.  I have law firm clients who
spent hundreds of (billable) hours trying to build their own
business system before they decided to contract with us for
their software and concentrate their efforts on practicing law.
I know from personal experience that a small successful software
company is a much better bet than home brew business software. 
As for the time zone difference, good software from a reliable
company will be sufficiently bug-free and well documented that
support calls should be minimal after the installation period.
If they provide modem support, that will make things even
simpler.

As to hardware and software tools, leave that to the vendor. 
You will also get more attention from the vendor if you buy both
software and hardware from them and you will have a single
firm to go to if things don't work quite right.

Hope this helps.

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Dick Gill     Gill & Piette, Inc.            (703)761-1163   ..uunet!psgdc!rg
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Dick Gill     Professional Solutions Group   (703)761-1163   ..uunet!psgdc!rg