| I started writing Point of Sale Software tools a half a | | | | silly, restaurants serve meals not support software |
| dozen years ago and almost a decade ago I was | | | | systems. Get a good solid technology partner and be |
| writing database tools to keep track of sales and | | | | prepared to pay a monthly fee. In some cases you |
| inventory. What I've learned in the last decade is that | | | | may want a separate hardware company and a |
| no two businesses are the same even if they look like | | | | separate software company. |
| it. There comes a time in a small businesses life where | | | | Ask yourself some basic questions when looking for a |
| a magical transformation can take place. If the | | | | custom software development company. How long |
| business model is sound and it can be replicated in | | | | have they been in business? What kinds of tools have |
| multiple locations then suddenly a small business starts | | | | they created? Have they created tools for my vertical |
| to become a large business. Information management | | | | market before? How reasonable are their support |
| is one of the largest factors in speed and success of | | | | rates? Can they also provide hardware support? Can |
| growth. Companies that have solid computer networks | | | | they work with a separate hardware support |
| and point of sale systems that can be managed easily | | | | company? Can they expand and grow with your |
| across locations have a much larger chance of | | | | business? Will they be the right company to be |
| success. Imagine if Wal-Mart had really bad cash | | | | providing your support five years from now? Can they |
| registers that didn't provide inventory and sales data. | | | | develop software that is well documented and easy |
| Do you think Wal-Mart would be the company we see | | | | for another company to take over support? Do you |
| today? Of course not, the simple idea is almost | | | | own the software they develop or do they own some |
| laughable. | | | | portion of the software? If you can answer these |
| Businesses that use off the shelf generic software | | | | questions and feel satisfied with the answers then |
| tools are missing out on the growth potential a custom | | | | you've found the right company to design your custom |
| solution can provide. Technology is accelerating at a | | | | point of sale software. |
| rapid pace and the abilities for vendors, warehouses | | | | There comes a time in the life cycle of all successful |
| and retail outlets to exchange information are changing | | | | businesses when they must decide how far they want |
| the way businesses operate. Many companies may | | | | to grow. It is at this time that a business must make a |
| feel trapped into the system they bought ten years | | | | serious evaluation of the software systems they use. |
| ago and fear any kind of change. But the increased | | | | Making a poor choice can be the factor that |
| profit potential makes the risk of custom development | | | | determines the success of the growth of the business |
| pale in comparison to the benefits. | | | | or its demise. Custom software development is not |
| The key is in finding the right company to develop your | | | | the solution for every business model but the majority |
| software and creating a strategic relationship with | | | | of franchise companies that make it big are the one's |
| them. Would you grow the food you sell in your | | | | who have taken the time, put in the effort and spent |
| restaurant? In most cases the answer is no, you pay | | | | the money to direct the development of the software |
| someone else to provide the raw ingredients. So | | | | they use. |
| having your own in-house tech support division seems | | | | |