| There are many businesses in the sign & graphics | | | | system to track customers, orders, and estimate |
| industry currently using Microsoft Excel for quoting | | | | data in one package? Are you looking for a program |
| and tracking jobs. In fact you could be one of them. | | | | to help increase your marketing and management |
| Under certain circumstances using Excel to manage | | | | capabilities? Or are you just looking for a system that |
| these tasks could be an adequate way to handle | | | | acts like an estimating calculator? No matter what |
| shop management. But how do you know when it is | | | | you are looking for in a software package talking |
| time to look for pricing, job tracking and a better | | | | with software consultants, such as Cyrious |
| software solution? What should you look for when | | | | Software's, can help you to clarify your needs and |
| taking this next step? | | | | give you an understanding of the tools available and |
| When is Excel Sufficient? | | | | what they will do for you. |
| Companies with a small number of people, where | | | | Second, make sure you look at software that is |
| only 1 person estimates, producing very few quotes | | | | designed specifically to fit your industry. A generic |
| daily, with little to no re-orders, and selling a small | | | | program like Excel can do some of the things needed |
| number of products with few options, may do fine | | | | to run your business, but an industry specific shop |
| using Excel as a shop management system. So as | | | | management system like Cyrious Software will be |
| long as these companies aren't experiencing rapid | | | | more useful in the long run. Industry specific |
| growth and/or work flow difficulties, Excel offers | | | | software is more valuable to your company not only |
| them a substantial return on investment. But when | | | | because of the tools it provides, but also because |
| one or more of these variables change the need for | | | | the training and support staff available to address |
| a better solution increases. | | | | your company's needs and business environment, is |
| When is Excel Insufficient? | | | | already familiar with your industry. |
| Excel becomes insufficient when shops experience: | | | | Third, make sure you understand what it'll take to |
| - Company growth (internally and externally) | | | | implement the system. Some systems can be setup |
| - Pricing inconsistencies | | | | by you, others will require more time and outside |
| - Duplicate entry | | | | help. This means look at it and get a feel for the |
| - Inability to quote jobs quickly | | | | software, get trained, and then fine tune it for a |
| - Lack of integration between management, | | | | smooth transition. Good software companies should |
| marketing, & estimating tools | | | | have a great implementation team as well as a great |
| These are often shops that are looking for a way to: | | | | technical support staff. These people will help you get |
| - Save time and increase profits | | | | the program up and running quickly and smoothly. |
| - See where jobs are while in production | | | | Also, the software should be designed so it is easy |
| - Easily train others to estimate | | | | for you to customize every setting imaginable. If you |
| - Know the cost of a job | | | | can't customize the software to fit your shop, you |
| - Control costs and stay competitive | | | | shouldn't buy it. Cyrious Software has shop |
| - Effectively target market | | | | management software that is flexible enough to |
| - Easily export to accounting software | | | | allow you to customize the system to match your |
| Am I Ready Now? | | | | company's specifications no matter how many |
| The key to an effective business management | | | | different product lines you carry. |
| change, like incorporating an integrated software | | | | The most important requirement of any software |
| solution, is to identify the right time to make the | | | | system is the ease of use. Most shops we talk with |
| switch. In an article I read recently called "Estimating | | | | have more work than they are able to handle. This |
| Software Yields Higher Profits", the author spoke of | | | | means shops can't afford a slow down due to a |
| a shop owner who quoted all his jobs using an Excel | | | | complicated software system. "A few clicks, and |
| program they developed in house. Due to this | | | | that's it!" You should make sure the benefits and |
| company's growth and a strong need for an accurate | | | | features of the program are saving time. If the |
| representation of their operating cost, the company | | | | software isn't saving you time, it's definitely not |
| decided to make the switch and acquire a software | | | | saving you money, therefore isn't adding any value |
| estimating system. Why, you might ask? The owner | | | | to your company. |
| said "When we lost our three largest customers by | | | | Cost, is it an issue? |
| raising prices, it really opened our eyes." | | | | One thing you shouldn't do when searching for a |
| Understanding, Through Research | | | | software solution is focus solely on the cost of the |
| Trying to understand the benefits of estimating | | | | system. Be sure to look at the life cycle cost |
| business management software isn't an easy task. | | | | including support and compare that to the cost of |
| As you can see in the above situation it is not always | | | | not making a change. With estimating/management |
| clear when your business is ready to begin searching | | | | software, you really do get what you pay for. |
| for a shop management system. One thing that is | | | | Remember a good software system is an asset to |
| clear though, starting this search early will help you | | | | your company. The more customizable the software, |
| avoid the pain of losing customers, profits, and | | | | the more valuable the system is to your business. |
| maybe even a few strands of hair. | | | | Since you will continually save hours a day, focusing |
| Choosing an estimating/business management solution | | | | totally on the initial cost would be a mistake. You |
| requires basic external and internal research. You | | | | should base your investment on the total package: |
| need to examine what software is available and how | | | | software features, performance, technical support |
| that software will fit your needs and benefit your | | | | offered, time and money saved. |
| shop. I have come up with a short list of key items | | | | Whether you are a small shop still estimating manually |
| to note when you are ready to purchase a shop | | | | or a larger shop reluctant to upgrade from your "tried |
| estimating/management system. | | | | and true" system, the capabilities of estimating |
| What Should You Look For? | | | | business management software, like Cyrious |
| First, think about the many things you would like a | | | | Software, is worth an investigation. |
| system to do. Are you looking for an integrated | | | | |