CapturingSkeet

Utilizing a good salon software program can help you run your business in a number of ways. Even if you operate a small salon, you can benefit from a simple program that includes a point of sale system and an appointment book. If you have a larger business, you will probably find a more advanced program more helpful. Running your own business, no matter how big, is a major responsibility that requires you to do a variety of different tasks. These software programs can make life much easier for you by providing you with the latest technology to streamline your managerial responsibilities. As you search for the right software for your company, you may find it helpful to establish certain criteria for the program you choose.

The most important requirement for your salon software program is that it must meet your needs. To find a program that meets your needs, you must first decide what those needs are. You should establish a list of operations that you need the program to include. You can decide whether you want a system that includes the minimal basic features, like a point of sale system and customer history. If you want a more detailed program, you might want to look for features like an inventory tracker and a scheduling system for employees. Once you have established your requirements, you can find the software that meets those requirements.

You will also want to find a salon software company that is trustworthy and has good customer reviews. You can ask other salon owners about software they have used in the past and how they liked it. Ask if they would purchase software from the same company again. You can also find customer reviews for many software companies through the internet. Look for companies that have been praised for excellent customer service and technical support. Learning to use the software can be very time-consuming and frustrating, so a company that provides assistance through tutorials, education courses, and technical support will make the learning process much easier.

The salon software you choose should also be expandable. Over time, your business is likely to grow, and you may make several changes to the number of employees you hire and the services you offer. Your software program should be capable of expanding with your business. Some companies have software applications that automatically update periodically through the internet. These programs are always up-to-date with the most current technology and will probably be adaptable to the changes in your business.

Before you purchase a salon software program, you will want to thoroughly read the company’s contract or licensing agreements. Some companies offer outstanding technical support, but they charge you a fee for every call to that department. The company may provide free technical support, but only with the purchase of certain advanced software applications. If you buy a more basic program, you may still have to pay for tech support. Make sure you know what you are agreeing to before you sign a contract. Go over every detail as carefully as possible.

The last thing to consider about your choice of salon software is the price. There is a wide range of prices for this type of software, depending on how simple or complex the software is. When you make your purchase, consider what the return will be on your investment. Think about how the software will help you make money over time, rather than focusing only on how much it will cost you now.

Consider salon software to help your boutique run more smoothly. See what you can do to aid your business by visiting: http://www.salonbizsoftware.com/.

So often people want to rush out and buy estimating software or takeoff software without first trying to define their internal estimating processes. Once the estimating process is clearly defined, then and only then, can you actually try to compartmentalize the process into segments. So often the segment is really quantity takeoff. Takeoff of what you may wonder? That is like the million dollar question. This article will speak about the takeoff software process which usually associated with estimating software processes. The takeoff software process can often be takeoff of materials for some folks, and to many others, the takeoff process of scoped systems to create estimates or proposals. This review or comparison will not try to explain the estimating software process but bring to you valid quantity takeoff thinking among estimators in a quest to find which product thinks the way you do. These are the opinions of the author.

I will review and compare 3 types of measuring takeoff products:

It is extremely important to note that these are ONLY measuring takeoff programs, NOT estimating programs.

1) Planswift

2) On-Screen Takeoff by On Center Software

3) Electronic Plan Takeoff Software

All three products have their strengths, however, Planswift and On-Screen Takeoff are stand-alone products and Electronic Plan Takeoff is actually dynamically integrated live with Microsoft Excel which means that it starts and finishes and saves in Excel. They all integrate with Excel, however, you will have to evaluate your thought process and decide which of the three products work-flow think along the lines of how you think. For instance, what is the first thing you do when you get a set of plans? Typically, you start flipping through the plans to see how involved the project is and what type of work do you see that is attractive for your company. Then when you decide you are going to estimate this job, more often than not, you start like 80% of companies in the world of construction estimating by opening your takeoff master template Excel spreadsheet. You rename your spreadsheet to the new job or project and off you go performing takeoff. This is where the differences are:

In Planswift, you decide what drawing you are on and then you perform the measuring of an item you want to perform takeoff on the plan. Unfortunately, that is not exactly how an estimator thinks. Planswift does give you the ability to add a type of takeoff item on the fly by naming it and then perform takeoff of it; somewhat of a very manual and slow process. They also provide you with the ability of applying a type of assembly to a takeoff to aggregate quantities of items in that assembly. Not quite the way an estimator thinks. It forces you to jump to different screens which slows down the process. Typically, the main start of anyone’s takeoff process, or some may think of it as a checklist approach, is to start with your own spreadsheet of YOUR items. Those items can be material items or can be scoped assembly system items. Either way, by starting with a master spreadsheet say in Excel for example, many estimators think of this as a risk reducer, not to forget things they normally takeoff. Being that Planswift is a stand-alone takeoff program, it typically saves your takeoff images in Planswift instead of your estimate in Excel, if Excel is your estimating system. If you are using Excel, you have to manually save your takeoff measurement numbers in Excel and your takeoff images in Planswift or elsewhere, just not in Excel where the takeoff quantity resides. Again, if you want to integrate with Excel, they force you to either export or import takeoff items from Excel rather than being dynamically integrated live to Excel. They do however have the ability to dump the measured quantity from Planswift into any Excel spreadsheet or Word document. The main purpose or the primary focus of this program is measuring, therefore it does a good job at that function. Most of the other functions require you to jump around different screens, and essentially, you loose your thought of where you are. There are some features that attempt to address the estimating process, however, there are many features that are missing for Planswift to be a full fledged estimating system; it is NOT one. Planswift does integrate with the leading estimating system Sage Timberline, but the integration is weak. Since Timberline’s power is in assembly takeoff and where most estimators reside in Timberline, Planswift does not give the estimator the ability to add quantities of miscellaneous Timberline items or one-time items that need to added on the fly to an assembly while they are in Planswift at the Timberline interview screen, and while being in the measuring phase. Planswift does allow the deleting of assembly generated items as well adjusting assembly item quantities in a different screen. Again, to perform all that, you are forced to jump around to different screens. No assembly is ever perfect in any estimating system since project conditions are always uniquely different, therefore, having to add items to an assembly is extremely important. That adding of items and associated quantities is an absolute requirement any estimator typically has to do during the takeoff measuring and estimating phase; something that Planswift struggles with as related to Timberline Estimating. Planswift does allow the direct send of measurements to Timberline Estimating items and assemblies while in Timberline Estimating, just as you would do with the old digitizer measuring boards. Training, support and maintenance are extra for Planswift. On-Screen Takeoff by On Center Software, and Planswift charge their annual maintenance and support fees per license (mandatory) which costs the end user more expense annually especially if a customer has more than one license.

On Center’s On-Screen Takeoff is the Grand Daddy of software takeoff products due to the fact that it has been around the longest. On Center recognizes that On-Screen Takeoff is primarily a measuring program. That is why they have a separate estimating program named QuickBid for those who want an estimating program. On Center does not try to trick you into thinking it is an estimating system. In On-Screen Takeoff, you also decide what drawing you are on and then you perform the measuring of the plan. BUT, before you start, you can load a master set styles of things you typically takeoff or measure from your own library. That process seems to be less complicated than that of Planswift. On-Screen Takeoff does give you the ability to add a type of takeoff item on the fly by naming it and then performing takeoff of it; somewhat of a manual and slow process as well. The program does come with many features that are primarily focused on simple measuring to advanced measuring issues all with attention to detail regarding easy navigation for the takeoff process. On Center does a very good job at that. However, there seems to be a disconnect of thought from an Excel spreadsheet items you may use for estimating and/or proposals. The integration to Microsoft Excel is not a dynamic live link, more like an after thought in my opinion. Yes, you can establish links to named styles to cells or ranges in Excel, somewhat rigid. But the question you will have to ask yourself, which will happen more often than not is: What do you do when you need to add things on the fly during takeoff and in an Excel spreadsheet? Again there will be manual associations you will have to establish with Excel which is another major slowdown. You have to manually save your takeoff measurement numbers in Excel and your takeoff images in On-Screen or anywhere you decide, except the takeoff images will not be saved in Excel where the takeoff quantity resides. This type of situation arises when a takeoff program is a stand-alone program. On Center’s On-Screen Takeoff has the best integration with the most widely used estimating system in the USA: Sage Timberline Estimating. It basically mimics the same interview process as you would do with the old digitizer measuring boards. By working directly with Timberline, On-Screen Takeoff allows the estimator to perform takeoff of a Timberline variable question and immediately returns back directly with the takeoff quantity in a Timberline assembly at the variable question. By virtue of this process, On-Screen Takeoff allows the estimator to continue his/her Timberline interview process in Sage Timberline Estimating by reviewing/massaging generated quantities, or adding items in a Timberline assembly as the estimator see fit. That workflow process gives full control to the estimator, good job On Center. Training, support and maintenance are extra for On-Screen Takeoff. On-Screen Takeoff by On Center Software, and Planswift charge their annual maintenance and support fees per license (mandatory) which costs the end user more expense annually especially if a customer has more than one license.

This next system is ONLY if your estimating system or proposal generator is Microsoft Excel. Electronic Plan Takeoff Software is a plug-in for Excel. You start your spreadsheet, you perform the measuring takeoff, you may even add some more items on the fly all the while you are in the measuring phase in the Electronic Plan Takeoff program. When you are done, even if you added items on the fly, they automatically appear in your Excel spreadsheet. Excel is the control of everything. Your project is started in Excel, your takeoff is saved in Excel, the estimate or proposal is/can be produced there in Excel; one program, one place. Many takeoff programs interface with Excel somehow, but only Electronic Plan Takeoff is live linked with Excel, meaning all your Excel spreadsheet descriptions appear in the measuring takeoff program so you always know where you are in Excel. That is a huge difference in comparison to Planswift and On-Screen Takeoff. You can even change a description of a takeoff item in Electronic Plan Takeoff and it is automatically changed live, in your Excel spreadsheet. When you talk about the estimating and takeoff phase you must keep processes cleans and easy and this program does just that. There is no getting lost in this program. Just like the other reviewed programs above, the central focus of this program is takeoff measuring, and it does a GREAT job at that. The navigation within the program is really simple and easy. It is not made to work with other estimating systems, but there is a version that allows the direct send of measurements to any Microsoft Windows program awaiting a keyboard entry, just as you would do with digitizer measuring boards. There is also a version that works with digitizer boards as well. If you use Microsoft Excel for estimating, or takeoffs, or proposals, then this Electronic Plan Takeoff program for Excel would be your best choice. The integration to Excel is unmatched in Electronic Plan Takeoff compared to Planswift or On-Screen Takeoff. What is quite different in Electronic Plan Takeoff is that training, support, and maintenance are INCLUDED with a purchase, whereas training, support and maintenance are extra for Planswift and On-Screen Takeoff. Moreover, annual support and maintenance for Electronic Plan Takeoff year two and beyond is a low fee per company per year, instead of per license. On-Screen Takeoff by On Center Software, and Planswift charge their annual maintenance and support fees per license (mandatory) which costs the end user more expense annually especially if a customer has more than one license.

Microsoft and Excel are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Planswift is the registered trademark of Tech Unlimited, Inc. On-Screen Takeoff and QuickBid are registered trademarks of On Center Software, Inc. Sage Timberline Office, Sage Timberline Estimating are registered trademarks of Sage Software, Inc.

http://www.reiterandcompany.com/takeoff/ Reiter & Company, Inc. sells and supports all three of the reviewed systems above: Electronic Plan Takeoff Software, On-Screen Takeoff by On Center Software, and Planswift. We also carry complete solutions from Sage Timberline or Sage Master Builder: Estimating, Project Management, Job Cost Accounting, Document Imaging,etc. If you have any questions of any of the reviewed products or other products, please do not hesitate to call. We can demonstrate ALL 3 products with absolutely NO OBLIGATION at all. It is FREE to discuss any operational issues your company may be facing or trying to achieve. We have 21 years experience in Construction Software Solutions. In addition, http://www.reiterandcompany.com/takeoff/ Reiter & Company also sells a full range of construction software solutions from commercial, to industrial, to residential, to heavy civil software solutions including Earthwork Software. Call Toll-Free 1-800-482-1014

Research in Motion has recently launched the latest update to its mobile operating system on the BlackBerry platform. The smart phone company has also launched a series of new devices that come enabled with the latest operating system in both 2G and 3G versions. Users looking to enjoy the latest features available on BlackBerry will have to shell out a few hundred dollars on the new device since older versions are not upgradable to the recent launch. The highest OS that you can upgrade your older phone to is 6 which is a stripped down version of what is available on the OS 7.1.

BlackBerry is said to have made the cheapest smart phones in the market today, staying ahead of competitors both in cost and features. Its major challengers in the mobile operating system market are Android for mobile and iOS which is available only on the Apple iPhone. Each of these has an uplink for downloading applications on your smart phone device. Android apps are available on Google Play (from the Google.com homepage) while the Apple Store and BlackBerry App Store can be reached on the desktop and on the phone. Each of these phones also provides native browser and integrated social feeds and networking sites.

The OS 7.1 provides a smoother experience using either the track pad or the touch screen that is available in higher models. Some new features have been introduced in the latest BlackBerry that is not available in previous OS. The search bar on the homepage is a dynamic toolbar that also doubles as a notifications tray. It displays notification icons for Facebook, Twitter, BBM, text messages, and configured emails. There is also a search shortcut to the right of it and a shortcut to sound profiles on the phone to the left. The usual home screen details are displayed in the topmost bar which is also a drop down button that opens up your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and connection settings.

Research in Motion has developed the latest operating system keeping in mind the changing trends in the smart phone market. With Android letting users have and customize several home screens that can be accessed with the swipe motion, BB 7.1 also allows you to navigate across Home, Favorites, Downloads, and Media with the track pad motion. Any website page, pre loaded software, or downloaded app can be added to the favorites tab for single click access from the home screen. The latest OS also has default search for QWERTY keys that searches all folders, files, phonebook, and recent browsing history.

Cathy Stones is a BlackBerry Product Reviewer and Technical Support Consultant for a reputed online tech support service [http://www.hcltouch.com/mobile-support/] that specializes in troubleshooting multi-platform issues for home and office.

Before you make any purchases for your charitable organization or for your nonprofit, you need to think carefully about the purchase. You need to decide if it is something that you really need to buy or if the money could be better used elsewhere in order to better meet the goals of your organization. If you do decide that the purchase is a good one, then you need to do sufficient research to find a product that will work well for your organization and that best meets your needs in terms of value and effectiveness.

This process of deciding whether to buy and what to purchase is important with anything that you invest in. However, it may be especially important when you consider donor management software. Managing your donors is essential to ensuring your organization has the funding that it needs to continue its operations. As such, donor management software is a very important purchase to make.

Almost every non profit or charity can benefit from making use of donation management software, so it should be pretty easy for you to decide that you need some kind of software program. After all, fundraising is the lifeblood of charities and nonprofits and donor management software is the best way to keep track of your donors and to make your fundraising efforts more effective.

Donation management software allows you to make the best use of your donor information and donor database since it is specifically designed to meet the needs of charities.

Once you’ve made the decision to buy donation software, however, you need to outline what you are expecting from your software in order to make sure you make the best purchase from among the software programs that are out there on the market today.

In deciding what nonprofit management software to buy, here are a few considerations:

• You need to identify the key features that you want in donation management software. The best way to do this is to consider how your organization currently stores and uses its donor data and to think about what improvements you hope to make to the process. Talk to the people in your organization who handle donor outreach, funding and budgeting. They should all be able to help you identify the key features that they want to see in the software that they will be using every day to make their jobs easier.

• You need to consider whether the software will be easy to use or not. No one wants to spend a lot of time learning complicated new technologies or figuring out software that doesn’t make sense. You want the donor management software to be intuitive and you want everyone in your organization to be able to make use of it if they need to, not just those that have a strong tech background.

By considering these issues and by researching the different donor management software packages that are available to charitable organizations, you can find the right software that is just what your charity or nonprofit has been looking for.

To learn more information about Nonprofit Fundraising Software, Donation Management Software and Not For Profit Software online at http://www.denarisoft.com/.

“We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it.
Through this work we have come to value:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Working software over comprehensive documentation
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Responding to change over following a plan

That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.”

(Manifesto for Agile Software Development)

What’s good about agile software development – it brings flexibility and convenience. What’s bad about it – the agile approach can be misused and misunderstood as something that lacks planning, something that brings an incomplete software product which always requires a bunch of updates after it’s rolled out to the market. But it’s not necessarily this way. The Agile Manifesto proclaims the main principles of agile development. Meanwhile, methodologies are adopted to individually suit each development company. Agile approach means good for you, software owner, if the company you’ve chosen follows these values and work principles.

Agile development consists of iterations. This means, the software owner receives a viable piece of software at the end of each iteration. First it’s the design of the future product; then is launched the development, where the product receives new features and gets tested, iteration by iteration. Besides, the software owner can track the progress of development by receiving timely reports. Furthermore, this allows the owner to shape the picture of the app by giving feedback and altering requirements.

Requirements tend to change, that’s for sure; and these unexpected changes may cause certain delays and overpays. Experience shows that initial requirements are always altered at will of the software owner. These requirements may vary from insignificant ones to those which require rewriting quite a bulk of code. Agile method presupposes better adaptation to these changes. Changes may touch the industrial progress, and here agile is also a winner, keeping track of the ever improving tech and software.

Another characteristic of agile development is communication between the development contractor and the software owner. Very often it happens so that software development is not one-time service, but a real long-term partnership, fruitful for both parties. The software owner is in control of the process, and communication plays a huge role of making parties better understand each other. As a result, it takes less time for the project to be finished, and the software owner receives exactly what he/she wants.

Some criticize agile approach as the one that rolls out an unfinished product to the market, then brings a bunch of updates to make something attractive out of it. This statement is a bit misleading. The more complex the project is, the more problems it may face, by any way of development. Of course, everything depends on the quality and expertise of the company. But the simple rule is, software has to get feedback, and measures (updates) must be taken anyway, it just needs to be maintained relevant. That’s how it gets better and better. The software will never be perfect to the eyes of the owner. But it can be directed towards perfection.

Haste might make waste, but speed by agile development doesn’t. Speed is an advantage of quick releases and updates – the software owner becomes more agile on the market. And there is always a business decision, an unexpected feature that the owner wants to incorporate into a flexible code. The most important decisions aren’t always made at the beginning of the project, you can’t predict everything.

What’s valued within agile companies, is friendly, engaging atmosphere, necessary conditions, and motivation. Motivation of employees instead of strictness – this may cause accusations of lack of discipline. But that isn’t like letting things fall where they may. Nobody canceled order and elaborated work process, and the programmers’ hourly achievements in creating the product are as transparent as can be; the software owner always knows what he/she pays for. There are a lot of tools to keep relations transparent, even for the most doubting and demanding software owners.

Agile can be interpreted in different ways by different companies. Agile development does not mean absence of documentation or poor quality. Self-organization and motivation does not mean absence of order and discipline. There’s no magic in it, agile simply works. Planning is highly important. Agile makes your software better if you choose the company that truly gets into the simple philosophy of agile development – providing the software owner and end users with a working result, and maintaining support thereafter.