Fully Integrated Business Management Solutions

[cableguy2003]

Hey guys, wonder if someone could help me discuss the pros and cons of something like a Sage system like line 500 i.e a fully out of the box but expensive solution to business management, but im looking to compare it to an SQL backend with a custom MDB front end thats obviously cheaper especially now that runtime is availible for free.

Basically our business has been running the MDB option for the last few years but recent discussion suggests sage may be a good idea, i personally think that investing money in to customization of the MDB is probably the better way to go but would love to hear some input from experienced people.

Discuss

 

[iaind]

MDB?

 

[mikeh501]

im guessing MDB is an Access database which has had some forms embedded etc.

To the OP. I think what your really trying to weigh up is the merits of a bespoke solution which has been developed only for your needs versus a packaged solution like Sage. To be honest this can only be answered by your business, but I would suggest that 99% of the time, and especially for small businesses then the packaged route is often better; and especially when the packaged route can be tailored/configured and also added to with extensions. Sage allows both of these IIRC.

You also mention that Sage is expensive, but I very much doubt that it will end up being as expensive as hiring a developer (or contracting one) to write the software either.

Last point..... If your using Access to write this type of solution then STOP. Its a complete dead end of a technology and you are wasting your money. If you have a SQL backend then write it in .net; whichever flavour and either WPF for fat client or Silverlight for something web based. My 0.02....

 

[zetec452]

The last company I worked for had a bespoke solution and frankly it was an expensive nightmare. I would say over 200k went into it over 3 years (partly because of poor management and outsourcing) however, what they have back is something that probably could have been achieved using an off the self product with some customizations within months.

If possible go down the vendor route, long term it should pay off.