Comparative Shopping Shopping for Scheduling Software is a complex and time-consuming task. Each competitor's product can be completely different in both features and pricing. Comparing different products can be like “comparing apples to oranges”.

Choosing the wrong product can be very costly in terms of money, training and further research. It is important to make the right choice the first time.

So where do you go from here?

Internet Based Applications VS. Standard Computer Software

Considering an Internet based applicaton? Keep in mind the pitfalls that can occur:

• connections down (problems with phone or cable provider)
• web-sites down
• slow internet response at peak times
• modem problems
• web-sites hosted on slow servers

What if the Internet application service provider (the vendor hosting the application) goes bankrupt? Or, they raise their rates and become unaffordable? Your data and training will be lost. With standard software, that wouldn't be the case, everything will always be yours.

If you must have remote access, standard software is still an option. By applying certain utilities (Microsoft Terminal Services, VPN, Citrix Servers, etc.) it can be connected it to the internet. Host the software on your own equipment and have the performance that you need.

Get a Comprehensive Understanding of the Products

Get a firm understanding of how the products work. Many companies provide specifications or detailed information regarding their product. Such information can give you a general concept of how the software works. It can also be imprecise and misleading. The terminology used may imply a certain meaning to you, while it may not be what the vendor is intending.

Many companies provide tours and demo software. Tours or demos can help further your understanding, however they cannot demonstrate how the software would perform in your situation.

The only way to get a firm understanding of a product is to try it out for a period of time and work with it thoroughly.

Trial Software

Some vendors are willing to supply a Free Trial version of the Software. Be sure to take advantage of it.

Some Trial Software comes with a database of schedules and fictitious employees already loaded. It will help you to quickly visualize and explore how the product works. Print the reports, examine the data, change and delete information, read the help, call for support.

Be sure that you can try the software with your own data for a reasonable length of time. Try all aspects of the product as it pertains to your needs.

Be cautious of Free Trial versions that are only a sub-set of what you are hoping to purchase. You want a Trial Version to be the same as what you will ultimately buy.

Remember, there can be no greater testimony than your own experiences with the product. You need to prove that the product functions as you would expect it to.

Be open-minded.

Scheduling software is supposed to improve your situation. Improvement implies change. The software may introduce new approaches that are unfamiliar to you.

It is not uncommon for customers to say to us, '”Why don't you provide 'Report X'?”. When we ask how they use the report, we discover it's used for making scheduling decisions within their old way of doing things. Typically, we don't provide a “Report X” because we have automated the process and consequently eliminated the need for such a report.

Pricing

The old axiom “You get what you pay for” does not apply here.

The price may be high because it sells at very low volumes. It may also be high because the product is difficult to use and expensive support must be provided. The price might be high because the product is really worth it. Or it simply may be that publisher feels they can get away with higher prices.

The price might be low because the software sells at the higher volumes that enable a lower price. It might also be low because the software is easy to use with quality documentation and therefore requires little support. Prices may also be low because the product is not worth much.

Make sure you know what the complete product cost will be. Are there additional charges for support? Are there additional license fees? Do you require customization?

Solid research is the only thing that count's.

Future Growth

Your scheduling requirements may change in the future. Some vendors are willing to customize their software to accommodate your needs. The last thing that you would want to do is to repeat the expense of searching, purchasing and retraining your staff. Having the option of customizing can be great alternative.