1ST PRIORITY SOFTWARE'S VISION
The best of both worlds. From
our founder, Andy Tabisz
I've been there. Over a dozen years ago, I was sitting where you are today. I was trying to find the best solution to fit my, well... my client's, needs. I sat through the presentations, evaluated what was out there and came to the realization that there had to be a better solution.
Sure, there are some decent products out there, if you're willing to give up some of your freedom. By freedom, I mean the ability to modify any part of your database, access all the fields, export and import as needed, and not be tied down to yearly support fees that seemed obnoxiously high for what was offered.
For my client, I checked out the other options... hiring a firm to custom build a solution to specifically fit their needs. But again, we were frustrated with the prospect and cost of re-inventing the wheel and the potential for getting stuck with a firm that could raise their rates, close up shop or just decide not to support the product. We couldn't afford to be hung out to dry.
For the sake of time I'll just say I made the decision to develop an association solution internally that fit the core needs of associations. We defined these as:
Software built on a standard
We chose MS Access, because of its wide appeal and industry standard.
The ability to access (pardon the pun) every
field and report.
Our software is open-source, meaning you can add unlimited fields, reports
and any other objects you desire. You can customize it to fit your specific
needs without an outside programmer.
Eliminate unnecessary fees.
Associations didn't need the burden of yearly fees. Once an association
had the key pieces in place, there wasn't a need for calling support, so
why charge extra? I found that when associations were given yearly
"releases", they weren't always enhancements they could use.
Save them time
It may be a strange passion, but I've always focused my efforts on workflow
efficiency. I hate double-entry. I can't stand watching people
not spend time wisely. In software development, that means an easy-to-use,
intuitive interface that automates tasks and keep workflow moving along.
Go direct
To steal a line from Michael Dell, there is better efficiency with customers
interacting directly with the manufacturer than with so-called "representatives". We
go direct so we can keep the high standards for the way our sales and support
staff is trained.
Questions or Comments? Contact Andy Tabisz