Do you often wonder what it takes to complete a software project? Have you ever asked why does it take weeks to complete a software project instead of a couple of days?
The biggest reality with a software project is turning the ideas into code which turns into an application which needs to be user friendly. With our projects we like to gather the user requirements first. These can also be known as user stories. Often we are creating a new application or modifying an existing application. In both instances we will always gather the user requirements first.

Above are a couple of pictures where we have documented the user requirements with the user on our whiteboard. Neither of these are large software projects and will take us about two weeks to complete. However, you can start to understand that once the requirements are documented there are always a number of variables which need to be considered. This is where your logic which is your code needs to be quite proficient and skilful.

I consider that one of our main strengths at The RIC Group is our programming team. We have a small programming team at The RIC Group but it can not be underestimated as it has over 35 years of experience. We have been developing packaged software and tailored software for over 10 years as The RIC Group.

Just to let you know, the first picture is the specifications of a project to do with capacity planning software, and the second picture is the specifications of a project to do with assigning pallets of goods to trucks and tracking their delivery.

Thanks
Paul Ellis

One of the simplest software modules we ever developed was Labels4. We developed this back in 2002.

It was a simple application that read the MYOB database and allowed MYOB users to print barcodes from their MYOB database. This software module is still one of our most popular selling items.

Customers can print barcodes for their products Ad hoc, or from Purchase Orders or Sales Orders.
Customers can print out their Item Number as a barcode, and therefore scan the barcode inside MYOB with a scanner.

It also allows customers to print EAN barcodes for their products as well if they are selling to the big chains such as David Jones, MYER or Bunnings.

The EAN - 13 Barcode is simply entered into one of the Custom Fields of the product.

The Labels4 product works with MYOB EXO and also now Ostendo.

For further information please contact the team at The RIC Group.

When we are contacted by potential clients they are constantly amazed to hear about our MYOB Add On Solutions and how they can interact with MYOB AccountRight Premier or MYOB AccountRight Premier Enterprise.

Often our enquires will start with I would like to start barcoding my products or my products have barcodes on them already and I would like to use them. The initial thought by the customer might be that they should use MYOB Retail Manager but this is not the right product unless they are a cash and carry retail store.

MYOB AccountRight Premier with a simple Add On product or two can normally be more than suffice for most manufacturing and distribution companies.

Our product Labels4 will allow companies using MYOB to print barcode labels for their products. It will also can print EAN barcodes for their products as well. We also offer solutions for Pick and Pack in the warehouse, Stocktaking, Mobile Sales, Field Service and more advanced Inventory Management for capturing serial numbers and batch codes.

If you are looking to Extend MYOB and not change your Accounting Product all together which can often be more trouble than its worth then contact The RIC Group and have a chat about some Add On products.

You will be amazed as whats on offer to help with your Inventory Management.

Better Inventory Management is a common need amongst customers in a range of industries. Tracking batch codes, tracking serial numbers, stocktaking, storing stock items in bin locations, better stock control, mobile PDA applications are common enquiries made to our team at The RIC Group.

We have developed a range of Inventory Management Solutions for our customers which can include simply printing barcode labels for stock items or more advanced where customers are wanting to track stock items in multiple bin locations and knowing exatcly which serial numbers have been delivered to which customer.

If you are looking at improving your Inventory Management often you need to revise your current software infrastructure. Sometimes, this can just mean using an Add On Solution for your current accounting software such as MYOB. Or it might mean moving towards a more advanced inventory software such as Ostendo or Datapel when using MYOB. Of course when wanting to improve your General Ledger and inventory management then moving towards MYOB EXO Business is a definite choice.

In the last couple of years we have increased our consulting division as we can leverage years of collective technology consulting experience and have great strength and knowledge in mobile devices and Inventory Management which help deliver solutions that are designed to evolve with your business needs.

Are you completing 3PL? 3PL stands for Third-Party Logistics.

3PL is fairly common now, because companies are maximising the space they have in their warehouse. When you are doing 3PL for a company you will need the right software to keep track of their inventory.

At The RIC Group we can provide end to end 3PL solution with Enterprise Mobility solutions.

We have Scan Picking, Scan Packing, Goods Receiving, Stock Tranfers and Stocktake software available on a PDA to integrate with the 3PL system.

The software we have been implementing is the Ostendo software to manage the 3PL operation. This allows advanced inventory management, multiple bin locations, CRM, and has ability to handle manufacturing and job requirements.

Why not contact The RIC Group so your business can slowly migrate to 3PL solution to help with your inventory management. Or perhaps The RIC Group have other Add On Solutions which may help you with your MYOB or Quickbooks.

I was reading a blog today which talked about advice for mobile strategies for businesses who are using SAP. It is my belief the same strategies and approach to Mobile PDA Solutions that SAP businesses will use are the same strategies and approach that an MYOB business can use.

Saving cost, efficiency, accuracy, time, keeping the workforce agile are the real reasons a business wants to implement Mobile PDA solutions. What ERP or Accounting system the business is using does not make the reasons for wanting Enterprise Mobility any different.

For 10 years The RIC Group (www.thericgroup.com.au) have been implementing mobile solutions for businesses wanting to incorporate barcodes in the supply chain. The reasons for a business wanting to implement Enterprise Mobility Solutions are still the same as they were 10 years ago, but with technology making it much more viable such as devices being faster, cheaper, more powerful, and with the 3G network, companies have now pushed Enterprise Mobility to a high priority to gain a competitive edge.

Businesses will need to ensure they choose a company that has been designing, implementing mobile solutions for a while when going ahead with Enterprise Mobility. From my experience the technology is changing quickly in this field and a company needs to have the expertise and experience behind them to ensure their products stay stable and the customer experiences no down time. At the The RIC Group we pride ourselves on the customer having no down time with their Mobile Solution.

The post I read was:
http://mobileenterprisestrategies.blogspot.com/2010/01/advice-to-mobile-start-ups-working-with.html

One of the industries that has competed quite well and grown in statue in the GFC (Global Financial Crisis) is the Enterprise Mobility Market. Companies have invested in mobility technology such as PDA's and while their work force may of been decreasing they have been increasing the mobility of each worker by putting a PDA in their hands.

Of course with the right software and the right PDA it can be a powerful tool to have. The user does not need to go back to the PC for any information as they can simply use the PDA for price enquiries in retail, or receive and pick goods in the warehouse, or use the PDA to record mobile sales. There are a number of applications the mobile PDA can be used for and this is what is called Enterprise Mobility Solutions.

With the increase of companies investing in Enterprise Mobility Solutions I have seen an increase of software development companies offering PDA solutions. One of the main reasons this can happen is because of the very low barrier to entry in the software development industry. What the consumer needs to take careful note about is it is quite cheap to do a 'Release 1.0.0' of a product but where software development companies spend their money is the continual maintenance of the product which leads to the next releases.

The software product will constantly receive modifications for updates and therefore will need increased testing. The environment will change whether its Windows updating to a new operating system or whether it is the accounting package your are integrating with receives updating.

About 10 years ago we saw the increase in software companies putting their hands up in website development but slowly they removed themselves from that space. Enterprise Mobility and Website Development are niche, and require specialists. My opinion is just like the website developers soon will we see the decrease in software companies offering Enterpise Mobility solutions.