Hi, Jan: Yes, we could do a demo of the demo at the conference,. If anyone is interested, let me know.
I've been through the RFP cycle many times with the words ' must be existing software only'. Thats a bummer. See you at the conference. JIm At 07:44 AM 10/18/05 -0700, you wrote: > >Jim, > >Great story! How about a demo of the demo ;) >I can tell you as screwed up as our cities billing system is I have thought >about tackling it. >But as you also mentioned, it is sometimes who you know and who knows about >you before >you get the opportunity to strut your stuff. > >I had received a RFP several months back. It would have been a huge project >but something that >could have easily been done in R:Base. They even had the existing program >that we could have converted. >But 3/4 of the way through the 200 page document was the clause, that >consideration would only be given >for existing software. Didn't have time to pursue so I had to let it lapse. > >Congratulations! > >Jan Johansen > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Jim Schmitt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "RBG7-L Mailing List" <[email protected]> >Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 7:11 AM >Subject: [RBG7-L] - AHHHH.....the power of the R:Base demo > > >> Good Day to all: >> >> Thought I would just share this one with the list. Let me preface this >by >> saying that we have done city and village utility billing software on >> various computers, and even have a couple of clients running utility >> billing under 4.5++. >> >> About 10 weeks ago, I received a call from a fellow I know at American >> Electric Power (they supply electric power to smaller towns and villages >in >> Ohio), and he told me of a village in northeastern Ohio that was very >> unhappy with their utility billing software. He gave me the name and >> number of the person to call. Well, I had no sooner hung up the phone, >> and received another call , this from the woman in charge of the village, >> calling to see if I could do a demo. >> >> I gave my best sales pitch, and told her that we have utility billing, but >> it is in DOS, and not windows. She said that she wanted it in windows, >> Ibut I convinced her that she should take a look at our DOS version, as >she >> may gain some new ideas. She agreed to look at our DOS version, and we >> set an appointment, and I told her that would come to her site (about 120 >> miles away). So, the day before the appointment for the demo, my laptop >> died. I didn't have time to get a new one, so I lugged a full computer, >> with 19 inch monitor up to the village. I met with about eight people, >> and demoed the 4.5++ version. They seemed impressed with our DOS >version, >> but said it had to be in windows. >> >> Now, we were the first firm to do a demo for them, and I asked who else >> they planned on seeing. They indicated that they had contacted two or >> three other software firms who specialize in utility billing/government >> accounting (these were the 'big boys' of government software in Ohio). I >> asked them if, after they reviewed the other firms software, I could come >> back and do another demo of utility billing system in windows. They >> hesitantly said yes, and that I only had about 6 or 7 weeks before their >> final decision. >> >> Well, I couldn't just stop progress on my current accounts for this >> potential client, so I committed my early morning, and late evening hours >> to this project. I figured that, even if they did not buy from Ohio >> Software, we would have a windows product for future sales. So, before >> every working day for the next seven weeks, I started my day at 5:00 AM, >> and worked from 5:00 unit 8:30 AM, converting the 4.5++ DOS version of the >> system into a 7.1 windows version. I also worked on it in the evening >> for a few hours a night. After 7 weeks, they called and said they had >> reviewed the others' software, noting who they had preferred of the other >> vendors. They said that I could come back and show them what I had, IF I >> WAS STILL INTERESTED. I told them yes, and we set a date. >> >> Did I finish this system in this short period of time and make everything >> work ? Absolutely notI But I finished all of the screen layouts, and >> many of the report layouts. >> >> Loaded with a new laptop, and the 7.1 Windows R:base product (not yet >> completed), I drove to the village. This time, only two people were >there >> for the demo, BUT, these two were the main two. I told them that the >> system was not yet finished, and only about 70 percent completed. I >> demoed the system, and took notes on what they said the others' had, and >> that I didn't. >> >> Well, I sent them my proposal., and the rest is history. They called two >> days later, and said that we had the deal. I asked what swung this our >> way, and they said that they were so impressed by the software of our 2nd >> demo, and said they were blown away with what we had done in that short >> period of time. Boy, did I feel good. I was almost ready to do a back >> flip.....well, not quite. It's not very often you go up against the >> big boys, and win. But, when you do, it feels great. >> >> We signed the contract, ordered their version of R:Base, and installed it >> last week. They absolutely love the software >> >> AAAAAA.......the power of the R:Base demo. >> >> Jim >> ======================================== >> Jim Schmitt >> Ohio Software Services >> 2211 Lake Club Drive >> Columbus, Oh 43232 >> Phone 1-614-863-1850 >> Fax 1-614-863-0325 >> E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> ======================================== >> >> > ======================================== Jim Schmitt Ohio Software Services 2211 Lake Club Drive Columbus, Oh 43232 Phone 1-614-863-1850 Fax 1-614-863-0325 E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] ========================================
