Programmers. Enter.

[Lloyd Blankfein]

I need a program developed. For my business.

It needs to either be in the form of an iPad app or a computer program the ipad can easily access.

It's fairly simple, the general idea is to keep multiple people in the loop with forms that get auto filled and sent to the people that I choose.

How is this done? Can you do it? What will it cost me?

[madryan]

What are you using as a report generator? Crystal Reports? Access?

[KCTigerChief]

^ That...

Is it database driven? Would you need a database setup? Do you already have it? Can it be a web application (easier for the iPad to access), do you have a web designer if so?

Depending on how complex this is, it could easily go into the thousands...Likely many thousands if you need a database designed.

[Dickarms]

have you tried finding existing apps/programs that do this?

[Lloyd Blankfein]

I don't know anything about databases or what it means.

I just know that I need to be be able to upload information real time so others can log in and see it (or automatically emails them the info) so they can respond and it lets me know what they decided.

Then take their decision, hit a button and everyone in the chain is notified of the plan (which is preloaded depending on the decision maker).

[GuitarBilly]

sounds expensive lol

mojo sent.

[Lloyd Blankfein]

Sad part is, all the people I deal with have gone hard into tech and I need a program that works on my end while fitting into their system. It's to the point they don't even answer phones. It's all done electronically and I don't have time to be typing stuff out.

[GuitarBilly]

Well if you think this something that is being needed in your field (not only your company but in your field as a whole), you have a business opportunity there. It might be worth to invest the $ or even partner with a programmer with profit sharing and create and license the product.

If that's something that would be used only by your department/company/yourself, it's probably not worth the expense/hassle. In this case I would look into existing software that will do most of what you want and deal with a few limitations.

For example, several email clients like Eudora, Outlook etc have built-in functionality that COULD possibly do SOME of what you want. Outlook Calendar, for example, can be a powerful tool for this type of information sharing/updates if properly used. It will never be as ideal as a totally custom software but the cost is way lower too.

[madryan]

A basic database app like Access will generate a report and email it to any number of users via a macro and that sort of functionality is built into the program. It'll also interact as a front end with any sort of established database system such as Oracle or whatever. It's actually a really good program to use for such things. Pull data out of a company mainframe via append queries and run analytic processes and whatnot on it.

Without knowing how and where you're getting your info to begin with I have no idea how to get to where you want to be. Figure at least $100 an hour for someone to work on something like this.

[ovid9]

Could you set something like that up on Google Docs for free? With some work, I really thing you might be able to.

[sixtonoize]

A someone who quotes custom software for a living, expect it to cost at least $10k

[JohnB]

A someone who quotes custom software for a living, expect it to cost at least $10k

as someone who bought custom software that was quoted for 10k, it will soon be 10x that for the enhancements/maintenance.


seriously there are a ton of small business web based apps that might fit. how about something like pivotal tracker? edit: it has app access.

[Lloyd Blankfein]

It appears that finding a suitable app would be the best bet. Any of you guys have an in depth knowledge of apps currently being offered that wants me to PM me their phone number. Because I can explain the process much better over the phone that I need covered.

[Lloyd Blankfein]

I wouldn't even know where to look.

[madryan]

Where is your current information coming from? How are you generating these reports? Is it happening one at a time or is it an automated system you already have? That's where you start.

[Lloyd Blankfein]

My information comes from me, on an iPad typing in my inputs. My input just gets translated into all the shit I need done.

Like I said, I can explain better over phone.

[Harvest]

A someone who quotes custom software for a living, expect it to cost at least $10k

as someone who bought custom software that was quoted for 10k, it will soon be 10x that for the enhancements/maintenance.


seriously there are a ton of small business web based apps that might fit. how about something like pivotal tracker? edit: it has app access.

Yep, I was going to say be prepared to spend another 10K for it to actually WORK after that haha.

[Sasquatch]

I'm a SQL dba. If you hav any questions about a database, let me know.

Do you need to keep a history of all decisions ?

What different forms , or how many, do you need? Do they need to be able to change depending on requirements?

Though I can't give you a SQL license, I could make a database and generate scripts to build it. Tables w/ relationship constraints, stored procedures, etc.

I don't want to jump into anything too sudden but am happy to answer any questions.

[Schweezly]

A someone who quotes custom software for a living, expect it to cost at least $10k

as someone who bought custom software that was quoted for 10k, it will soon be 10x that for the enhancements/maintenance.


seriously there are a ton of small business web based apps that might fit. how about something like pivotal tracker? edit: it has app access.

Yep. I work for a software company that does off the shelf asset/tool management, as well as inventory control...but our history is in custom software. We get calls all the time by someone in the OP's shoes and more often than not they're angry at the amount quoted

I wish I could recommend an existing program, but I'm really not in that side of the software world

[madkeithv]

The hard part isn't the sending, it's the receiving back of information. iPad apps live in a sandbox, they don't share information easily with other apps. This means that it's not easy to have something running on your iPad that can take incoming mail, realize it's a response to a request you sent out, and process it into something useful to you.

All the above suggests to me that you'll need some kind of web service that you can access with your iPad. It's likely to end up more expensive than you're willing to pay.

[Zozobra]

It sounds like your looking for an expensive tech solution for something which could be achieved through proper protocol.
With a bit of thought you could do this with google drive/docs or dropbox.

[Loop Bizkit]

Man, this is totally doable with Google docs.

1. Preload the template form. Set up recipient lists.
2. Create boiler plate emails with decision processes, and set up a quick key command (easy on mac, not sure about PC), to send boiler to group (in Mac OSX, I have 10 boiler emails set to notepad destinations 1-10 that I can key command)
3. If the forms are being uploaded to a central database in an office, most databasing software (We use 4D, but irrelevant) can parse data from cell locations predefined in documents like spreadsheets, etc.
4. Use a VNC app on your ipad to spotcheck the data entry at central location.

Only software needed? (other than your central database, which I'm assuming is already in place)
-Google Docs.
-Mocha VNC for iOS (free)

[phillbis]

Does MS OneNote do what you need?

[ovid9]

It sounds like your looking for an expensive tech solution for something which could be achieved through proper protocol.
With a bit of thought you could do this with google drive/docs or dropbox.

Man, this is totally doable with Google docs.

1. Preload the template form. Set up recipient lists.
2. Create boiler plate emails with decision processes, and set up a quick key command (easy on mac, not sure about PC), to send boiler to group (in Mac OSX, I have 10 boiler emails set to notepad destinations 1-10 that I can key command)
3. If the forms are being uploaded to a central database in an office, most databasing software (We use 4D, but irrelevant) can parse data from cell locations predefined in documents like spreadsheets, etc.
4. Use a VNC app on your ipad to spotcheck the data entry at central location.

Only software needed? (other than your central database, which I'm assuming is already in place)
-Google Docs.
-Mocha VNC for iOS (free)

Yay, someone who knows how to make it work!

[Lloyd Blankfein]

Boiler plates? Uhhhh.

Still don't understand. Can I pay a geek squad person to do this?

Is there an article I can read where I might actually understand these terms and lingos? I feel like a caveman that is watching a Star Trek pilot episode.