Small business needs a database written, will pay cash

[erikk]

I don't know if this is off-topic for this category or this forum in general, if it is, admin feel free to shut it down or move it.

I am a partial owner of a small online business. We manufacture subwoofers for Home Theater. SV Subwoofers

We need to create a database for our customer and order information and the like. It's going to be a very simple database with a couple tab-delimited text imports and manual user entry (hell I could probably set it up poorly in Access myself) but we need it done well. The most important thing is that it needs to be able to be accessed remotely by a number of geographically distant people. We are setting up a VPN Server so it could be accessed over that or via a web interface (that decision being left up to you and the costs associated to each method). We need the manual user entry to be in fairly easy to understand forms (we need this to be able to be used by fairly techno-illiterate shop workers). Also we some fairly simple reports to be able to be generated (pending orders in some sort of priority list, invoices, all orders in a specified time period, all orders by type, etc).

So being a longtime Anandtech reader and infrequent poster I knew that there were a ton of good techies here (which I am sure more than a few are DBAs) and at least a couple might be interested in taking a weekend or whatever to design and implement a database for us for a quick buck. We would also consider paying in trade if anyone is into Home Theater and might need a kicka$$ sub (being willing to pay more in retail value in trade than cash of course).

If noone here is interested in this but would know another good location for me to ask for people please let me know.

Erik K
Please E-mail me at [email]erik@svsubwoofers.com[/email]

 

[WW]

if no one responds, maybe check out elance

it's a site for freelance programmers, etc, etc....

 

[hoihtah]

you might want to look into PHP/MySQL combo... and put the whole thing up on a secure database server.
implement a login/pass to access the database.
i'd think it's a better method than using VPN.

it might take longer...
but at the same time, there are many PHP sources that are readily available already.
you'd just have to mix and match.

oh... wait... you don't want to code.

you're looking for someone to code for you.

why don't you list out in detail what you want.

 

[zephyrprime]

You could just use access. It is made for this sort of thing.

 

[erikk]

Here is a note I sent to a couple people who contacted me about it:

Here is what we want. At first and most importantly, we want a database that will keep track of all customer interaction, create invoices and reports of current orders (pending orders list by various categories). This includes all order information, updated customer information, records of contact (not for every email but when we feel something is worth entering manually we should be able to), return information, warranty information, etc. Inputs would be the Miva Merchant exports in tab-delimited text format (order, coupon, addendum, etc), and various manual user forms. We would need to be able to enter money order, promotional orders/giveaways and other non-web orders via form. A form for recording user contacts when we feel that a customer's issue deems recording it (tech support issue, warranty issue, etc). A form for putting in return information. A form for entering shipment info (orders that shipped and tracking numbers for each) and this form would be better if it could show all pending orders with a field for tracking number and a checkbox for shipped. We would also want to be able to create a number of reports. Most importantly is being able to easily (a page with buttons for all the different standard ones) create, for printing: invoices for the particular orders and a pending orders list. We want to be able to pull up on a single screen a customer history (all orders, all issues worth putting into the database, etc).

Most important functionally is that all the SVS employees be able to access the database remotely. We are setting up a VPN server at one location so it does not necessarily have to be done by a web interface; cost and functionality being the only factors in this decision. We want the employees to be able to access the same database at the same time. We are a small shop so there could never be more than 6 people accessing the database at the same time and in all likelihood no more than 1 at a time will ever happen.

At some point if possible we'd love for the database to also be able to output to the UPS WorldShip software directly and even charge the orders through (we use the Linkpoint web gateway) but this is a long term desire and not necessarily even possible.

We need the databases to be able to recognize a single customer having multiple orders (even if the name is not EXACTLY the same, Mike Smith or Michael Smith). So I would imagine you would somewhere have a table with a unique customer identifier that is created whenever a new person is added. Obviously we would have to manually tell the database that customer X (Mike Smith) is the same as customer Y if that ever occurred.

Choosing the database is really up to you (that's why we would be paying you, in part to make these decisions). We have a MySQL and MSQL database included with our hosting plan (on a Unix server). I also have a copy of SQL Server 2000 that we could run on the VPN Server which will be running Win2k Server (or the network there). Obviously if at all possible we would like to not have to buy new database software. (this is copied from sending to other people but in hindsight from your note we also have Access 2000 and Access XP 2002? Whatever they call the one in Office XP Pro)

We would like to get it done as soon as possible but from a price perspective we don?t have any set deadline. Meaning we would like it done right away but aren?t willing to pay extra to have someone drop everything they are doing.

Please let me know if you need any further information or details you would need in order to give us an estimate.

Erik K

 

[erikk]

In hind sight I think I am emphasizing too much the need for it to be remotely accessible. Since we are setting up a VPN anyway the database will be remotely accessible no matter what. I don't want someone to think that, that is our first and foremost priority.

 

[JustinLerner]

VPN is an easy problem to deal with when you use Windows clients and a Windows 2000 Server. Setting this up for employees based anywhere should be the realm of a networking person and should incorporate OU's, profiles and Active Directory, which will also need a 2000 DC. (All for greater and quicker security response.)

Setting up a database like you request actually sounds like a whole system for invoicing, billing, sales, inventory, customer history, accounts, etc. Although a specialized database to do this may seem like the best idea, you may be happier using a generic program like Quickbooks Pro or Peachtree Accounting Complete and using only the features you need. Although these programs may do more or less than what you want, it may be better to use the features you need the most and live with the rest until you really need a specialized database system (much more expensive than what you may be willing to pay). Employee training is the key to using new products correctly to help eliminate duplicity of customer name entries and account creation doesn't occur. (Hey, processes do actually work)

Check out the following:
http://www.peachtree.com/html/product_matrix.cfm

http://www.quickbooks.com/drawchart.html?premier=1&pro=1&basic=1&web=1&chartID=default&submit1=Compare

Notice that both programs can do different sales levels while QuickBooks doesn't specify how many levels, PeachTree does 10. They both appear to be able to handle job costing, estimating, time (and materials?) billing, invoicing, order tracking, payment tracking, inventory, etc. QuickBooks Premier and Pro can handle up to 5 simultaneous users with only their Web version unlimited in concurrent users and more limited than either of the other two versions in other features. PeachTree Complete Accounting Multi-User Value Pack looks like it is capable of more than 5 concurrent users.

Looks like the Quickbooks Premier MSRP is $500, while the Peachtree Complete Multi-User Value Pack is $600 (plus shipping).

http://www.peachtree.com/forms/html/onlinestore/list1b.cfm
I think the Peachtree software would be better, but I don't use either.

 

[erikk]

Setting up the VPN and AD is the least of my problems. Thats something I have intricate knowledge of (I did enterprise level system engineering in my past jobs before doing this business). I even have a couple copies of ACE Server lying around if I wanted to go to that Nth level of security.

But I will have to look into PeachTree and QuickBooks I didn't think about them as possible off the shelf alternatives (I guess I kinda figured they didn't have any remote access capabilities).

 

[bunker]

From your description you will be paying big bucks (at least you would to me ) for someone to develop that system. It's not a quick and easy database by any means. I would definitely take Justin's advice and look at one of the pre-made software packages.

 

[JustinLerner]

Remember that with VPN and/or the correct RRAS settings that a tunneled or dialed-up employee can interact with the system just like they were on the domain LAN. It all depends upon your settings.