The new technology has revolutionized the way plumbing companies do business. It is now possible for small to medium sized businesses to field a mobile solution at a reasonable price. Buying a mobile solution can be difficult, there are so many, and it is hard to figure out what they really do.
Some mobile solutions are hosted, or cloud based. Your business data and programs reside on someone else’s server. Typically, you pay a monthly fee. On the plus side, you are able to access all of your information from anywhere. The negative is that you lose control of your business information. Most providers will cut you off immediately if they think you have missed a payment. Your business is dead in the water until you resolve the issue. It is common for the business owner to pay, even if he or she has already sent a check, just to get the business going again.
Things may not work out with the new software. You might get tired of the monthly fees, or it just might not be doing the job. You will need to get your data out of the hosted/cloud based system to provide it to your new software provider. Good luck, many hosted or cloud based providers balk at giving you your data. If you are unwilling to live with their software and their bills, you have to go back to your paper files and reenter all of your history in the new software.
The lack of control in the hosted or cloud based environment, makes many business owners uneasy, especially the ones who bought into the concept without understanding the ramifications. Somehow it is disconcerting to realize that someone else controls your business data, and ultimately your business.
