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[DECOMMISSIONED] Academy Tiles
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February 20, 1999
To Whom It May Concern:
Superior Software for Windows
It gives me pleasure to provide the following testimonial regarding
SSW and in particular Adam Cogan with whom I had the majority of my
dealings.
Academy Tiles is a leading ceramic tile business, importing ceramics,
marble and glass. We wholesale and also provide a unique architectural
library of over 5000 samples for use by professional people. Our
showroom and warehouse are located separately.
About 1995 we determined that our Dos based computer system was
antiquated and would not allow us to survive and prosper. Our
information needs were very comprehensive and growing. And so the
search began. Academy Tiles commenced an Access database development
with another developer. After some considerable work was done, I
became dissatisfied with the work and approached Microsoft for a
recommended Access developer to assist me in completing the exercise.
And so we were introduced to Adam Cogan and SSW. At this point we had
a client and job database. We still required invoicing, purchasing,
inventory and shipping.
I did not enjoy the first day's experience. Adam pulled no punches and
was critical of the quality of the database structure and work to
date. And he proposed to pull it apart and rebuild. I wasn't initially
sold on the idea but after several days I could see a picture emerging
of : structure, preciseness, integrity and efficiency. It was the
system we had to have, regardless of initial cost and we have not
looked back. Quite frankly without Adam's involvement we would have a
clumsy inefficient system which was not easily modifiable I spent many
days working with him developing our system and learning how to use
Access. As a "partially" technical accountant I learnt sufficiently
enough to be able to readily modify and evolve our system. I have also
dealt with others at SSW like Ibrahim Qutish and Ross Donald and they
continue to support me with any code which is beyond me. In addition
the free generic updates from SSW are a real bonus. The generic
functions have extended my capabilities and minimised the amount of
code required.
As an accountant I am very pleased to have the flexibility of periods
that don't roll over. It allows us to adjust any incorrect invoices
and re-issue with the need to create credit notes. This keeps the
paperwork down to a minimum, reducing the confusion of an long paper
trail. Queries are regularly rerun, accumulating monthly sales
statistics etc. These also reflect any prior period adjustments.
We stock take as many times as we wish, currently six monthly and roll
stock into an opening balance. Because of this one precaution we build
into prior "period" transaction alterations is to prevent these
changes if they are dated prior to the last stock take. The system is
very flexible and can be run to suit any particular set of
requirements.
It is also very user friendly and all our staff including management
input their own work.
Our business could never have achieved the level of volume and success
it has without our Access database.
And our Access database would not be what is without the involvement
of Adam and his friendly professional and innovative team.
Without qualification I can state that their design work, desire to
share and willingness to educate have made a substantial contribution
to our business.
Joe Zeaiter
Director