When we moved into our latest home, we needed a good size shelving system for the home office. We evaluated a few options, some pre-built, some custom installed, and others requiring part selection and assembly.

In order to save time and money, we chose to pick out the specific parts and assemble it ourselves.

With all the measurements taken, we purchased the parts and brought it home to install. We were full of excitement for the adventure as the heap of wood and metal pieces left much to the imagination.

We quickly found that the dimensions of each piece were close but not exact. The metal-ish connectors for the shelving, drawers, and cupboards were a little more brittle than desired.

After a few 20 mile trips on the roads of LA back to the store to swap some parts for shorter versions, we had a nice looking shelving system.

On reflection, the cost was much higher than expected.

Yes, the initial cost of buying the pieces was less than the deliverable in the pre-built or custom scenario but there is more to this than wood. In our choice to build it ourselves, we were assuming the risk that all would go exactly as planned and be without variance.

Is this ever possible? Read the rest of this entry » »

One of the major advantages to using ‘on demand’ or software delivered as a service via the Internet rather than buying a CD and installing it on your location machine is the reduced cost of innovation. This is due to the simplicity of delivering our service to you using a web browser. The complexities that exist between multiple browser versions are minimal compared to the myriad of scenarios possible when developing for individual computers.

Last year about this time we released our first formal and large update to Site Director in version 3.2. The Release Overview that described it is here. We are preparing for another large update in version 3.3, details of which will be up shortly, and I wanted to circle back to see what we can learn from last time.

The additional features we plan on adding to the software, also called the Roadmap, are added via client feedback, Internet trends, efficiency improvements, user behavior, and bug fixes. Clients can always send a feature request using the ‘Suggestions’ link inside their Site Director portal.

Thanks for helping us create a more usable and valuable service.

–jc