As we look forward to 2008, tis the time for resolutions. A few pounds lost, less overtime, more exercise, and on and on. I’d like to bring up your online passwords. How many websites to you have passwords stored on? Amazon, your bank, paypal, credit cards, google accounts, and a host of other “unknown” websites. While I don’t have first hand knowledge of the “big ones” listed, it’s safe to assume they store your passwords in a secure manner. But what about that “unknown” list? How secure is your password? Do they encrypt it? How complex is their encryption scheme? I’ve seen quite a few sites that store user’s passwords in clear text (IE no encryption). That means that Johnny IT guy can rip thru the database and see your password.
Most people use the same password scheme across the board. The passwords used to login to their computer, accounting system and email are closely related with their online passwords. How close is yours?
Here’s your New Year’s challenge: come up with three different password schemes. One for your internal use (computer login, accounting system, and email), one for “high clearance sites” ( bank account and credit cards), and one for all the rest.
You’re on your own with your other resolutions, but good luck regardless!!
Stephen Tuttle
DS Technologies, Inc.
I’m currently building a custom application for a new client. Part of the process is data conversion, which is moving the data into the new system from the old system. This particular conversion is pulling data from a DOS application. Theoretically, it’s a simple process. You just need to create a “map†to link the fields from the old application to the fields in the new application. Practically, it can be difficult. Limitations in the old app can cause users to enter invalid data. For example, users have entered 02/02/1902 in this DOS application to denote a transaction was taken in an abnormal location. This results in bad data, which is difficult to translate into useful information. (In the new application, a location can be specified for all transactions.)
Some software providers will tempt you to “throw away†your existing customer information. It makes it much easier for them. Don’t do it. You’ve spent years developing relationships with your customers, and this information is vital to analyzing your business trends.
Ninety percent of the time, your data can be converted. I generally create rules that cover the bulk of data, and handle the exceptions by hand.
Contact us to learn more about the possibilities of converting your data into useful information.
Stephen Tuttle
DS Technologies, Inc
Websites are a fantastic way to communicate with your prospects and customers. Users can find details on your products/services, place new orders, check existing orders and submit information to you. In short, a website is a great tool. But, what if you could make this tool an employee?
To transform your website into an employee, it must integrate with your internal software. There should be no “human” massaging or copying/pasting of data from an email form. It must understand your customer database, be able to enter new orders, and provide shipping information and order status.
The more automated your website is, the greater workload your business can process at the same cost margin. I’m sure you’ve done the math, but that equals greater profit.
Things to look for:
- Your website uses PDF or other printed forms that are faxed in
- You use a third party shopping cart
- You receive customer data via email
Contact us to find out what your website options are.
Stephen Tuttle
DS Technologies, Inc.