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RENTAL PRODUCTS SOFTWARE
IRN JANUARY 2014
additional server capacity. They can also shrink
during low seasons.
“Security is always a concern when you are
trusting a third party with your data, but recently
that is more fear than reality. In practice, having a
server at your store is likely to be more vulnerable
than under the lock and key of a professional cloud
company.”
He adds that choosing the right supplier is
important; “Make sure that the provider you choose
allows you to retain ownership of your data in
the event of an issue. Also make sure to choose a
reliable vendor; if the vendor goes out of business
over night, you don’t want to be left without a
system and your data.”
Not just a licencing platform
Paul Chapdelaine at RMI says the biggest issue he
encounters is getting customers to understand
that Cloud computing is not simply a new
licensing platform; “It’s computing hardware and
infrastructure, it’s system implementation and
training (both initial and on-going), it’s complete
system support, it’s automatic system updates
and upgrades and, with our ADVANTAGE solution
it’s unlimited consulting services at no additional
charge.”
He also makes the point that the Cloud has lowered
the barriers to entry to the software business, with
the result that some suppliers are “simply a single
person trying a ‘shotgun’ approach to software
development. Make sure the vendor really knows
rental and they are not just adapting a platform
designed for another purpose. Make sure there is a
solid company behind the product that is profitable
and able to remain in business for the long term.”
And of course, pricing is a key issue. The Cloud, in
theory, offers the opportunity for rental companies
to save money by reducing their ongoing investment
in software, hardware, in-house IT expertise and
upgrades.
As Jonathan Dawkins at Ardent/Waterdale says;
“We have to demonstrate to customers that they
won’t be spending any more money than they are
now.” That’s as good a starting point as any.
IRE
RMI Corp offers its Advantage rental management system as a
Cloud product.
Guy van der Knapp of MCS; “In the last year or so dramatically
more customers are talking about the Cloud.”
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