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hi all, i did have a good data base called complete engineer :)(£500) until my hard drive went t!£$ up 😡 and lost everything on it.now the firm where i got it from want another £200 to re-install it :rolls: what databases do you guys use, and how much ❓ i thought i`d read something about this on here, but i cant find it.
Re: customer database.
In theory I have a database on cardfile which was part of Windows 95 when I started it. I don’t know if it comes with later versions as I have simply copied it over as I’ve upgraded. Unfortunately I am very bad at keeping it up to date 😳
Re: customer database.
ive just found something that kw was investigating 🙂 but that was april 2004 ❗
Re: customer database.
And, I’m still on the case with it. I’m testing a system ATM.
Turned out not to be as simple as I’d hoped. 🙁
K.
Re: customer database.
I use Access and just created my own. It’s very simple to do.
What sort of data are you actually putting in and how do you then intend to use that data?
Re: customer database.
I use quickbooks, i find it very easy to use and update, not sure how much it costs to buy as software though ?, i have it as a package from the bank.
Re: customer database.
hi bagman, all i want is customer name etc,parts used, and prices charged etc. nothing too fancy 😕
Re: customer database.
Hi Deltra I made a simple database with Microsoft Access, same as you all needed was custs name, address and phone number, parts fitted and pt numbers and most importantly how much i charged them 🙂 Have found it very handy when you get the one who says ” you only repaired it 6 mths ago” and when you check it was 2 years. If you have any of the MS Office Pro suites Access should be bundled with it.
GooseRe: customer database.
If you don’t have any of the Office suites, then Google docs has a very easy and simple spreadsheet for free. What’s more it’s secure and can be accessed from anywhere.
If you want I’ll set up a simple database and post a link to it in here when I get home later.
Deltra, it will be ideal for what you want I’m sure. I even use mine as a worksheet as I just filter the jobs by the date and print them off.
Re: customer database.
I think this should work, bear with me please.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key= … KEvdMJX3Sw
This is just a very basic worksheet, but the amount of entries it can save is more or less unlimited in this format. You can create a new sheet for each year, and can even upload it to a ‘proper’ office program.To make your own, just got to Google documents and create a login, then play around 🙂
Re: customer database.
I use Microsoft Works Calendar as my Diary for appointments, this has a FIND FACILITY which allows you to search the calender.
I usually use the customers telephone number to do the search,this brings up any appointments or work done for that customer.
I also use Quickbooks for any invoicing.
Mike💡 💡 💡 💡
Re: customer database.
As Deltra has found out, custom made databases are expensive, complex and overwhelmingly time consuming to complete in order to store every customers details and transactions. And for a company to gear their operation entirely on computer based information storage is folly in the extreme. Priceless and invaluable when they work, needing hundreds of business hours each year to compile and update and is of bu$$er all use when your computer system throws a wobbly! 😥
KIS (keep it simple) is the answer. Microsoft do many and varied databases, Excell, Access and Works to name but three. All can be custom made to suit all your needs (i.e names, addresses, phone numbers, appliance types, model numbers, serial numbers, work done, parts fitted, prices charged etc etc etc the possibilities are endless). Bearing in mind the more information ‘fields’ you add the more value and practical it becomes as a reference tool.
Loading such detailed information is a chore it really is, every working day listing customer invoices alone onto the database is a real fag to say the least. But, needs must and greater our business will benefit from the wealth of information stored within. Just remember the KIS rule, don’t make unnecessary work for yourself.
Since 1993 I have been storing each and every invoice I raise onto my Microsoft Works (Ver.8..) database. It takes seconds to record each invoice and the entire database backed up daily on one tiny (1gig) memory stick. Over 28,000 customer records available at the click of a mouse button – cheap and cheerful technology, priceless info at my disposal and no need to pay out for jumped up, smart ar££ed software engineer £200 to get it going should my PC go AWOL. 😉
Re: customer database.
Yeah pretty much what Martin said.
I type in the customer details whilst on the phone if I’m taking the call at home, it goes straight into the system and sounds more ‘professional’ on the phone if a customer hears what you’re doing (IMO).
As for the usefulness of the database I can give a good example from yesterday.
I had a missed call on the business line (it rang once) and as I was sitting at the pc I did a search of my database for the number. It brought up the relevant details of a customer I’d been to a about 16 months ago, I’d cleared a blockage from her Bosch Wm pump.
As I was looking at the details the phone rang again and it was the lady, who was very impressed that I not only ‘remembered’ where she lived but also knew exactly what machine she had and what I’d done to it.Little things, but they all add up to good customer service, which in turn leads to returning customers 🙂
P.S. All of the above database is not only searchable for any detail, but can be filtered as well. Want to know how many times you’ve been to a particular street/area/customer… very easily done.
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