[Info-vax] The real problem that needs solving to grow VMS

[Dave Froble]

On 11/4/2022 9:52 AM, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2022-11-03, Dave Froble <davef at tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
>> On 11/3/2022 9:20 AM, Simon Clubley wrote:
>>> On 2022-11-02, Dave Froble <davef at tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Software that solves specific issues for a particular vertical market many times
>>>> will not exist in other software packages.  The list can be rather long.  Just a
>>>> few examples:
>>>>
>>>> Handling of cores
>>>> Superscession of part numbers
>>>>
>>>> The lack of either of those examples is a total show stopper.
>>>>
>>>> This is applications that have over 40 years of specific development for this
>>>> particular vertical market.  Some obsolete.  Some quite recent.
>>>>
>>>> The customers have looked hard for those "alternate ERP packages".  The search
>>>> has failed.
>>>>
>>>> One customer is trying a cloud solution.  Looks like they are on course for a
>>>> future crater.
>>>>
>>>> You can claim all you want about alternatives.  Doesn't mean any exist.
>>>>
>>>> The most common response from potential new vendors is "we can't do that".
>>>>
>>>
>>> What is it precisely about supersessions that new vendors can't do ?
>>
>> The biggest issue with potential new vendors is that they seem to have never
>> heard of the concept, and don't want to hear about it.
>>
>
> I'm finding that rather hard to understand. Parts management, regardless
> of industry, has a number of universal factors associated with it, and
> supersession management is one of the core ones.
>
> I could understand them having issues with the more complex scenarios
> (which depends on how much effort they put into their software), but basic
> supersessions, where exactly one existing part number is renamed to exactly
> one new part number, are easy to implement.

Consider simple things such as gaskets and such.  Sourced from multiple mfgs, 
each with their own part numbers, which can change quite often.  A superscession 
loop of more than 20 part numbers is quite normal.

> Who exactly are these vendors ?
>
> Simon.
>

Small outdoor power equipment distributors.

Software vendors in the auto parts business have attempted to enter this market 
multiple times, and have failed every time.  Talking about some rather large 
software vendors.

It is strange, as one would think that auto parts software should work.  Has not.

Believe it or not, there are instances where things need to be specific, and one 
size fits all fails miserably.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
Vanderbilt, PA  15486