Saturday, July 12, 2008

Should I upgrade my MailOrder Manager™ software?

Should I upgrade my MailOrder Manager™ software to the new version?
This is a difficult question to answer with enterprise solutions – software that is an integral part of your operation. As a consulting company, MOM Helpers supports all of the past and current versions of MailOrder Manager™. Dydacomp, the software developer, has dropped their support for many past versions – see table below. That is one reason why MOM Helpers is here. Company’s still need help because many still rely upon unsupported versions and MOM Helpers supports them.

To be clear, there are generally three types of updates/upgrades:
1) Program updates – This type of update is usually at no charge to supported users. The user downloads these from the Dydacomp website. These updates usually fix bugs or problems within a current version and usually make the software more reliable and stable.

2) Dot-release updates – This type of update may or may not come with a charge. This is like MOM 6.0 to 6.1. These generally address major resolutions to a prior ‘dot’ release issues and/or offer enhancements in the standard features.

3) New software versions – This type of update usually comes at a significant charge – 40% - 60% of the original purchase price is common. This type of update is usually referred to as an upgrade. This is like going from MOM 5.0 to MOM 6.0. New versions may come with significant changes – programming language changes, database table structures, major logic enhancements, re-configuration and user requirements, etc. In addition, you should consider the cost to update your infratructure to meet the system requirements of the version. In many cases, users may need to update their network, server, workstations and/or add software to make this type of upgrade fully functional. Along with new features, there will generally need to be some training to make your operational use of the new version effective. So, please consider these additional costs in your total for budgeting.

For new software versions, we recommend that you consider the following to help you determine whether to upgrade:
1. Is my current version no longer supported?
As software manufacturers release new software, they no longer support the older versions. Most software companies support the most recent old version and perhaps one more past version, but rarely more than two old versions. To check if your version is supported, you can go to the software maker's website and check the support area.


*As of July 2008, this is the status of supported versions according to our understanding. Dydacomp is phasing-out support of these versions. Please contact them directly if you have specific questions. MOM Helpers support and Dydacomp support are not the same. Dydacomp support includes the ability to provide bug/fixes to the executable. MOM Helpers support is limited to supporting the functions and features as they work within your specific executable.

2. Does the new version have features that will make my work more efficient?
Almost every software upgrade (the one that costs the most money) includes new features designed to make it do more for you. Request a list of new or changed features to see if any will really benefit your company. However, most companies never use more than 20% of the features of any software package. So, consider the new features that you will definitely use and the total cost of the upgrade. You may be able to get a customization from MOM Helpers for significantly less than the cost of the upgrade; and, you’ll get exactly what you want. Usually, no added costs are necessary for training or infrastructure because the programming is provided to work as you designed it and on your existing platform.

3. Has the software upgrade been out long enough to detect significant issues?
MOM Helpers recommends that you let others be the ‘testers’. It is usually a good idea to wait 6 or so months after a major new software version is released before upgrading. The main reason is that in the first few months, the software company finds bugs (or we should say users identify bugs) that they didn't find when testing. They prepare a service release or program update that fixes those problems. By waiting until that first service release is available until upgrading, you reduce the risk of upgrading and running into significant problems.

4. Will I run into compatibility issues?
If the software application has changed significantly -- table structures, system requirements, etc., the upgrade may require that you consider other issues. For example, you may need to consider updating your server, workstation, or network hardware and/or software. In addition, significant changes in the new files may not be compatible with the old version of the software. So, if you want to go back to the prior version, it may be difficult without a good backup. Also, file changes can cause problems with custom reports or programming that was designed for the current version that you are using. In the end, consider all of the costs related to the upgrade before making the decision.

Learn More
If you would like to learn more about what MOM Helpers can do for you, please e-mail your questions to info@momhelpers.com.

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DISCLAIMER: Mail Order Manager Helpers, Inc. /dba MOM Helpers is not related to or associated with Dydacomp and cannot be relied upon for any statements made about or regarding Dydacomp support policies, update or upgrade practices, or your companies access to the referenced Dydacomp website. MOM Helpers recommends that you contact Dydacomp directly for specifics about their policies and practices related to any support, update, upgrade or other issue related to their software. This information is provided as a guide to assist your company in understanding what MOM Helpers, and MOM Helpers staff, has observed over time about Dydacomp, MailOrder Manager™ software since 1991. However, we believe our statements below to be true, helpful and accurate. If we have made an inaccurate statement of the facts or you feel mislead, please contact us directly. Please let us know what specifically you believe to be inaccurate. We are glad to make corrections if they are proven to be inaccurate or misleading.
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