No Free Lunch

Business that rely on free or cheap software have built an essential part of their identity on quicksand.

Two recent examples:

Novell co-founder Craig Burton laments the state of free blogging software:

http://www.craigburton.com/?p=2929

Google Maps, which many organizations use without payment, is tightening up the terms of use. The latest version restricts "batch geocoding" (convert listing or other addresses to Latitude/Longitude for display on a map):

http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html

10.11 offer a batch geocoding service that uses Content contained in any Google Services; and

"Google reserves the right to refuse or discontinue the Service to anyone, and to disable users' access to the Service, including the Maps APIs or any Content, at any time in its sole discretion with or without notice."

Mike Arrington notes that Google is "putting the squeeze on free apps":

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/23/google-puts-the-squeeze-on-free-apps/

Evaluate your vendor's track record for quality, reliability, competency and cost savings. Compare that with your business strategy. Do they align? Is the software effective? That is, will it reduce costs and improve your business?

Today, certainly, we all must invest before the harvest.

Bob Lefsetz sings their praise:

http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2009/01/27/fedex/:

But I had to request a pickup a day in advance and give them a six hour window.

Huh???? I've got to stay home for SIX HOURS?

Now if this was the Post Office, I wouldn't count on them even coming during those six hours, even coming at all. But having told this woman that I wanted someone between 10 and 4, there was a knock on the door EXACTLY at 10. The delivery person picked up my copier and was gone that fast.

The paperwork? I did all that online. Printed the bill myself.

Point of all this? I'M TELLING YOU!

Consider Fedex. Do they create their own website, then let their drivers use any software they might find to do their jobs? How would Lefsetz's words be different if FedEx built their business on free and cheap software? (they would be out of business)

FedEx, from the beginning, has strived for customer service excellence and has invested in technology to make that happen.

Today, people will share their good and bad experiences quickly, as Bob Lefsetz has.

Evaluate your vendor's track record for quality, reliability, competency and cost savings. Compare that with your business strategy. Do they align? Is the software effective? That is, will it reduce costs and improve your business?

Are you ready for the harvest?