- SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS -

All modern businesses use some form of specialized software for managing their customer accounts.  I use a simple little program called "QuickBooks" (that costs about $100) for invoicing, expense tracking, and profit/loss analysis.  Some big companies, however, spend millions of dollars for sophisticated programs that manage all of their order processing, inventory control, accounting, etc. etc. - and then there are all of the programs in between.  I would not attempt here to try to explain the world of business software - except to say that most of the programs are highly complex customized "databases" (discussed on a lateral page).  However, for a recommendation on a very powerful `do-anything' program that I have seen in action, look below.

For businesses with stringent needs and enough budget to buy a powerful (but reasonably priced) program that can be customized to do exactly what they want, I recommend "Navision Financials".  My best client in California converted to Navision a few years ago and it made awesome changes in his productivity.  It is not only an `Accounts Payable/Receivable' program, it does Invoicing, Order Processing & Tracking, Inventory, etc. etc.  - and has the most user-friendly screens I have ever seen.   In fact, it is so good that Microsoft bought it a few months ago and added it to their business software inventory.