COMPUTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS -- Pain-free Installations

The most important issue is to be sure that you're dealing with a system manufacturer who is not going to "change its spots" without notice, notes Steve Hallberg, president of Parsec Corp. "Printers need to seek out a vendor who will continue to provide good systems and service well into the future, without blindsiding a printer with new offerings or services that are not wanted or needed." Other key issues to consider: Is the software package able to grow with your company? Does the vendor offer open databases so that information can be passed to other platforms? And can the software be customized?