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Old 11-13-2003, 03:29 PM   #1 (permalink)
 
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There are currently 12 Clients with 42 locations using the HELIOS WAN product. HELIOS have deliberately held the line on the rate at which this very important application was deployed to the Client base. I have personally spoken with 4 of these Clients and fully intend on talking to all 12 if possible this month.

I want to understand in the opinion of the Users what is good about the product and what can be strengthened.

It appears the first few weeks and/or months for most had some challenges (understandable), but all had only positive things to say about the state of the product currently and during the last number of months. They also were very consistent about the level of support and commitment received from the folks at Helios Tech Support on the WAN product.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of observing as one of the Senior Techs was working thru the Remote Set up of the WAN product for a client with 3 locations.

I can confirm ... IT WORKS !!!!!

It is very much simplier than a competitive product that I have been associated with over the last 2 years, and I guess I have to say .... simplier is GOOD. There are some tables that could in the future be included in the Batch Replication or at least a Broadcast function but the core need of Clients, EFT, and Transactions are address in a manner that allows the activity to complete in seconds and/or minutes.

It also have the ability of controlling by location if it sends it's information to the central site or not and whether it receives infomation (and which information) from other locations ... applicable to both an environment of corporate stores, franchisee stores and a combination thereof.

One of the biggest advantages is that the HELIOS WAN approach unlike that of a competitive product results in the same number being used in all locations for a client ... this in many ways lends to the ease of use and operations of the product.

SO, to make a long story short ... if you are ready for it SO is the HELIOS WAN ready for you. The additional manhours for onsite and remote setup that I bring to the equation will allow HELIOS to now accelerate the use of this much needed application.

With the orders and commitments I currently have the install base of the Helios WAN will more than double by the end of January 2004.

Give me a call if you feel this application can benefit your organization. It is FREE ... no upfront license fee, no additional monthly costs above the new Software Support Fee that will become effective for all locations ... only a small set up fee per location ... either remote or onsite (a little more if onsite).
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Old 11-14-2003, 08:31 AM   #2 (permalink)
 
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Andy

Can you example simplier; you had said Clients, transactions, efts - what about comments, sales codes?

I am currently a Helios9 user with tech support, are you saying I can switch to this version for no additional cost?

Is the newest version still access based at the store locations; if so what is being done when the mdb comes close to 1gb.

Also what data base is being used for "server", Microsoft SQL; if so, is Helios
supplying the full version or is that something that needs to be purchase by the user?

I would like to see, test, demo this version - can you arrange?
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Old 11-14-2003, 09:03 AM   #3 (permalink)
 
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At this point comments are not batched between stores .... this will shortly be addressed.

Sales codes, Employee Codes, Banks, Passwords are tables that are replicated/batch within Salon Net that are not currently within the Helios WAN. The backoffice function partly addresses this issue but the ability to "Broadcast" the desirable tables will shortly be added. This was a point of much discussion with Helios Development while I was on site in Indy earlier this week, and will continue as a point of conversation.

Helios9 users on Software Maintenance can upgrade to V10 and V11 (when available) with no additional upfront cost except the small setup fee for the WAN .... $199 per location or $799 per day onsite plus travel. The monthly fee with V10 and V11 becomes $39.99 per month with or without the WAN.

Yes, V11 databases are Access2000 was with V10. In the Helios WAN model all transactions at each store are updated to the WAN SQL Server. It would then be possible to archive some historical data to manage the size of the Helios Access Database in each location.

With more than 3 locations you are required to acquire SQL Server on the Helios WAN SQL Server. The investment here is likely around $1,200US and removes all restrictions imposed by MSDE2000 ... which will work for smaller SQL databases.

One other thing ... you need Static IP Address at all locations to support the Helios WAN.

Simplier ... here is what I mean by that.
.... Static IP removes the need for the Solarsoft DynIP, therefore activity is TOTALLY directly between your stores and your server ... no authentication or redirection by a third party.
.... The Batch Process in the store and update at the server is a 6 step process than happens quickly in comparison.
.... The number of data collisions that are not properly handled by the system is very small
.... Helios is about to recommend a custom report writer that makes the function of reporting easier that writing SQL commands and also provides for better report formatting.
.... the merge duplicate clients has a higher degree of automation possible ... this can be utilized outside of the WAN product as well.

test .... demo this version .... Dan, give me a call to discuss.
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Old 11-15-2003, 01:23 PM   #4 (permalink)
 
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Andy,

I glad that the relationship with Helios is now on a much better level. I'm excited about getting your evaluation of the HELIOS WAN.

Do you have any cost comparisons for static versus dynamic IP's? Who chose dynamic IP's 3 years ago since the cost at that time was much less. By requiring a Static IP ( Helios WAN ) we saw monthly costs around $75-$100 per location for internet connectivity where dynamic ( Solarsoft ) costs were from $25-$50 per month per location.

The latest version of Solarsoft Salon Net ( Which you have not seen ) dramatically increases the replication speed. We say one customer with 5 locations go from several hours per replication cycle to 5 minutes. If the stores are not very busy ( meaning new customers or new transactions ) then the complete cycle for ALL 5 stores was under 1 MINUTE!

How fast can the HELIOS WAN replicate minimal data from a 5 store chain? 1 Minute? Several Minutes? Several Hours?

Also what is the largest chain that the HELIOS WAN is running in?

Michael

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Old 11-15-2003, 08:22 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Michael

I was pleasantly surprised when one client incurred only an extra $20. per month for Static IP Addresses per location compared to Dynamic Addresses. This client really wanted direct communcations between their locations and their server without the intervention of a third party redirection service. Another, is not incurring any additional cost and a third is looking at alternative ISP because the additional cost is ridiculous, and non-competitive. This varys by area and ISP, but so far so good ... definately part of the overall cost comparison.

With the times and environment you are quoting above, this would be more comparable to the Helios WAN, I would be interested in exactly what is being replicated in this processing and what is replicated nightly or on demand in this process. Using the terms that John used ... full replication, versus delta and rapid delta batching. We both know the approach that John had taken with V2 and V3 created a problem in this area, so I am pleased you have made what sounds like significant progress in this area.

The largest chain currently using HELIOS WAN has 9 locations, ... stay tuned !!!!

Michael, allow me to take this opportunity (would have loved to talk early this week as I suggested) to sincerely wish you the very best personally and professionally. The decision to depart from representing your product was make over a number of weeks, in fact months, and was a heartfelt decision.

All the very best, be well ...

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Old 11-17-2003, 08:58 AM   #6 (permalink)
 
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One point that I should clarify regarding the need for Static IP Addresses. It is in fact only the WAN Server location that actually needs a Static IP Address in the Helios WAN environment.

Now depending on the actual additional cost of same, they are recommended at all locations. This just makes the BackOffice functions easier to handled regardless of location you are connecting from and to.


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Old 11-18-2003, 05:28 PM   #7 (permalink)
 
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Andy Wrote:

There are currently 12 Clients with 42 locations using the HELIOS WAN product.

Andy,

Can you list these customers here that are having good results and would not mind being a reference? We have had several people mention that they cannot get Tony to give them ANY references to call.

Michael
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Old 11-18-2003, 08:20 PM   #8 (permalink)
 
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No Michaael, I can and would not ....

I value the privacy of the HELIOS WAN clients more than to publish in an open environment their names, that would be totally unprofessional.

I can assure you that any qualifed prospect is given References to check consistent with their wishes.

You know who some of them are, give then a call and ask for yourself if you doubt the accuracy of my statement above.


When I first read the post above I chuckled remembering Rick's comments of 4 weeks ago, stating that Salon Net have a number of clients within their User base they would never what to use as a reference.

It also made me wonder why when earlier today I was asked by a Salon Net User for a complete list of Salon Net Users ... why I did not immediately grant that request, if you believe such information should be open to public view.


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Old 11-18-2003, 08:29 PM   #9 (permalink)
 
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This attention is going to my head, Michael .... two of the three posts (+ 1 in Mods) you have made on TanTalk since Sept 24th .... are right here on this thread.
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