Cupcakes, Accounting, and a Microsoft-Dell Makeover

15.03.2011

Jody Hall, owner of Cupcake Royale, switched from an older model , and says the hardest part was getting reacquainted with Microsoft Office and Outlook. "I really appreciate the new Outlook, though."

Full Speed Ahead

A number of variables were involved, but factoring the cost for the new hardware, software licenses, and the time and effort of the Dell consultants, projects like these would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000 each. To do something similar on its own, a business would have to consider whether such an upgrade is really worth the investment-or even possible. After all, it's easy to upgrade when someone else is picking up the tab, and when the vendors are ensuring the switch goes smoothly.

I asked each company if, knowing what they knew after the upgrade, they would have been willing to invest their own time and money on such projects.

Probably yes, says Josh Balin. "Speed and efficiency are critical. Saving 15 minutes per day per professional translates to bottom-line dollars. The and reduce stress for our workers, and doing the math on the increased productivity, the upgrade would pay for itself in a relatively short time."