SmartTrade has implemented the Ezidedit direct debit payment system for customers making monthly payments. Ezidebit offers a secure and simple direct debit payment method for payments by deduction from bank accounts or credit cards.
If you wish to take advantage of the EziDebit system, please contact Sheree on: [email protected].
These days many people talk about the “Cloud” as if it is the only answer. Online apps are a great solution for many users, the fact that online software uptake is growing strongly is demonstrated by the chart below showing that in 2016 for the first time internet usage on mobile and tablets exceeded desktop internet use for the first time, a proxy for whose using what platform, while PC sales are falling.
In reality the “Cloud” is really just where somebody else’s server hosts the software which you link to via the internet. Traditionally, software was hosted on the user’s own computer system, otherwise known as “Desktop” software. Desktop software can also be hosted in the cloud which creates the hybrid platform.
In this article, we compare the two core platforms which are:
As discussed above there's also the Hybrid platform - desktop in the office, online in the field, which combines advantages of both Online and Desktop, some pundits are of the opinion that hybrid will eventually emerge as the dominant platform.
Comparison of the Online and Desktop.
| Feature | Online | Desktop |
| Internet Connectivity | Typically requires a fast internet connection and good bandwidth, connectivity can be an issue in more remote areas. It is always a good idea to have your internet speed checked before going down the online path. | The application itself doesn’t require a full time internet connection although it may have web links. Internet speed is typically not so critical for intermittent web use by the application or for other web services the business may use. |
| Processing power | Limited by the online software, internet connection and bandwidth. | Limited only by the hardware specification, capable of higher processing power. |
| Reliability | Dependent on internet service level reliability which is usually high, loss of service will put the user out of action unless the software has off-line capability. This can be mission critical for some users! | Independent on an internet connection so typically service level is extremely high. That’s not to say system crashes won’t happen, but it’s in the user’s hands, not the telcos! |
| Portability | Can be used wherever there is an adequate internet service, either by connecting to the internet or via a mobile phone service. | Can be accessed remotely through a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) service, will be some loss of performance as it has to work through the internet. Alternatively, many desktop software providers offer a cloud based hosting service making the desktop software available through any adequate internet service. The hosting cost will be additional to the cost of the software itself but saves the user costs because they no longer need to manage the IT side of operating the application. |
| Installation | Users can onboard simple apps themselves, more complex software typically requires some online IT input from the software provider. | Out-of-the box software requires installation by the user or their IT consultant. Packaged software sold online typically requires some online IT input from the software provider, usually undertaken online with minimal user involvement. |
| Hardware | Hardware specification is typically not a critical issue as processing is done in the cloud. | Hardware specification is determined by processing requirements, many applications will operate on entry level hardware, more sophisticated software using a lot of process power will necessitate a higher hardware specification. |
| Maintenance | The software provider manages the software and database in the cloud meaning a lower IT requirement. However, it will be impossible for all but the smallest users to escape needing some IT support to setup and manage their computer systems. | The user must install and maintain its computer system resulting in a higher IT resource to setup and manage their computer systems than for an online system. |
| Security | The user is totally dependent on the software provider’s security system, the user will have no control if it is compromised. However, the software provider will usually host the software and data with a reputable data centre service whose security will be very robust. | Many businesses prefer keeping control of their data rather than letting it reside with a 3rd party, this comes with a responsibility to run current anti-virus and backup software. |
| Features | Online applications typically have fewer features than desktop applications, but make better use of native features in modern smart devices. | Desktop applications typically have more features than online applications. Importantly they have the ability to use “alt-tab” and “right-click” which are amongst the most ubiquitous commands in use. |
| Cost | The software tends to be cheaper with fewer features than desktop. Online software will incur internet data use charges. | Tends to be more expensive but offer more features than online software. No internet data use charges. |
| Customisation | While the software will have some built-in capability for customisation given the software is shared on a global basis typically there is no further ability for customisation to any bespoke level. | Because the software is hosted individually in the user’s environment there is potential for customisation to a bespoke level. However, the software provider may be loath to do customisation and then have to maintain multiple variants of the software. |
| 3rd party software integration | Depends on the software provider developing API interfaces, connection speed may be slow. | Depends on the software provider developing API interfaces, connection speed will generally be fast as the software sits on the same system. |
| Software support | Typically, online or by email services meaning response times can be slow. Usually a pay-for-use service. | Typically operate a help-desk, plus online or email services. Response times usually faster than online. Usually a pay-for-use service. |
| Software updates | Software updates can be rapidly deployed, typically more regularly than with desktop meaning the users gets the benefit of new features earlier than with desktop. If the online app is browser based the user will get the update as soon as it is released, if the online app is a native app it will need to be downloaded. |
Software updates are usually scheduled at regular intervals, day 3, 6 or 12 monthly,. Accordingly, new features typically take longer to get to the user than with online apps. Updates require the software provider to log into the user’s system although this is now usually done seamlessly over the internet. |
Conclusion
- You can take the app with making usable offline;
- They can more directly use the operating system’s native features.
On the negative side:
- Every mobile platform uses a different native programming language (iOS uses Objective-C or Swift, Android used Java, Windows Mobile uses C#). If the software works with multiple platforms the software developer needs to update their software for each platform every time they release a new version of their app;
- Updates must be downloaded;
- They’re designed for mobile platforms, not for desktop platforms.
- Typically web apps are written using a single development platform (Javascript, HTML and CSS) meaning there’s no plethora of native languages to deal with to make the software work on all popular mobile device platforms;
- Updates are immediately available to the user, you don’t need to download them from an app store;
- They load in the browser so don’t take up memory or storage on the device;
- Because they work through web browsers they work well on desktop devices;
- It’s easier to send messages to users through the app itself;
- Because they’re written in HTML5 they will work better with other web based technologies such as virtual or augment reality (VR, AR) and IOS.
On the negative side:
- Performance typically won’t be as sharp as with native apps;
- They typically can’t access all of the smart device’s features, although this is becoming less of a problem as new features are added to web browsers;
- The web app will usually be optimised for one or two browsers so may not perform as well for others.
SmartFormsare an incredibly powerful feature on SmartTrade Mobile, our mobile app, they have become perhaps the most popular of all the SmartTrade features! We have developed more than 500 different SmartForms for our customers since we released the current version of SmartForms in early 2013.
The major benefits SmartForms deliver are:
✓We can provide you with SmartForms for almost any purpose, no longer do your field techs need to fill outOther benefits include:
✓Streamline filling out and managing forms, test-sheets and checklists;SmartForms for our desktop hybrid product operate on our SmartTrade Mobile app, the online companion product to our desktop office based software SmartTrade Essential and Ultimate solutions (SmartTrade Essential and Ultimate can also be hosted in the cloud). You can open up SmartTrade Mobile on a PC should you wish to fill out forms in the office.
SmartForms for our new SBO cloud app work directly.
We are often surprised by the wide variety of requests we get for SmartForms. The most popular SmartForms we have developed include:
✓Certificates of compliance;SmartForms are available either as standard library forms (at a one-off cost of plus tax each), or can be customised to your needs (we will quote you for this).
We recently introduced a suite of free standard SmartForms designed for electricians and plumbers, the suite also includes a customer satisfaction survey form.
Existing SmartTrade Mobile users
It’s easy to try out SmartForms if you already have SmartTrade Mobile, there is a suite of sample SmartForms on SmartTrade Mobile you can play with at your leisure. If you need some help our support team is a phone call away.
Non SmartTrade Mobile users
We can set you up with a free SmartTrade Mobile trial so you can try out SmartForms. Again, if you need some help our support team is a phone call away.
SmartTrade Essential
SmartTrade Essential allows users to attach SmartForms to jobs which are dispatched to SmartTrade Mobile users in the field to complete the form; the field tech can email a PDF copy of the form results to the customer from the site, or the results can be emailed to the customer from the office; form results can be amended in the office (subject to privileges); the office can generate summary reports to send to the customer.
SmartTrade Ultimate
SmartTrade Ultimate allows Mobile users to do everything SmartTrade Essential users can do. Ultimate also includes Asset and Work Order management, SmartForms can be attached to assets (the key asset information is automatically populated in the SmartForm); the asset is then attached to the job which is dispatched to SmartTrade Mobile users in the field to complete the form; the field tech can generate work order requests from the SmartForm. Customers can be set up to see SmartForm results in the SmartGate portal.
The answer is no. The reason is SmartForms are integrated into SmartTrade’s job management solution allowing forms to be attached to jobs and dispatched to SmartTrade Mobile, information is populated from the office to the SmartForm, summary information and work order requests can be brought back to the office for reporting purposes. This means every SmartForm involves software development work.
There are many other e-form solutions available, some of which are free, but none of which will integrate with SmartTrade.
The answer is no, once the SmartForm is created it stays in the system so there is an inviolate copy. You have the ability to make a SmartForm inactive if you wish to stop using it or change to another SmartForm.
This is what Bryce Donaldson, Argus Fire Protection’s service manager, had to say about our SmartForms:
“Using SmartForms to automate compliance testing has had a huge impact on our accuracy, productivity and customer response times ...now we are doing things electronically, our customers can get detailed, accurate and fast information while we are on site as opposed to waiting for it in the post ... SmartForms is a cost saving for Argus Fire and it is a cost saving for our clients.”
