VendSure route management software for Mac and PC is almost here

[Outlander]

The wait is almost over, just a few more additions to the manual and installation procedures and we will be ready to release.

We have been using VendSure and its handheld add-on since Aug 2008. It has been saving us countless hours in the field and when we returned to the office since its inception. Even with its initial time savings, there have been many improvements and additions over the last few months to make your work even easier.

For a Sneak Preview, visit our site and review the Preliminary Documentation. I think that you will be pleasantly surprised.

http://vendsure.xeir.com

Fred

[xeir]

Hey everyone, just a quick update before I head out for the day.

We've been busy getting everything ready for the initial release of VendSure, as some of you may know.

We are still shooting for having something for everyone to look at this weekend if at all possible.

There have been numerous last minute preparations to consider, so please bear with us during the final anxious moments.

We want this to be a great experience for all involved!

Almost forgot, there is a new link to the website: http//vendsure.net/

The old link will continue to work however.

Regards,

Doug

[Rustinm]

I would prefer it to be on my pc. I say that because i would then be able to put the program on a laptop and take it with me while doing the route. If it is web based then i would have to either buy a internet card and pay 60$ per month for it or i would have to be searching for wifi a lot!

[nam]

I'm with you Rustin! Ditto on his post!

Do you have a cost in mind for your software?

nam

[vendnoob]

links to the site arent working???

[shvend]

i will have to agree with nam and rustin, PC based.

[Outlander]

There is a new link, sorry for the mixup.

www.vendsure.net

[xeir]

Some of you may have received an error page when trying to get to the vendsure site.

Apparently our redirect from vendsure.xeir.com to vendsure.net was no longer working. That has been remedied and apologies for the temporary disruption.

In any case, please use the new link as Outlander mentioned above.

Regards

[dperry]

Holy Crap!  I just followed your links to xier.com and found that you used to run TBBS back in the day.  So did I!  I got paid to be the 3Com TBBS sysop from '93 -'95.

[xeir]

dperry- 

Wow, small world.  I haven't run across someone that even knew what TBBS/TDBS was for so long! 

Good to see that there are a few of us that around still, grin. 

It gave me a reason to look back at the code I have posted on the site, sadly I don't even think I can remember how it all worked anymore, hehe.

[xeir]

Almost forgot, here's an update on the software:

I've been busy over the past few weeks, doing some major work and testing on the application.  When I say busy, I mean sleepless nights, still running a route during the weeks and LOTS of coffee.  In the end, however, I do believe it to be worth it and I hope everyone does to.

After todays round of testing, IF everything goes as planned, the demo version will be posted for download.  This will be considered both a Demo and a Beta at this time due to the number of recent changes.

You can request a demo serial from the website that will be emailed to you.

Regards and hope everyone is having a great weekend!

[mxer518]

PC based would be much better! that way there would be no need for an internet connection which is not possible for a bunch of my locations that are located in the middle of nowhere. do you have any pricing in mind for this software yet and do you know what hand held devices will be able to support it and work with the best symmetry between the two.

[xeir]

mxer518-

We agree.  VendSure will be client side based (Mac OS X and Windows) and only require an internet connection for the mapping and geocoding portions.  All other features will be accessible on the client side without requiring an internet connection.

Update:

We're nearing completion of the testing phase after the recent changes, YAY!  You have to admit, there is much more involved in making sure that things run smoothly between multiple platforms.

I realize that dusk is falling fast and we are still pushing ourselves so that we can post the download links tonight for everyone.  We have tried to make this as user friendly, versatile and as simple as possible to use.

Well, it's time to force myself to take a short break, then it is back to the grindstone.

Regards!

[shvend]

xeir,

Thanks for the hard work on what I am sure will be a very great program.  As mxer asked earlier do you know what palm devices will be compatible with your software?  Thanks

[xeir]

Ok, everything is done and ready.  The applications are bundled up and ready to go and the empty links on the webpage are awaiting anxiously.

However, it's late, we are both fatigued beyond belief, and we have one last step to test which is the installation from the ground up for both platforms.

Soooooo .... sad as it may be to say, rather then put something out late and possibly have a simple error that was overlooked due to time and stress, we are going to regroup in the morning for the final moments.

In the meantime, I wish you all a good route on the morrow!

[xeir]

Knew there was a reason we didn't rush to post the links last night.

But ....... everything is done and ready.

The files are on the web (after being updated), just haven't enabled the link yet.

Waiting on Outlander to finish a document, then the Demo/Beta will go live!

We're both ready for a well earned break at this point, so hopefully within the next hour we'll post the link and enjoy an overdue sigh of relief.

Regards

[mxer518]

Will this program be at all compatible with Full Line operators, I operate both among other different types of vending services. I'm just wondering if it will only service the bulk side of the business of everything. also what hand held devices will this work best with?

[xeir]

At this time it is geared towards bulk & setup for handling 3 heads.  We are already working on, as in already written most of the code, expanding the number of heads that it handles.  There is a lot of room for VendSure to expand and everything here is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Right now VendSure supports Windows Mobile devices by means of HanDBase & the custom GUI we created, which is what we have been using on the PDA's for around a year now.  I know that we can translate the PDBs over for the Palm platform as well and may do so at some time in the future.

The HanDBase PDBs (flat file database files) are not included with the demo at the moment, but I will be posting them for download as well.

We are also looking into other possibilities for handheld support that ranges from: sqlite on the handhelds, pocket excel integration (IF it can do what's needed), to possibly even iPhone & Smartphone support in the future.

[mxer518]

iPhone would be amazing because then it could always have an internet connection for increased features with the mapping. I really want to give this a shot but it will be to hard to run two different programs for bulk and full line vending. keep us posted for when the full line release is almost complete.

[nam]

Congratulaltions to you guys on getting his finished! 

When your well deserved rest is over it would be great in the future to make it capable of doing 8 Heads for U Turns or just round it out to 10 heads for racks or U Turns?  I know alot of guys on here have triples but alot also have Vendesign and U Turns with 4 to 8 heads. 

Just a thought here guys.  I appreciate you're needing a break and since I haven't a glue how to go about writing software I don't know anything about adding heads, etc.?

nam

[Outlander]

mxer,

What program are you currently running for the full-line side? Are you using a PDA/HandHeld for it?

Fred

iPhone would be amazing because then it could always have an internet connection for increased features with the mapping. I really want to give this a shot but it will be to hard to run two different programs for bulk and full line vending. keep us posted for when the full line release is almost complete.

[mxer518]

I'm not really running anything full time at this point because i have not found anything that is work sticking with. currently I am doing it all old school with pen and paper until i get home and i input everything into excel spread sheets. if there you can suggest something for full line that would be great! i am defiantly looking for something i can operate with a hand held.

[xeir]

nam-

Thanks and it does feel good to have it out now.  I am still going to be taking a few more days off as the stress levels were beyond reason and my body's just telling me to take relax and recoup my mind and body as they both currently feel like mush. 

As mentioned, most everything is already in place for handling more heads as I was planning on upping it to 8, but now that you mention 10, that may make more sense.

My next main issue along with that, is expanding the handheld options to not just HanDBase.

Back to trying to relax for a awhile.

Enjoy!

Congratulaltions to you guys on getting his finished! 

When your well deserved rest is over it would be great in the future to make it capable of doing 8 Heads for U Turns or just round it out to 10 heads for racks or U Turns?  I know alot of guys on here have triples but alot also have Vendesign and U Turns with 4 to 8 heads. 

[Outlander]

We had a hiccup so hold off on trying it for the moment,

VendSure BETA/DEMO for: OS X & Windows .. Temporarily offline

A minor bug that wasn't caught at beta release is causing the Date popup not to function properly.

This has been fixed and will be posted once internal testing is complete.

Fred