Business Customer and Order System - Creating from scratch

Desmo · 26-03-2009, 19:38

This is something I've always wanted to get up and running here at work, but we've never had the money to be able to buy something in.

What we need is actually fairly simple. A customer database that holds, business name, address, tel numbers, etc. We also then need a jobs database that holds specific job information on product type, amount, colour, etc. I then need to be able to link jobs to customers.

We don't really need anything overly complicated but I really don't know where to start. I'd like to use a mysql backend with a web front end. I'm happy using Dreamweaver so I can customise the front end to what we want, but how easily can I get the database up and running? Can I add form fields in DW and allow it to take care of sorting the database? (after some initial setup obviously).

I don't know if it's something I could teach myself, or if I'm biting off more than I can chew or even living in cloud cuckoo land in thinking that it's possible for me to do this way. Are there any examples out there I can take a look at or use as a starting point?

Daz · 26-03-2009, 20:01

Have you thought about an open source CRM? Even as a starting point, least you wont be reinventing the wheel.

SugaCRM springs to mind

[edit]Others.

Mark · 26-03-2009, 20:05

I'm a code monkey myself so I have no idea what DreamWeaver can and can't do. Pretty easy to knock together the database code in PHP though.

Desmo · 26-03-2009, 20:24

I've SugarCRM before Daz. It's very good at what it does, but seems overly complicated for what we need and it focuses more on customer relationships rather than order processing.

Matblack · 26-03-2009, 21:06

You have some great resources here Jamie, if Mark says it can be done I'm sure it can and people will pitch in and help with what knowhow they have

Wish I had some expertise which was of use to you

...... I can do careers advice, hugs and making a mess.

MB

Fayshun · 27-03-2009, 01:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matblack

Wish I had some expertise which was of use to you

...... I can do careers advice, hugs and making a mess.

And I can lock you up, apply handcuffs and make pissweak custody tea.

Maybe after work eh?

leowyatt · 27-03-2009, 07:50

I'd go with a simple MySQL db with a php front end

EDIT: Infact take a look at Zend Framework, I guarantee you will look at it and go "ZOMG" at first but that would be my starting point

phykell · 27-03-2009, 12:12

You could try a DotNetNuke module as part of your own web site. The problem with this (less so with a DNN module), SugarCRM or even Microsoft Dynamics CRM (current version is 4.0) is that it's like cracking a walnut with a hammer and you might find it doesn't do *just* what you want; but it depends on whether your ordering system will need to expand in the future too.

If you do plan on the system scaling up as the business grows, it might be worth looking at something from Sage. I only have experience of their "mid-market solutions" (my company was a Sage development partner) - I think the current version is Sage 200 and was previously Sage MMS but a lot of their products have attachable modules, for example, Sage 200 has a stock/orders module which lets you handle inventory and warehousing. You can integrate with the purchasing side of Sage and obviously, it's pretty good at doing the accounts as well

If you want bespoke, I can sort you out with an ASP.NET/SQL Server solution for a relatively small consideration

leowyatt · 27-03-2009, 12:14

http://framework.zend.com/ all you need to know. Any questions I'll do my best to answer

26-03-2009, 19:38	#1
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Business Customer and Order System - Creating from scratch This is something I've always wanted to get up and running here at work, but we've never had the money to be able to buy something in. What we need is actually fairly simple. A customer database that holds, business name, address, tel numbers, etc. We also then need a jobs database that holds specific job information on product type, amount, colour, etc. I then need to be able to link jobs to customers. We don't really need anything overly complicated but I really don't know where to start. I'd like to use a mysql backend with a web front end. I'm happy using Dreamweaver so I can customise the front end to what we want, but how easily can I get the database up and running? Can I add form fields in DW and allow it to take care of sorting the database? (after some initial setup obviously). I don't know if it's something I could teach myself, or if I'm biting off more than I can chew or even living in cloud cuckoo land in thinking that it's possible for me to do this way. Are there any examples out there I can take a look at or use as a starting point? __________________

26-03-2009, 20:01	#2
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Have you thought about an open source CRM? Even as a starting point, least you wont be reinventing the wheel. SugaCRM springs to mind [edit]Others. __________________ apt-get moo

26-03-2009, 20:24	#4
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	I've SugarCRM before Daz. It's very good at what it does, but seems overly complicated for what we need and it focuses more on customer relationships rather than order processing. __________________

26-03-2009, 21:06	#5
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	You have some great resources here Jamie, if Mark says it can be done I'm sure it can and people will pitch in and help with what knowhow they have Wish I had some expertise which was of use to you ...... I can do careers advice, hugs and making a mess. MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

27-03-2009, 07:50	#7
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	I'd go with a simple MySQL db with a php front end EDIT: Infact take a look at Zend Framework, I guarantee you will look at it and go "ZOMG" at first but that would be my starting point __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

26-03-2009, 20:05	#3
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I'm a code monkey myself so I have no idea what DreamWeaver can and can't do. Pretty easy to knock together the database code in PHP though.

27-03-2009, 12:12	#8
phykell Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 833	You could try a DotNetNuke module as part of your own web site. The problem with this (less so with a DNN module), SugarCRM or even Microsoft Dynamics CRM (current version is 4.0) is that it's like cracking a walnut with a hammer and you might find it doesn't do just what you want; but it depends on whether your ordering system will need to expand in the future too. If you do plan on the system scaling up as the business grows, it might be worth looking at something from Sage. I only have experience of their "mid-market solutions" (my company was a Sage development partner) - I think the current version is Sage 200 and was previously Sage MMS but a lot of their products have attachable modules, for example, Sage 200 has a stock/orders module which lets you handle inventory and warehousing. You can integrate with the purchasing side of Sage and obviously, it's pretty good at doing the accounts as well If you want bespoke, I can sort you out with an ASP.NET/SQL Server solution for a relatively small consideration __________________

27-03-2009, 12:14	#9
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	http://framework.zend.com/ all you need to know. Any questions I'll do my best to answer __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

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