Self-Devpt. Nuggets™

I returned to Cotonou from Lagos, this past Saturday (18th January 2014). While holidaying with my family, I’d continued writing and coding 😉 It’s been hard work, but I’m now almost done building the pocket-friendly mini version of my increasingly popular Poultry Farm Manager Application.

In light of the number of broiler farm owners contacting me, I’ve decided to build in an interface for posting broiler farm data separately, from the layers. That way, a farm owner who has either or both groups of birds can make use of the same application.

Like I said it’s been hard work. But I continue to be inspired by the growing number of enquiries I’m getting for this new application. I never expected (even though I sensed people would find it potentially useful), that it would attract this much interest this quickly.

Just this morning, two new enquiries came into my mail box. One was made via the contact form on this blog. It was from the CEO of a farm in Canada.

The other came in via the web form on the page hosting the videos of my Poultry Layer Farm Manager and an explanation of my Best Operating Process Management System (BOPMS) ™ for Profitable Farm Management Mind Map.

This second enquiry (from a US based farm business owner) is what prompted me to write this article:

She specifically asked if I had a trial version of my app that she could try, and also wanted to know how much the app cost in US dollars.

Sadly, I Do Not Offer a Trial Version of My Excel-VB Driven Apps

That was not the first time I was getting that request. And each time I’ve had to say I offer no trial version – for now.

I wish I could oblige people who ask. But the realities make it impossible. At least for now.

The platform of Excel-Visual Basic is not secure enough to allow that. In truth, the averagely savvy Excel user, who knows how to follow instructions freely available on Excel support solutions sites, can find ready-to-use information, even code, to hack into any app.

In other words, someone like me who creates a new breed of customizable apps could easily have others basically hacking into it, and modifying it to suit their own purposes, which would most likely include selling it, without my being aware of it, or getting any benefits whatsoever.

My apologies. But my experiences in my part of the world make it necessary to operate this way..

In dealing with my international audience I’ve chosen to be cautious. I know other people sell their Excel apps and offer trials of some kind. However the type of applications I build are a bit unique – and the market I serve is quite narrow: farm business owners.

So it’s not like I have crowds of prospective buyers from which I can reap volume based profits even after I let a few “pirates” get in the door

Once, while still based in Nigeria, I had a hotel client engage people he assumed to be competent experts, from Lagos’ Ikeja Computer village, to try hacking into the hotel management app I built for him.

He did this to try avoiding paying me the required fees to make changes he wanted.

Unfortunately for him, those he brought in were just typical CD pirates/vendors who take installation CDs/DVDs for different software programs and mass duplicate them for sale.

They did not understand how to deal with an Excel Workbook that had controlling code in a VBA interface.

When it became obvious they could not give him what he wanted, he sent for me. I only got to know the details of what transpired because a “bird” among his staff, whispered it to me after I arrived

But that incident reinforced my belief that I must do my best to protect myself and my work from exploitation. In doing so, I also protect the investment of sincere others who choose to buy from me.

Think about it. If you paid me the required fee (e.g. N12,500 for my Ration Formulator), and later found that your friend simply copied it off your PC and easily made changes to use it for his own farm PC, would you not feel like you wasted your money? You most likely would!

Over the years I’ve developed code, designs, and procedures for my work and my apps, to minimize chances of my apps being exploited in that manner.

I realize, of course, that an intending hacker can come to buy directly from me, pretending to be a farm owner.

Indeed a real life farm owner could choose to buy from me. Then after confirming that it works well, s/he could choose to invest time and effort in hacking it, so as to sell it for profit by him/herself.

In my part of the world I have no doubt that this has crossed the minds of some people. They could even be doing it already. I would not know. And even if I did know, I would not be able to stop them.

But for buyers who stay with me, I plan to reward them with lifetime FREE upgrades and other benefits

Buyers of my Excel-VB Ration formulator will confirm that I’ve always sent them the latest upgrades. I am driven by a continuous improvement focus. In January 2013, I sent out an upgrade version.

Before getting my international agribusiness research paper (which featured my Ration Formulator) published, I’d begun working on a new version.

It will do least cost feed formulation and handle multiple amino acids balancing, to make it suitable for use by farmers who rear pigs, rabbits and other animals with more sensitive amino acid balancing needs. Each past buyer of the Ration Formulator will, again, get this new version free.

Instead of Trial Versions, What I Offer are Video Demonstrations and Very Detailed PDF Screenshot User-guides

Many of the sales of my Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator have happened after the buyer watched the video demonstration on my Youtube channel.

I’m keen to connect with as many farm owners as possible.

They will be my partners, and by using my application and giving me feedback, they will enable me refine the software solutions I create. In that way, I’d be able to get the apps to a point where they would have most, if not all features and functions that make them potentially useful for farms in any part of the world.

By then I would convert the app to an EXE application. This would be the safest way to offer a trial, that hackers would be least successful with.

If you buy my app and want changes or modifications made, we can talk about it.

My apps will work as shown in my demo videos, or I give you your money back. That’s one thing you can be sure of. So if what you’ve seen in the video is what you need, then have no fears…make payment for the real thing and get started using it. If you experience any issues, I WILL ALWAYS be availble to support you, till you get happily up and running :-)).

The fact that many of my past buyers remain on phone and email “speaking” terms with me today, even though we’ve never met, I believe indicates that I deliver what I promise.

I’ve Been Using Video Demos to Sell My Ration Formulator for Years

I began that journey in 2004. Since then many buyers and users within and outside Nigeria/Africa have provided me feedback and also made enquiries, which have helped me improve it.

Soon, I believe I’ll be ready to launch the full fledged EXE app. But the Excel-VB driven version will also remain available.

I’m using the same approach for evolving my Poultry Farm Manager app.

Experience has taught me that the farm owners will help to identify relevant improvements the app needs to make it meet their important needs.

My vision is therefore to have a base of buyers/users that will be part of my Farm Business Ideas club.

By using my app, farmers will accumulate farm operations data from which they will derive various Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Eventually, we would be able to produce industry level KPIs, which would enable us compare farm performance across farms and markets internally (within a country, state, region) or externally (across countries or continents).

That way, a farmer will know what the trending industry standard is, compared to what he’s getting on his farm, at a point in time. This will guide him/her to make needed adjustments to get better results.

For those considering my Poultry Farm Manager or any other apps I build, the above is what I promise…

That is, to support you by customizing my apps to meet the needs you specify.

Once you buy one or more of my apps, you automatically become a member of my Farm Business Ideas club. and get a lifetime 40% discount on ALL other products and services I offer.

If you believe above benefits make up for NOT offering a trial version, I look forward to hearing from you.

Contact me, to make your enquiry or request.