\u201cHi, Could you please send me the Excel trial Version of Broiler Chicken management software. Let me know also the price of the system please. I need this urgently. Regards, Molefe<\/strong> (surname removed for privacy)\". <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n And I always to do that at my own expense. In the past, I got a lot of phony requests. That taught me to avoid wasting energy responding to email requests from \"ghosts\" :-))<\/em><\/p>\n Recent buyers of my Excel-VB Ration Formulator\u2122<\/a> and\/or Feed Formulation handbook<\/a>, got called by me (e.g. in Nigeria and Tanzania). I wanted to speak with them to ensure they understood what I was selling, and to also understand what their needs were.<\/p>\n Anytime I do this, and get the impression my product will not solve that person\u2019s problem, I do not hesitate in advising him\/her accordingly.<\/p>\n Sure it may mean no sale for me. But I prefer that to having an angry or resentful buyer afterwards. <\/strong><\/p>\n This is why today I enjoy cordial relations with most of my past buyers. And many of them gladly helped me complete the questionnaire survey for my recently concluded agribusiness research paper<\/a>.<\/p>\n I told him my application in the video was built for a layer\u2019s farm<\/a>, and that did not have an app ready for use with a broiler farm.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n If he wanted that, I would need to \"have a formal question\/answer session\" with him. This would help me get a proper feel for his unique farm situation, to accurately determine his needs.<\/p>\n Only then would I be able to determine what the required investment will be. <\/strong><\/p>\n You see, he kept hammering on the cost saying \u201csend me the price!\u201d That bothered me. As did his repeated insistence that he wanted the app \"urgently\". <\/em><\/p>\n The only exception is when I already have an app built, which can be easily customized to suit the client\u2019s need (e.g my Ration Formulator<\/a>, the Poultry Layer Farm Manager<\/a> or the Payslip Generator<\/a>).<\/p>\n I told him I would do him an email once our conversation ended. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201c\u2026My service involves developing custom applications to help smallholder farmers manage their farms more intelligently.<\/p>\n The video you watched is of an app I built for a large poultry layer farm in Ekiti state, South West Nigeria. In 2009, I built a similar one for a 12,000 layer farm in Ogun State, also in South West Nigeria.<\/p>\n The one you saw is quite sophisticated, and at a cost of N250, 000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). A scaled down and therefore less pricey version (missing some features) of it will probably be best for smaller farms.<\/p>\n Please note that it is NOT an accounting application.<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, it does income and expense recording and reports weekly, monthly and annually.<\/p>\n However it's main purpose is to record daily operations data so as to auto-generate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for determining how well the animals are doing on a DAILY basis. Automated charts are plotted for KPIs like feeding rates, Hen Day Percentage, Mortality Rate; Feed to Egg conversion ration.<\/p>\n The trend of the charted data quickly tells you if there's anything to worry about. And you can then take corrective action.<\/p>\n I call my applications of this kind \"Enterprise Information Systems (EIS).<\/strong><\/p>\n For a broiler operation, feeding rate, feed to flesh conversion ratio, mortality rate, growth rate would be the KPIs to measure.<\/p>\n However we still have to get a good idea of how your farm operates so we know how you'll compile data to post into the app.<\/p>\n There is a paper based recording form that often gets modified for use on each different farm.<\/strong><\/p>\n If I may offer some advice: <\/em><\/strong>avoid focussing on how much just yet. Slow down and think of what exactly you want software to do for you.<\/em><\/p>\n There's so much you can do that can help you manage your farm with LESS EFFORT, and at less cost. That\u2019s what I help farm owners achieve.<\/p>\n Here's what I propose:<\/strong> I'll send you a short questionnaire tomorrow, which you can fill and return to me. Then using your responses, I'll give you more specific answers, including a recommendation on the kind of solution, and the required investment.<\/p>\n If the above agrees with you, just do me a reply saying so, and I'll send you the questionnaire.<\/p>\n Thanks for your interest in my work.<\/p>\n ===Email Excerpt Ends=== <\/em><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nFirst he sent a web contact form message from the video page<\/a> for my EXCEL-VB POULTRY FARM MANAGER and BOPMS\u2122 EXPLANATION.<\/h3>\n
![\"First](\"http:\/\/spontaneousdevelopment.com\/uploads\/molefe-form2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThen he sent another from my Excel Heaven custom software development website<\/a>.<\/h3>\n
![\"Then](\"http:\/\/spontaneousdevelopment.com\/uploads\/molefe-form1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFirst, I Called Him on Phone to Make Sure He Was REAL<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Speaking With the South African Broiler Farm Owner<\/strong><\/h3>\n
I don\u2019t do \u201crush jobs\u201d as a rule, in this area of my work i.e. farm business custom software development. <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Here\u2019s an Excerpt from the Email I Sent Him<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n ===Email Excerpt continues===<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n And Here\u2019s the Response He Sent<\/strong>...<\/h3>\n
![\"And](\"http:\/\/spontaneousdevelopment.com\/uploads\/molefe-last-reply.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n24 hours Later, I Sent Him This Email(Below)\u2026and an MS Excel Workbook (Linked Below<\/strong>)...<\/h3>\n
![\"24](\"http:\/\/spontaneousdevelopment.com\/uploads\/molefe-last.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nClick here<\/a> to download a duplicate version<\/strong><\/em> of the Excel based Functional Requirements Specification (FRS) and Questionnaire Workbook I sent to him.<\/h3>\n
![\"Click](\"http:\/\/spontaneousdevelopment.com\/uploads\/molefe-frs1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nNote (below) how I stated my delivery duration towards the bottom of the FRS. <\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Here\u2019s](\"http:\/\/spontaneousdevelopment.com\/uploads\/molefe1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Note](\"http:\/\/spontaneousdevelopment.com\/uploads\/molefe-frs2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n