Marina Dock Age, March/April 2000

When Just Thinking About Software Gives You a Headache
by Dennis P. Kissman

I have this hang-up about software, and from time to time I’ve addressed it in this column. It would be easy to be critical of the packages being offered the marina industry, but that will serve no purpose to resolve an ongoing problem that will only get worse over time.  

First, let’s look at the big picture. When we first started our business ten years ago, I was sure we were on the verge of seeing large national and international marina chains, followed by successful regional chains, and a few large independents in prime locations. Oh yes, we would still have a few small and successful owner/operators in locations that the other groups had written off as not worth pursuing. And then there would be those that would not have the wherewithal to make a go of it, and would flounder to one degree or another.  

What actually happened is that the small owner/operators are healthier than ever and the regionals have prospered. From here it goes downhill fast. The big chains’ marketing hype outweighed their substance, and they never materialized to the point where they have had a positive influence on the marina industry. (I am sure there will be some criticism from my colleagues for my position, but when you get behind the marketing facade, there is not much substance to these groups. It often reminds me of visiting the back lot of a movie studio where there is a beautiful house, only to open the door and find it is propped up by two-by-fours.)

DISASTER WRITTEN ALL OVER IT

So what does this have to do with software? Everything. First, it takes lots of money to develop a software package that can accommodate the variety of operations you find at marinas. The nuances that are part of every marina, even those operated as a group, are impossible for a software developer to incorporate into a “standard” software package. The result is a vanilla “package” that you are expected to conform to, an approach that has disaster written all over it for your marina.

Many developers will say they will modify their programs to meet your needs Sounds good, but often you don’t know what you want to begin with. If you make changes down the road, you have to go back to the original developer and then are at his mercy for price and delivery. Compound that with the fact that if you’re like me, you don’t speak the same language as these software developers. The results are usually less than what I expected, and fixing it only adds more dollars to the bill, not to mention the frustration.

Another thing: Your marina is not the same as it was a few years ago. And if your software package hasn’t changed, then it is dictating how you operate your marina. This is a sure way to run your marina into the ground.

I recently visited a client’s marina that was using a software package that was developed more than five years ago for a dealership operation. It was “state of the art” at the time and worked great for what had been his primary source of business. But his business has changed and he is at a loss as to how to get meaningful information out of this system. I know this is not an isolated case. Many of you feel the same way and are asking yourselves what can you do about it? Continue »