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Author: Subject: tracking restoration progress - a quick request
daz89

posted on 2/10/18 at 08:11 AM Reply With Quote
tracking restoration progress - a quick request

Hi Everyone,

A little while ago I posted a poll regarding whether people thought that recording and tracking a restoration or car build was too much effort, the response was a mixed bag and I got plenty of good feedback from the comments.
My aim was to ascertain whether people felt that the process could benefit from being streamlined, based on the poll and some of the comments, I think it may be worth continuing.
I’m in the process of putting together a solution that aims to streamline the process of recording project/build progress, the next step is to put together a ‘test group’ this will allow me to make sure that my solution works for the type of people who will use it. As I can’t think of a better group than Locost/Haynes roadster builders when it comes to good projects, in-depth builds and experience in this area, I’d really like to get feedback from you guys to help me improve my solution.
It wouldn’t require much effort on your part (the odd answer or bit of feedback on pre-release versions of the product is all I would ask) and you would get early use of the product for testing and use and the opportunity to have your say and therefore influence the development route.
It would be a great help to me if you could assist me here, and if you can, please feel free to get in touch via my email (visible to members of this forum on my profile) or comment on the thread and I’ll get in touch (if your email is public)

Thanks in advance,

Darryl

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Mr Whippy

posted on 2/10/18 at 12:16 PM Reply With Quote
Ah so this is a product you are developing rather than asking for help on managing a car build, that wasn't very clear in your last post, I thought you were looking for advice to manage the build of your car...

Not sure I'd even bother tbh as you up against a lot of very well funded competition much of which is free and established unless you also want to offer it for no cost?

Even then it is yet another application to learn when people are familiar with what they already use. There are many interesting build threads on this site and others, it's not very difficult to do.

If it looks anything like my spreadsheet I want 50% share in all profits.......

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daz89

posted on 2/10/18 at 12:29 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Ah so this is a product you are developing rather than asking for help on managing a car build, that wasn't very clear in your last post, I thought you were looking for advice to manage the build of your car...

Not sure I'd even bother tbh as you up against a lot of very well funded competition much of which is free and established unless you also want to offer it for no cost?

Even then it is yet another application to learn when people are familiar with what they already use. There are many interesting build threads on this site and others, it's not very difficult to do.

If it looks anything like my spreadsheet I want 50% share in all profits.......


to be honest it initially was because i couldn't find something that properly suited what I wanted when restoring cars, and in describing my issue I have managed to get a serious investor and developer on board. As a note i'm interested in looking at the established competition you describe (i'm not in the business of wasting my time if there is already a better solution on the market) so if you could point me towards them i would massively appreciate it.
I may be coming off as intentionally misleading, but I have to shy away from completely describing what i intend for a couple of reasons.

1. it would be a false economy to try and sell the concept when what i really want is honest feedback, so describing the intent but not the solution is what should yeald the better quality responses.

2. as you quite rightly point out, i don't want to give too much of the game away initially.

but what I can say is that the forum based project threads aren't competition based on my concept, it's a little removed from that.

but yes, as i say any point towards things that you think are already making restoration pain free would be really appreciated, and i promise not to steal your concept (although I was impressed)

Thanks

Darryl





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Mr Whippy

posted on 2/10/18 at 01:24 PM Reply With Quote
If I could copyright spreadsheets I'd be a very wealthy man and certainly retired from this company

You could answer your own question really… why did you find creating a build thread so hard on here, or on facebook or on a web page and what would it take to overcome these issues?

Personally I do wonder why people spend so much time doing one, is it just to avoid being in the garage? It’s one thing to track progress on a spreadsheet or planner to make sure you keep on top of things, maybe add a few pics on the forum to show some progress, or get advice but for me it’s just about the last thing I could be bothered with.

Investor & developer suggests cold hard cash will be spent, I hope you will make it all back, have you made a business case to see if it’s financially viable? I’m doing one right now for new App based software for…believe it or not a project management system for the engineers cos they keep misusing my excel control room and not updating their schedules correctly so I’m going to automate the whole damn thing but I have to prove it will pay for itself not just tell them it's worth it...harder than it sounds.

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nick205

posted on 2/10/18 at 04:07 PM Reply With Quote
Photos and an Excel spreadsheet did what I wanted. Not sure I'd have paid for or bothered learning another app for the purpose.
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Bluemoon

posted on 3/10/18 at 07:38 AM Reply With Quote
The spreadsheet is all you need plenty of examples out there... Best not over complicate it in any case...The market for a "tool" is probably in the 10's not worth the effort IMHO. There are plenty of task management apps out there already...
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jps

posted on 3/10/18 at 01:17 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by BluemoonThe market for a "tool" is probably in the 10's not worth the effort IMHO. There are plenty of task management apps out there already...


And I reckon the reason that task management systems (like Smartsheet or Trello for example) aren't more bespoke is because there isn't sufficent volume in any given specialist area - so tools created are more general and have to be tailored by the end user...

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daz89

posted on 3/10/18 at 01:55 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
If I could copyright spreadsheets I'd be a very wealthy man and certainly retired from this company

You could answer your own question really… why did you find creating a build thread so hard on here, or on facebook or on a web page and what would it take to overcome these issues?

Personally I do wonder why people spend so much time doing one, is it just to avoid being in the garage? It’s one thing to track progress on a spreadsheet or planner to make sure you keep on top of things, maybe add a few pics on the forum to show some progress, or get advice but for me it’s just about the last thing I could be bothered with.

Investor & developer suggests cold hard cash will be spent, I hope you will make it all back, have you made a business case to see if it’s financially viable? I’m doing one right now for new App based software for…believe it or not a project management system for the engineers cos they keep misusing my excel control room and not updating their schedules correctly so I’m going to automate the whole damn thing but I have to prove it will pay for itself not just tell them it's worth it...harder than it sounds.


I don't mind online build threads, nor do i mind excel, trello, a whiteboard in the garage etc, but I don't like all of them. but that's precisely my problem, I found that I was either not keeping track properly and struggling later on (refitting parts and can't find the before photo in my 1000+ photo album), or alternatively collating a days work to make sure I had the part numbers, before photo's, where i'd left bolts etc so that I didn't encounter the issues later, which robbed me of time that i would rather spend getting my hands greasy. It's not so much can I use these current solutions, which yes of course I can, but more do I feel that it could be faster, easier and less of a headache?
I agree entirely, I couldn't be bothered to record it fully either, but I felt I suffered later on because of it.

Yes, it is financially viable as far as the data and research done so far indicates. Great idea, I've seen one developed a little less professionally using google docs for a similar purpose (upload of electrical test results on site) the only issue was data usage for upload but there was a link based work around i think.





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daz89

posted on 3/10/18 at 01:58 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Photos and an Excel spreadsheet did what I wanted. Not sure I'd have paid for or bothered learning another app for the purpose.


What were your aims for excel and photo's? although my idea might not be your cup of tea, i'm always keen to see what people are finding to be a good solution.





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daz89

posted on 3/10/18 at 02:00 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by jps
quote:
Originally posted by BluemoonThe market for a "tool" is probably in the 10's not worth the effort IMHO. There are plenty of task management apps out there already...


And I reckon the reason that task management systems (like Smartsheet or Trello for example) aren't more bespoke is because there isn't sufficent volume in any given specialist area - so tools created are more general and have to be tailored by the end user...


Yes it's that generic functionality that bugs me, and you may be right if it's a small demographic then it's not worth doing, however i'm getting a good number of emails regarding the test group.

As a mention of that, if you have emailed me in the last day or two about test group interest I can assure you that I will submit a response and I have seen them, i've been getting through them slowly but surely

Thanks again guys





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