5.6 KiB
Getting started - Evaluation
The first step is to figure out if AyaNova is a good match for your business needs.
We suggest the following order of steps to determine that in the least amount of time possible.
How does AyaNova work / what is it?
AyaNova is multi-user business software used for all aspects of profitable service management.
The AyaNova program is split into two parts: a "back end" server program and a front end web browser application that the User interacts with.
The back end AyaNova server runs on a single central computer and performs several tasks: it hosts the database that stores your data, the business api layer that handles all the business rules and logic used by the front end for securely creating, retrieving, updating and deleting business records like Work orders, Customers etc.
The back end server also acts as a web server to provide the front end web application to remote Users and handles tasks like rendering reports and storing and serving up any attached files and documents.
All the hard work is done at the AyaNova server and it acts as the "referee" to manage everything going on between multiple Users and ensure all the data entered by Users is stored safely and is consistent and correct.
The "front end" is a modern responsive web application that one or more Users access via the web browser on their smart phone, tablet, PC, smart TV or any other device with a web browser. The front end is designed to be be fast and efficient and adapt it's layout to the dimensions of the display on the device in use.
Rent AyaNova as a service or install and self-host AyaNova?
AyaNova is available in two different ways:
Subscription service
AyaNova can be used as a "Subscription" service hosted by us from the nearest global data center to you.
AyaNova will always be up to date with the latest release and you don't need to install anything or maintain any back end server hardware / software or configure networking.
You can choose to pay month to month or year to year as a subscriber.
Your Subscription AyaNova data backup is compatible with the other Perpetual (self hosted) option enabling you to move to that way of using AyaNova if it makes more sense down the road.
See our AyaNova subscription option pricing page for Subscription pricing and potential benefits of using AyaNova as a Subscription service.
Perpetual license
AyaNova can be licensed "Perpetually" meaning you download and Install the AyaNova server software package on premise to your own in-house Windows or Linux computer for a single User, internal network of Users or shared across the internet to multiple users.
You will need to install, update and maintain AyaNova in-house.
Your initial maintenance agreement purchase comes with AyaNova perpetual licenses and also entitles you to one year of support and updates. You can choose to cancel your maintenance agreement at any time and continue using AyaNova at the last version released before your maintenance agreement expired or renew your maintenance agreement to continue receiving support and updates year to year.
The AyaNova perpetual option pricing page has more details and outlines the benefits between the two to help make a decision which way to go.
Your data backup is compatible with the other Subscription (we host for you) option enabling you to move to that way of using AyaNova if it makes more sense down the road.
Pricing - can I afford AyaNova?
AyaNova's pricing and support model is designed to be as affordable as possible.
Our prices can be found on our AyaNova pricing page.
Features - Will AyaNova do what I need it to do?
Our company started as a computer service company and we've built up AyaNova from our own service roots and experience and mixed in years of feedback from real world users "in the trenches" of providing service all over the world.
There's not much that AyaNova doesn't do at this point but sometimes it's not obvious that a feature exists.
We recommend first taking a look at the "Big picture" features are listed on our home page.
Many things have been left off that page so the next step would be to take a quick skim through our manual. In particular if you look at the XXXNEEDLINKTOUSERINTERFACESECTIONASAWHOLEXXXXXXX
Next up - Acquisition
You have determined AyaNova is going to be a good match for your business it's time to acquire AyaNova licenses and get to work:
Step 2. Acquisition - purchasing AyaNova
================================================================
- Check out pricing, features, skim the manual and guided tours, see if it looks remotely like what you need, ask questions of support as required
- Install or trial Subscription AyaNova online
- Evaluation, is AyaNova right for my business?
- Generate some sample data
- Take tours, play with sample data
- Have all users try it out as if it was installed, get feedback, configure as it would be used
- If something isn't quite right can it be customized to do what we need?
- Forms, reports, terminology and text
- Test import or migration of any required data for production use, e.g. v8-migrate, customer import, parts import, graphics logos
- Decision, will it work for us, did we try all the things we need to do over time periods i.e. daily, weekly, monthly, yearly
