Will Bridges

The web can host applications that are platform independent and ultimately scalable. That’s what we are working on at Bluepaw. We are working on a set of applications that we can deliver to manage businesses and manage their interaction with the internet. We call this the ‘Paw’ line of centralized software. All software uses Web 2.0 concepts and each piece of software in the line will be built for a type of business.

Each client that has an instance of the software will have the same code that will be a core engine driving the software. There may be modifications for that particular client. Those modifications will enhance the quality of the overall application and will be merged to the core software when they have been tested and we believe there is a possibility other clients will use the modifications. Each client will pay a subscription and hosting fee for the software as well as for the installation and any custom programming for their business. The subscription fee will allow us to bring in future upgrades as the software package improves. We will also take 25% of all income from the software and put it back in to the development of that particular software package.

We will follow a modular style of adding features to the software. Anything that changes the functionality of a the core code would not be merged to the core software as it could break other sites. That is, unless it was a fix to the core code. In that case it would be merged to the core in a very delicate manner.

The first part of doing something like this is a very flexible data model for each business and researching the business in question. In many cases before you start programming you should know the business better than the people or as well as the people in that particular business. Luckily I know a couple industries where I actually know people in the business to launch test sites with and create a buzz. My first intention is to go really cheap or free with a client in the industry we are working with to build the software and in return we get insight in to the business and build a base software package. From that we create a client base and a buzz around the software. Many times people want to know who uses a software package before they buy in to it. So, it’s good to have a client list that use software even if you have to give cutthroat rates. As more people use the software you can raise the value of the software and thus raise the price. Eventually you reach a point where you are making several times the cost of development for the software.

Another strategy we are using to get our development costs low for this ‘Paw’ line of software is to hire outsourced resources as trainees who are good programmers but aren’t familiar with Ruby on Rails or want more experience. We pay them very cheap as they learn and review their work as they go. This way we are training future resources and getting something of great value out of it while we are doing it.

I know you business minded folks are out there reading this. Don’t get any bright ideas! Just kidding. There’s enough room for us all to make money.