Issue Clubs to Golf Pros
A golf club manufacturer called us with a simple request; they had to capture clubs that they were issuing to tour professionals.
The Problem
The manufacturer was required to keep track of clubs issued to their clients for tax purposes and asked us to develop a simple system that would capture this data.
Our Hardware Solution
We chose to use Intermec CK31 hand held computers for this application. The CK31 has a full alphanumeric keyboard, and a linear imager. It also comes equipped with an 802.11g radio, but we didn't use it for this application.
Tables of employee names and golf pros are downloaded into the reader on a periodic basis. These files are used to populate a two pull down list boxes, and to verify collected data.
First, and employee enters their name from a pull down list and then chooses the player they are issuing the club to:
Software
A custom program was written in Microsoft's VB.NET for the CK31 to collect data. Data is later uploaded by putting the CK31 into a dock an uploading to an FTP server via Active Sync. This is done through a USB cable. Data is inserted into an Access database that was developed internally.
Conclusion
This customer called many suppliers looking for a system that met their requirements to no avail.
This is an simple system, but if your system requirements can't be met by off the shelf software, custom written code is always an option. Custom code will usually be more effective than off the shelf software because it's designed from the ground up meet the unique needs of your application.
This system is now running at two locations.
