No regrets ninety-two

Chapter 644
In addition to many things in Grand View Plaza that he had to personally intervene, there were also many things that Wu Xiaozheng needed to be busy with.

For example, a restaurant ordering system.

After more than a month of overtime development by two programmers, the most basic ordering system has taken shape.

During this period, Wu Xiaozheng conducted a lot of tests on this system.

He found that this system can basically meet the ordering needs of Chef Wu's restaurant from the point of view of ordering needs alone.

Then, the next step is to install the ordering system at the front desk of the restaurant for practical testing.

The transition from manual ordering to computer ordering is a test for cashiers in restaurants.

This requires cashiers not only to learn basic computer operations, but also to learn how to use the ordering system.

It takes time and it takes learning.

But the most important thing is that the system must be installed first.

The first thing to do is to purchase equipment.

Zhong Mingyu asked, "Xiaozheng, should I buy a 386 or 486 computer?"

According to the design requirements, a computer and a small printer must be installed on the side of the cash register, and then connected to the kitchen with a cable, and a small printer must also be installed on the kitchen side.

In this way, as soon as the customer's order is registered at the cash register, the table number and dish name are printed directly on the kitchen side, and the waiter does not need to hand over the order list to the kitchen.

And the dishes ordered by customers can also be clearly printed out in detail when paying.

Of all the devices, the most critical is of course the computer.

"What 386, 486 to buy? Do you have to play games for the cashier? 286 is enough!"

In Wu Xiaozheng's view, even the 486 is a product that will be eliminated soon, and the computer at the cash register is just running an ordering system, so there is no need to waste money on 386, 486 and the like.

Zhong Mingyu was a little surprised.

In his impression, Wu Xiaozheng has always been extravagant when spending money, why is he so stingy this time?

He retorted: "Using 286 to install Windows, it runs extremely slowly, and it can't run."

Wu Xiaozheng was stunned for a moment.

He just remembered that in more than two years, Windows will push Win95. If you buy 286 now, Win95 will not be able to run at that time, and you can only directly eliminate it.

"Then buy 386."

He reluctantly compromised.

Installation, commissioning, and teaching the cashier, accountant, and store manager to operate the ordering system are naturally two programmers to do, and Wu Xiaozheng doesn't need to worry too much.

He just needs to understand the effect of use.

The application effect of the ordering system is gratifying.

On the cash register side, the possibility of miscalculating accounts is greatly reduced. As long as there are no human errors, it is basically clear.

For the waiter, there is no need to run between the cashier and the kitchen, not only the workload is greatly reduced, but the possibility of making mistakes while busy is also greatly reduced.

On the guest side, it seems clear at a glance what meal they ordered and how much it cost in total, so they no longer need to worry about the restaurant charging more.

On the kitchen side, when the customer orders a meal, two copies of the order will be printed out directly in the kitchen, one copy will be saved by the chef, and the other copy will go with the plate, so you don’t have to worry about missing dishes anymore.

The happiest is the accountant and store manager.

The work of statistical reports, which originally took a lot of time, now only needs a few clicks on the computer, and it is clear at a glance, and the reports can be printed out directly.

In short, the application of the ordering system is all-round to improve the service quality of restaurants.

After the practical application passed the acceptance test, the two programmers were naturally the happiest.

In their view, after a busy summer vacation, they finally got the ordering system done, which is considered a great success.

However, after being happy, they were also a little confused.

Zhong Mingyu asked: "Xiaozheng, what are you going to do next? Go to Xiangshui to install the system in the restaurant over there, and we will have nothing to do!"

Impossible to do nothing.

In Wu Xiaozheng's plan, the two programmers still have plenty to do.

But what he is thinking about now is not how to arrange new jobs for the two programmers, but how to get his IT company on the right track.

You know, although he has specific ideas, his IT company doesn't even have a prototype, and there are only two programmers now.

It's very informal.

Registering a company is easy.

But after the company is registered, in addition to having people, it must also have a main business that allows the IT company to survive and grow, so as to retain talents.

No matter how much money Wu Xiaozheng gives, if the programmers have no performance and a sense of accomplishment, and no room for expectation and improvement, they may not be able to retain real talents.

How to make IT companies have profitable business?
This is a difficult problem.

In this era when computers are still so expensive and far from popular, it is really troublesome to find a business that can make long-term profits for IT companies.

Got it!

Wu Xiaozheng thought of the expensive computer installed in his restaurant, which made him feel distressed.

In later generations, there are special cash registers. This kind of cash register has a simple configuration and a single function. It exists purely for cash register, but it is very popular in restaurants, supermarkets, small shops, drugstores and other industries.

Why can't this be regarded as the first main business of an IT company?

This is indeed doable.

According to Wu Xiaozheng, the development of the IT industry has gone through several stages.

The first stage is the hardware stage.

The period of this stage is from the mid-80s to the end of the 90s.

At this stage, many hardware companies began to rise, such as IBM, HP, DELL, Apple, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony and so on.

At this stage, these hardware-based IT companies are mainly engaged in desktop computers, notebook computers, servers, and system integration.

At this stage, due to the opacity of hardware prices, these hardware-based IT companies have made a lot of money.

The second stage is the software stage.

The period of this stage is from the late 80s to the late 90s.

At this stage, some software companies began to rise, such as Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, Sybase, UFIDA, Kingsoft, Kingsoft, etc. Representative products include: windows, Oracle, office, financial software, Kingsoft, etc.

At this stage, there are not many software companies, customers do not understand software, and prices are not transparent, so software companies can make a lot of money by selling products or custom development.

The third stage is the Internet age.

The period of this stage is roughly from the mid-to-late 90s to around 2010.

The fourth stage is the era of mobile internet.

The sign of the beginning of this stage is the emergence and wide application of smart phones, which started around 2007.

It is said that in the future will also enter the era of the Internet of Things.

At that time, TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, cars, real-time road conditions, and empty parking spaces will all be connected to the Internet, and people can view them in real time and control them remotely. All-round interconnection of things and things.

For Wu Xiaozheng now, things after the Internet era are still a bit far away, and what he can grasp is the software era.

Since we are in the software era, his IT company should focus on software products and services.

In this way, a cash register system that combines hardware and software will be a very profitable business.

Alas, in this day and age, as long as you use your brain a little, there are plenty of opportunities to make money!
(End of this chapter)