Many years ago Kay Newell, known as the “Light Bulb Lady," sought a stable software system for her business, Sunlan Lighting, Inc. Kay asked technology expert and business consultant, Walt Pearson, to help her find a computer system that would serve as a vessel of information and the guardian of facts. She needed a system that could hold information for customers, support vendors, and seamlessly process that information to create reports as required for the demanding IRS entity (and for the Light Bulb Lady’s information).
“Walt searched high and low to find the right fit for me,” said Kay. “However, each time he found a likely candidate, there was an element missing, a program incomplete, or the system was too hard to operate.” Kay wanted a program that would meet her needs now and in the future. She was tired of promises not kept. Kay said, “So many times I had found a system, only to discover it could not meet my growing needs. I wanted a new software program and a support team to help my Kingdom of Light Bulbs grow.”
Open Systems, Inc. had been sending out feelers, creating ads, looking for businesses to serve. They had trained staff eager to work with new customers and solid programs that needed to be installed on waiting computers. TRAVERSE Business and Accounting Software by Open Systems, Inc. worked for companies of various sizes and differing requirements.
“Walt called me,” said Kay, “and he had found TRAVERSE, which looked like a match made for the business world. In fact, it looked so good he wanted to become a part of the Open Systems team as a Partner and was certain that TRAVERSE would fit my needs.”
Kay liked what she saw in TRAVERSE and asked Walt to install TRAVERSE software on her computers. “He was able to transfer all my data without a problem, none of the information I required was lost. The Sunlan staff found the learning curve very short and information easier to access than our old system. I installed Accounts Payable and Receivable, Inventory, Purchase Order, Sales Order, General Ledger, and the Payroll with Systems Manager to join the programs for ease of use.”
Walt and Mary Ellen Pearson were Kay’s IT people. They solved both hardware problems and software issues. They became a Partner of Open Systems and together they kept Kay’s programs up to date using a remote access program and regular updates.
Kay noted, “The system allowed Walt to customize the programs to meet my special needs. Sunlan Lighting serves both walk-in customers and on-account businesses. Using TRAVERSE’s flexible features, Walt could customize it to meet my needs. I was able to use my coding for my on-account customers, codes for items that are easy to find, and a vendor list that is easy to use. TRAVERSE let me do it my way.”
Kay loves that TRAVERSE supports the many bits of information required to run Sunlan. She said, “If I do have a problem with my software, the support team at Open Systems can look at my screen in real time to help solve the problem.”
Kay started using TRAVERSE in 2006, and is still impressed with its features. “I have a new member of my team who wants to learn more than the basics. Open Systems has programs to teach him the new skills he desires.
Over the years Open Systems has been updating programs, adding new programs, and improving the core programs. In addition, Open Systems utilized Walt’s and Mary Ellen’s skills to help improve TRAVERSE programs. Kay noted that once her go-to guy, Walt, retires, “I will still have the support I need with the staff at Open Systems.”
Dennis Newell, son of the Light Bulb Lady, can now sit at his computer and TRAVERSE opens at his command as he prepares another order for the newest LED bulbs. His staff is using TRAVERSE to take and fill orders. The business his Mother started in 1989 is still going strong in the historic Mississippi building he helped salvage back in the 90s and TRAVERSE is still his operating system. As Kay said, “TRAVERSE has allowed me to run my business my way.” Because of this, Sunlan is still lighting up Portland and beyond.