My name is Chris LaBadie, and this is the first entry of my new blog, The RMS Guy.  I will write about all things Microsoft Dynamics RMS from my unique perspective: an Application/Database Developer who went from being an RMS user to becoming an award winning Implementer.

Ok, before I get too much harassment from my co-workers, I will clarify that last statement.  I was a member of two project teams that won Microsoft Pinnacle Awards (now they are called “Excellence Awards”).  But, we all know who really won those awards…  Just kidding guys, put down the torches and pitchforks! 

I will talk more about those award winning projects and many other interesting projects I have led in later entries of The RMS Guy, because I have a lot to cover today.  Besides, I have to pace myself with my content; I can’t use all of my good stuff too quickly!  Today, I want to tell you a little about myself, list out topic ideas I came up with for future discussions, and tell you why I think this blog will be interesting and worth reading. 

I have been a consultant at InterDyn-LANAC Technology for two and a half years.  Our RMS business started slowly, but has really picked up in the last year and a half.  InterDyn-LANAC has been described as the “Premier RMS Partner” in the Chicagoland area and is at the top of the list when Microsoft has referrals.  And to think, two and a half years ago they didn’t even have an RMS practice, not bad huh? 

Before that I worked at the Goodwill of Central Indiana, one of InterDyn-LANAC’s customers, for three years.  At Goodwill, I was in Application and Database Development.  I spent the first year supporting Goodwill’s previous POS system, Argis.  I don’t want to say anything bad about Argis, but let’s just say supporting it was a full time job.  There is a reason nobody uses file-based databases anymore.  We implemented RMS at the new Goodwill Bulk Store because Argis would not support the scale configuration used at the Bulk Store. In addition, we were using the Bulk Store implementation to evaluate RMS for future at a “regular” Goodwill store.  Implementation was extremely successful and adopted for all future stores.  Over time, all of the existing stores were also converted to RMS. 

After the RMS implementation at Goodwill, my wife and I made the decision to move closer to family, which meant moving to the Northwest Indiana/Chicago area.  I immediately thought of InterDyn-LANAC, Goodwill’s Microsoft VAR.  I had attended two Convergence conventions with InterDyn-LANAC as a customer and got along great with everybody I met from InterDyn-LANAC.  With my experience in both RMS and GP, I was able to get a job as a consultant.

My background is in Visual Basic application development and SQL Server database development.  I feel that my background really helps me understand RMS from a different perspective.  I like to describe RMS as a “retail platform”.  Out of the box, it is a solid Point of Sale solution.  But, since it is wide open to customization, you can build up on the “RMS platform” with new business rules and custom interfaces to meet the needs of almost any vertical.  In doing these customizations (or “personalizations” as the sales types like to call them), one really gets a feel for how RMS works behind the scenes. 

Off of the top of my head, here is a small sample of topics I want to discuss at some point.  I chose these topics because either- we have done some very exciting things with these topics or I have had issues in the past and would like to discuss the issues and find out about other people’s experiences with these topics:

• Payment Processing
• Peripherals
• Third Party Tools
• Customizations
• Reporting
• Infrastructure
• Security
• Licensing
• SQL Server
• Microsoft Support
• Communities

But, most importantly, I want to hear from other RMS users, implementers, and supporters.�
Responding to your feedback and questions is what will really make this blog interesting.