Since 1999, Bill has spearheaded the development of Parsec‘s manufacturing operations management (MOM) platform, TrakSYS.
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When it comes to B2B software, “off-the-shelf” and “out-of-the-box” solutions that promise a quick and agile implementation are everywhere. As appealing as those solutions might seem, they may trade extensibility and long-term viability for deployment speed, which eventually may force companies to frame their needs around the software’s limitations.
Compare these options to tailored solutions that are more extensible yet take more consideration to implement upfront, and you’re left facing a great tech conundrum: Should you tailor your business to fit your software, or should your software be tailored to your business?
Beyond rapid solution delivery, there are several factors to consider during the decision-making process. Concepts like “technical debt”—when an expedited delivery gets undermined by time-consuming reconfigurations and optimizations—should carry equal weight. Agility does not necessitate usability, and making a selection on speed alone could see companies signing up for a future of configuration and reconfiguration as they work to pay off their “debt.”
To avoid this potential pitfall, here are steps that businesses searching for adaptable software can take to focus on the long term.
Looking Beyond The Implementation Stage
When implementing and deploying an operations software, one must consider the balance between minimizing time spent configuring the solution and disruptions to productivity and quality caused by altering ways of working. A common pitfall in selecting and designing integrated software solutions is to ignore the long-term effects on the users and process in favor of the bottom line in the project budget and timeline.
Alongside time to implementation, decision-makers need to consider the entire life cycle of their software and how end users will interact with it. After having taken the time to purchase and implement a solution, having to bake in hours to train employees to use an unintuitive UI and establish comprehensive customer support is the last thing a company needs. By keeping usability, scalability and agility top of mind, tech leaders can more readily select the best solutions for their businesses, customers and employees.
Even so, when companies do come to a decision, it’s often at the expense of other desired features or capabilities. As recently as last year, it was reported that only 27% of small-businesses purchase software that meets or exceeds their expectations without compromises.
To avoid having to make compromises, companies need to determine the critical functions they are looking to address via their new software. Being able to answer questions like what the software needs to be able to do immediately, how much strain it will be under and, in the event that something goes wrong, how immediately the issue must be resolved, will only further help guide decision-makers to the right solution and vendor.
It’s normal to want an all-encompassing software that delivers well above your initial plans and offers 24/7 support for even the smallest bug, but decision-makers need to be pragmatic. It’s vital that they consider how essential each additional function is and are realistic about what timelines are acceptable for receiving support. There is a balance to be struck, which is why viewing the process holistically is key.
Staying True To Your Original Goals
Even in the best of scenarios, deciding on software can be challenging. To that end, always remember why you are looking for a solution in the first place: to improve your operation.
I like to view buying software like buying a house. It takes time to identify good options and determine what’s feasible for your situation. After going through the head-spinning process of financing, closing and dealing with all the paperwork, you can finally “implement” and move in.
But you’re not done yet. The real rewards come after you start making the house your own by arranging the furniture and “tailoring” your purchase just to your liking.
Although it can take time, search until you find software that addresses your needs of the present and sets you up for success in the future. The right software will work with your business, not against it. When a solution adapts to and integrates seamlessly with your software ecosystem, the result will be a tech stack that operates beyond the sum of its parts.
Making The Right Decision
On top of all the other important questions businesses need to consider when purchasing software, they must keep the great tech conundrum top of mind. “Out-of-the-box” or “off-the-shelf” solutions may have their strengths, but they aren’t a cure-all. Working with a vendor who is committed to meeting the needs of their customers by providing flexible and extensible software can help ensure organizations do not end up molding their processes to one particular product.
Software selection can be difficult. When it comes time for you to choose, always remember: Your software should be adaptable to you, not the other way around.
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