Bespoke software not only helps you run your business more effectively, it also saves time and money in the long-run. While off-the-shelf software has a place – when a business is in its infancy, for example – bespoke software meets the individual needs of a business in a way that packaged software simply can’t. If you’re considering an update or expansion in current technology, here are five ways bespoke software can make a huge difference to the success of your business.
1. Personalised software means happier employees and time used productively
Anyone who’s waited 40 minutes to speak to an actual person on an IT helpline will appreciate a simple solution – being able to contact a developer directly rather than waste time searching the internet for possible solutions. It’s a huge morale boost to give power back to a user in this way.
There’s also the added benefit of not needing to introduce a new system – one of the most disruptive processes a business can adopt. Because staff won’t have to learn how to use new technology, you won’t lose time and money in an indoctrination period, and staff will be delighted at how the software is actually helping them to do their jobs. This is especially true when you consider research from Hay Group showed that four in ten people (41 per cent) state that conditions in their job do not allow them to work at their peak productivity level.
Bespoke software is usually far more intuitive and user-friendly than its off-the-shelf alternatives. Because it uses the terminology of existing business practices and has been designed to match specific workflows, it’s more user-friendly from the start.
2. Bespoke solutions target individualised problems
A problem shared is a problem halved, isn’t it? When creating bespoke software, a designer will work with you to discover how the needs of your business can be met by technology and their expertise. They will also be able to use their experience to suggest improvements you may not have thought of. Any technical problems that arise afterwards are handled by ringing your developer. No more hours wasted Googling solutions or waiting in a helpline queue!
As your business grows, the software can be adapted to grow with it, and continue to provide made-to-measure support in response to its changing needs. This means that the time saved in resolving problems can be put to pushing productivity forward.
3. You won’t waste any more energy and money battling software problems
Everyone likes to save money. But you have to look at the true cost rather than the initial cost of something to understand its real value. While off-the-shelf software is usually marketed as cheaper, this does not accurately reflect its real cost. Because packaged software is designed for use by many types of companies with many types of needs, you’ll get a lot of unnecessary updates, ongoing maintenance and potential problems as part of the overall package. All of these things inevitably puts a big dent in a business’s productivity and can require additional charges hard to spot in the fine print at sign-up.
While the initial cost is sometime more expensive, custom-designed software focuses on the things that matter to a particular company and avoids the problems of a one-size-fits-all approach. By growing with a business it also works to reduce costs along the way, making it a wise investment in the long-term.
4. It makes your processes simpler, so you can process business quicker
You can cut straight to the chase by going bespoke. By cutting away the fat included in non-custom software, you’ll see how software designed for a single business is a much simpler, direct and efficient way of getting work done. A simplified structure allows for much greater development capabilities, without unnecessary features to slow the system down. Growing businesses with bespoke technology will appreciate the rate at which they outpace their competition when it comes to efficiency.
Not being limited to the basic functions and broad restrictions of off-the-shelf software, a business can focus on delivering goods and keeping the bar raised – two important ways to excel. For example, an energy-assessment company to have all of its projects entered into a single database. The multiple systems it engaged proved a huge time-waster, but bespoke software condensed everything into a single place: a reporting facility, diary planner, company directory, client records and project maps. Data entry duplication was eliminated, accuracy increased and reporting took much less time thanks to a change in software.
5. It helps you grow and develop your business
Having existing software needs met is a priority, but what about your future requirements? Bespoke software can anticipate new challenges and adapt to address them. This flexible approach allows a business to grow and perform to its full capability rather than being held back by out-dated and ill-fitting standard packages.
Contact us at info@beezapps.com
Comments are closed