There are many variables involved when deciding whether to adopt
customized software or existing commercial software for your company.
In this article we will talk about the difference between commercial
software and customized software, that is a customized system, which takes into
account the work processes and the particular needs of a company; finally
evaluating the pros and cons of both solutions.
Why does the need to adopt
management software arise?
The software is used to organize work procedures efficiently, it is a
fundamental activity for any type of company; obviously on the market there are
different types of management software with various features and functionality.
Management software applications are fundamental in the organization
of work procedures, in any type of company. These IT systems allow you to
efficiently manage the various activities the company deals with, optimizing
time and resources.
In the absence of a complete management system, the company often
carries out various activities using different programs that do not communicate
with each other and do not synchronize data; the result is that the various steps
and links between the data must be done by the staff, with consequent loss of
time, use of human resources and an increased risk of error.
Think for example of a large repair shop that uses simple spreadsheets
to keep track of all the work done, the payments that have taken place and
those on hold, the appointments and the staff employed in each activity: at
each new commission it should check the calendar program to plan the activity,
that of the work already carried out to find out if this customer has already
made any interventions, that of the warehouse to find out if the necessary
pieces are available ... With a management software it could have all the data
organized in a in one place, monitoring both the technicians' work and the
customer's profile.
These considerations reveal the need to adopt management systems
capable of simplifying and speeding up work processes, using resources more
efficiently and significantly limiting human errors.
But how do you choose the one
that best suits your needs?
The first need is to choose the most suitable system for the type of
activity that the company will have to organize, analyze and monitor. There are
standard software that can be purchased ready for use, or customized solutions
that are developed ad hoc based on specific work needs.
So, do I adopt commercial or
customized software?
Going to find out what the digital market offers regarding your
business needs, we will certainly find commercial solutions more or less
adaptable to your needs; finding standard programs that can be used in all the
companies in the sector to which they refer. In some cases, however, the need
may arise to have a customized system that meets the specific needs of a
specific company.
Let's think, for example, of an already well-structured reality, which
offers a unique product or service. Our company may not want to compromise with
the pre-set logic of commercial Customized ERP Software's in Dubai, because it would mean adapting
and reviewing the working processes based on the functionality allowed by the
software. Then you may feel the need for a customized system, which has some
precise functionalities and takes into account your already established working
methods. In this case, it can make customized software, choosing all its
features.
Commercial software: pros and cons
Commercial software are designed to be adaptable to different
contexts, they are generally full of features that tend to be generalist.
Compared to existing procedures within companies, if a commercial
solution is adopted, the process of adapting its procedures with respect to the
insertion of commercial software is more impactful.
This is because commercial software was not designed to meet the needs
of your company, but more generally it is designed to cover more diversified
needs.
Probably also the times of the company staff are wider for the use of
the tool, due to the differences between the operating procedures of the
companies and the type of use of the tool itself; obviously this translates
into a higher cost of personnel in using the tool.
Having made these considerations, however, by adopting commercial
software, we can evaluate the following positive aspects:
·
Speed of implementation. The software being
already existing allows to make it immediately usable within one's own reality.
·
Certainty of the product . By choosing the type
of software among the various available, you know for certain the functions
that will be managed.
·
Cost monitored . We immediately know the
economic effort and the related annual management costs (always if we do not
ask for changes to the product from the parent company).
Custom software: pros and cons
A customized solution, on the other hand, is built according to the
customer's specific needs and has the great advantage of being able to
implement numerous features, opening the way to new opportunities.
Deciding to implement custom software, however, is not the easiest
thing to do. The client must immediately have clear ideas on the activities to
be implemented within the customized software.
In general, before creating the software, time is dedicated to
carrying out together with the client the detailed project of the functions
that are intended to be realized.
The project is carried out together with the figures involved in the
client's production process; and only once validated, the implementation of the
software starts in a strategic and efficient way.
CMS to manage a website
Software of this type is usually also implemented on the website, thus
offering the possibility to manage all the contents from a simple control
panel. This is an interesting aspect especially for those who have an
e-commerce connected to a site to be updated regularly and at the same time
must manage e-commerce activities: update the product catalog, check orders,
shipments, payments, the warehouse availability.
There are many solutions on the market for CMS (Content Management
System), it is up to the company to understand which one is the most suitable
according to their needs. The commercial CMS are already set up with the basic
functions and ready for use, generally they however require to adapt their
project and the idea they have for the site to the existing templates, offering
limited possibilities for customizing the layout and functions. If instead the
choice falls on a customized CMS, it is the software that adapts to the needs
of the company and not vice versa: it will be built with all the desired
functions in order to simplify and speed up all the work processes based on the
specific needs of those who will use.
The Customizer
A customized CMS is the indispensable solution when standard software
does not reflect one's needs or requires too much effort to adapt. It is necessary
above all when there is the will to integrate complex functions, such as
connecting different warehouses, sharing lists of products and customers,
having dedicated systems for customizing product pages. Finally, a personalized
CMS allows you to have valid technical tools to optimize the site for search
engines and SEO, ensuring good online visibility and smooth and responsive
navigation for users.
Based on these needs, we have chosen to use a custom CMS in Linkomm
too, creating The Customizer internally, the management system implemented in
many of our production sites.
The Customizer is a stable architecture that allows full freedom in
the management of the website and the e-commerce system, since it is built
precisely on the basis of the already existing structure. It offers a wide
range of features that are not preset, but made ad hocfor the specific activity
of the customer, combined with a practically infinite possibility of
modifications and updates that follow the technological evolution. The simple
and intuitive use of the platform puts the customer in a position to be able to
manage every aspect independently from the first access, and to have at his
disposal a competitive system that guarantees excellent performance and a valid
partner, useful for the development of his business. .
A conclusive evaluation
At this point in the article, we can conclude by making an assessment
of the different aspects of a customized software:
1. Efficiency
Customized software is built on the basis of the working methods
already implemented by a company, considering the critical points in the
process and the activities to be speeded up or improved. It is therefore
created with unique features, which are not normally available in common
standard software.
Thanks to the structure designed ad hoc, together with the customer,
the system allows you to manage your work in a simpler and faster way, allowing
you to reduce the time spent on management and free up human resources for
other activities.
2. Times
Commercial software is made in series; therefore it has the advantage
of being immediately available and ready for use. On the contrary, customized
software must be made specifically, so it takes some time to develop and test
the various features.
3. Costs
The cost of customized software is generally higher than that of a
standard system, but this expense is then reduced by the considerable increase
in productivity that entails its use over time.
4. Update
The commercial software is updated by the software house, the
customized one can be modified on request without having to wait for the next
available update
5. Integration
By designing customized software, where it is necessary, it is
possible to maintain already existing and optimized management pieces, simply
by integrating them into the new software.
6. Scalability
One of the strong points in the realization of customized software is
the full scalability of the same.
This is a very positive factor, given the continuous growth of
companies.
Knowing that the software that is created is predisposed to future
changes, additions and upgrades, allows us to work with strong planning with
respect to the company's future growth.
If you have come this far and are interested in learning more about
these topics, do not hesitate to contact us: Linkomm is at your disposal for
advice and to design software with your specific needs.
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