As every aspect of life in the 21st century begins to get automated (or move to the cloud), you know that your business needs to get there too. Whether you’re a small to medium-sized business that’s looking to develop bespoke software, or a multinational corporation that needs fully-fledged ERP system development, the right kind of software is a must-have no matter what kind of business you run.
This of course isn’t breaking news. So what is? As ironic as it sounds, the 101 on enterprise software development should always be adhered to – be it business, investor or developer. Being in the arena of developing enterprise software for over 18 years, we’ve learnt a few things in the process.
Know What You Want
While it sounds like a no-brainer, it’s surprising to acknowledge that many business owners who are dissatisfied with their end products either fail to outline what they need correctly, or leave their lists incomplete. As simple as it seems, articulating your concept over to a developer can oftentimes feel tricky, as there is a high likelihood that your ideas can be misconstrued during the transfer.
So how do you prevent such a dilemma? It all starts with asking the right questions, and consolidating your answers to form a brief that can help members (be they in a locally based development team or at an extended office) understand precisely what you wish to achieve, and under what circumstances.
What’s more, proximity in terms of distance and language still doesn’t make this process any easier. So whether you partake in local insourcing or offshore development, it’s good practice to use these questions as a guide every time you intend to approach your developer for executing a new idea, or upgrading an existing one.
1. What do you wish to achieve through your software?
2. How should it benefit your organization?
3. How much can you afford to spend?
Your Employees Have Power
While all points for consideration have been included in the list above, there’s a reason why the employee factor has been given its very own slot in this guide. In the wake of developing the right kind of software, many important factors (such as objectives and bottom lines) are given attention, but an integral component is sometimes left out – the people who will be using your company’s software.
No matter how sophisticated your software is, its resourcefulness depends on how your employees use it for adding value to your business. For this purpose, you need to figure out if they require additional technical training prior to using it, and the most important question of all – whether it will make their duties more efficient than without it.
Don’t Forget The Future
It may sometimes feel cumbersome to think about the future prospects of your brand new software, but scalability is an important aspect in this age of constant change and competition. Also, don’t forget about the routines involved in system maintenance, such as software patches and troubleshooting.
Looking to develop enterprise software that meets your business needs just right?
Talk to us today and we’ll be happy to make this a reality!
If you have an existing system that you require maintained/enhanced, we can take of that for you as well!