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Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight!
By | March 12th, 2015
When we speak with owners and senior managers of SME’s about their business, the conversation is about their specific plans and goals with a focus on the challenges and pains they are experiencing due to their existing business processes.
We actually start the discussion by identifying where they are up to, not in the buying journey, but in their business lifecycle.
In a broad sense, business software is broken down into two types:
- Product
- Solution
Product Software: A Product software system is when you purchase an out of the box application that the end user can effectively ‘plug and play’ (MYOB, Xero, Waveapps etc). This “Product” is relatively simple to use, has limited configuration capabilities beyond the standard On/Off or Yes/No options, and can be set up via a wizard, during sign up or with some rudimentary online training.
Solution Software: Solution software addresses a business’s pain points and requirements in a dedicated, structured discovery environment. It is not plug and play, not wizard driven, and the configuration of the system actively demands input form the purchaser about what they need/require. The scope, build and implementation of the “Solution” specifically meets those needs.
Because needs and requirements are different for every business, this research phase is challenging for many business because they are unable to determine if they simply require a product that will be an adequate fix for their immediate frustrations or if they need a Solution that can be crafted to encompass the best practices for their business based on the identified needs.
Another challenge is the pace at which change within the business software market is evolving. Many SME’s that previously thought they were outside the framework of a “Solution” would be surprised to know there are affordable, flexible and powerful options now available that leverage Cloud technology to compress timeframes, reduce costs and manage risk of implementing a new business platform.
If your business is reviewing business systems and processes then it’s worth taking 10 minutes to really ask yourself what is it you require?
As I said, it’s a waste of time and money to settle for a Product when a Solution is required and even worse, get a Solution when a Product (or group of products) just may suffice.
* In the interest of transparency we are in the business of providing “Solutions” using the Netsuite platform. We encourage all businesses to identify early where your review/investigation/education path is headed. We know from experience that it helps to align expectations within your organisation. If you require help to identify a solution that could be the right fit for your organisation then please feel free to get in contact.
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