5 Benefits that Custom Software Brings to your Business

9th February 2018 :: Author: Andrew Cope, Managing Director, Evergreen

At Evergreen, we understand that in business, efficiency and profitability go hand in hand. We also appreciate that no two businesses are the same, which is why so many prefer not to use off the shelf software but go for a more custom approach.

The benefits of custom software are proven; more control, increased efficiency, full customisation, reduction of costs and more time spent focusing on the growth of the business to name but a few.

In this blog we’ve looked at the reasons why businesses come to us for a bespoke business system and have identified 5 common themes.
 

1 - "We’re not happy with our current software provider"

Whether software is custom built or off the shelf, issues with providers can be frustrating and costly – some of the problems our clients have encountered with their previous suppliers include:

  • Discontinuation of Support – whether a supplier has closed down their business or just changed focus having no ongoing support for a system your business relies on will leave it in limbo and potentially vulnerable to security breaches.

  • Poor Service – Email ticket systems, international call centres and help forums instead of a personal, dedicated service based on building relationships are a huge frustration for many businesses when it comes to dealing with issues that may arise or even making simple updates to their system.

  • Cost – costly maintenance contracts that lock a business in for long time periods or expensive fees for making even simple changes are another common complaint we hear time and time again.
     

2 - "Our current software doesn’t do what we need it to"

Even more frustrating than issues with the software provider is when it is the software itself that isn’t delivering. Some of the most common problems businesses that come to us have with their software are:

  • No longer fit for purpose – Many businesses that have grown quickly find that their systems haven’t kept up and adapted with them, leaving them with manual workarounds, time consuming replications and additional training for staff.

  • Package ‘upgrades’ – Off the shelf packages can often enable upgrades but at a price. The cost of upgrades for new features soon add up, and often include unnecessary functionality that is not required (and yet being charged for) or misses out some critical ones.

  • No integration – One of the most common issues we come across are where a business is using multiple systems, none of which are integrated or communicate between them. Incompatibility between systems results in repetitive data entry, time-consuming processes and increased risk of error.

3 - "Our internal processes are far too time-consuming"

Efficiency in business starts with internal processes. Problems that we often see with businesses when it comes to their internal processes include:

  • Manual & time-consuming process – Many businesses have never considered automating their processes and still rely on manual data entry across multiple systems which is time-consuming, inefficient, vulnerable to human error and results in significantly higher wage bills than is necessary.

  • Adapting to change – For many businesses a change such as moving into a new market, launching new products or winning a large contract can put additional strain on manual processes which at its worst can hold back the business growth.
     

4 - "We can’t manage our data correctly"

Against a backdrop of an increased risk of cybercrime and the introduction of changes to Data Protection Legislation within the UK, ensuring data is managed correctly is a key driver for businesses to get in touch. Some of the common data issues faced include:

  • Insecure Data – The onus on a business to ensure the secure collection, storage and sharing of data is greater than ever and with the implementation of GDPR many organisations are realising their current systems are not robust enough.

  • Duplication of Data – When data needs to be replicated across multiple systems, inaccuracies and discrepancies are inevitable. The accuracy of data held by an organisation is as important as its security.

  • Data is isolated – Many businesses store data in isolation across multiple systems. This either prevents the management team from being able to have a holistic view of the business KPIs or requires hours of time-consuming data manipulation to achieve.
     

5 - "Our business is changing but our systems aren’t"

Change in business is inevitable and a natural progression but often systems don’t adapt or keep pace preventing the organisation from reaching its full potential. Read below some of the common reasons why businesses have issues with their systems during times of change:

  • Acquisition and Mergers– Managing processes and data across disparate systems is a common problem faced by businesses that have a growth strategy based on merger or acquisition.

  • Workforce – Remote working is becoming commonplace so software needs to be compatible with remote working, multiple locations and devices to work efficiently for the business.

  • Competition – The need to be competitive requires businesses to be as efficient as possible whether to provide a higher level or service or a lower price than the market.
     

Custom software that delivers

If any of the above sound familiar, get in touch with the team at Evergreen to see how working with us could benefit your business.