WHITE PAPER : 5 Advantages to Using Industry specific software
In shopping for software, there are three main types of software that most companies will
consider:
• Custom solutions
• General ERP
• Industry specific solutions
Each of these options has its pluses and minuses, but the focus of this article is on the
benefits of using industry specific software.
1: Benefit from the fact that your competitors are doing the same thing you are.
One of the most overwhelming reasons that companies purchase industry specific
software is because they not only get a software that fits them out of the box, but they
also typically get functionality from the software that they didn’t even recognize they
could have. Their competitors may have already solved problems that they have not even
run into yet.
2: Reduced costs of programming.
Using industry specific software is generally a fraction of the cost of creating custom
software. When looking at ERP solutions, a typical rule of thumb is that you are
generally getting at least $100 worth of programming for every $1 you spend on an
industry specific solution. Many companies find that when they look at it this way it
makes it much easier to live with some either lack of functionality or having to wade
through functions they will never use.
3: Work with a vendor that understands your needs
The advantage of working with a software vendor that is in the industry, is that he will go
into the relationship with an understanding of your needs and problems and an ability to
offer solutions or suggestions he has seen your competitors use.
4: Ability to mold your software to fit your business instead of molding your
business to fit your software.
This is as much of a disadvantage to using a general ERP as it is an advantage to using an
industry specific package. Many companies will choose to purchase software from larger
companies because they feel a comfort level with a big name, only to find out that they
are then forced to change the way they do business because the general ERP does not
accommodate their needs.
5: Shorter learning curve
It is sometimes said that the real cost of software does not lie in the licensing fee, but
more in the “soft cost” associated with loss in productivity and morale that comes with
implementing a new system. Humans are creatures of nature, and most employees
grumble at the thought of having to learn something new. You can reduce these worries
(and associated costs), by working with a vendor that understands the employees’ needs
and is talking in a language they can relate to.
Although no industry specific software is going to be a perfect fit out of the box, a good
rule of thumb is to look for a solution that does 80% of what you need and either pay to
build out the remainder or learn to live without less critical functionality.