A GUIDE FOR CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION
5 SIGNS IT ’S TIME TO UPDATE YOUR SOFTWARE SOLUTION
1
YOUR SOLUTIONS NO LONGER MEET YOUR NEEDS
Change is the natural outcome of growth. We learn and adapt until one day, we realize the spaces, equipment, and processes that got us here just can’t keep up. Growth demands we replace the tools that don’t quite fit us anymore. Software is no different. Early in their tech journey, most construction firms adopt software based on an immediate need. An estimating tool is needed, so it gets built in Excel. Document management becomes an issue, so the company signs up with Box. Over time, those ad hoc solutions start to pile up, leaving network admins to improvise integrations and hope the system holds as the organizational need evolves.
But just because a solution solves a problem doesn’t mean it can solve that problem at scale. Millions of companies use QuickBooks to manage their accounting needs—but QuickBooks isn’t designed to service the needs of a Fortune 500 company. Developers create general software to solve general problems. As businesses grow, so do their requirements for more specific and sophisticated technologies.
Your business isn’t the same organization it was five years ago; it isn’t the same organization it was six months ago. Our cultures, capabilities, and requirements constantly evolve, and our toolkits should grow to meet those needs.
COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES— ASSESSING SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS
There are multiple software solutions for any task. Frequently, the challenge is deciphering the technobabble to understand what separates one solution from the next.
A few points to consider include:
1.
IS THE SOLUTION DESIGNED TO SERVICE YOUR INDUSTRY?
Not all services are created equal. The business processes and needs of a construction company differ greatly when compared to a healthcare or education organization, for example, and the software that supports it should reflect the unique needs of the industry. In addition to dedicated features, niche industries come with niche regulations and compliance demands that software must meet.
2.
HOW DOES THE ORGANIZATION HANDLE YOUR DATA?
Construction creates a vast amount of data every day. Software vendors decide how they want to leverage user data to the benefit (or bane) of their users. Some organizations claim ownership of that information and sell it to outside organizations. Others will fold user data into the product to help improve the user experience. Others still let the customer decide what happens with that information. Find a solution with a data policy that aligns with your organizational values, and be sure you’ll always have access to your own data and the value it delivers.
3.
CAN THE SOLUTION SCALE TO MEET YOUR FUTURE NEEDS?
The last thing anyone wants is to repeat this process in three years. Instead of adopting tools that meet your immediate concerns, look for solutions that meet those needs while also providing clear room for future growth. Ask your potential software partner about their product roadmap, so you can better understand both their ambition and the fit for your evolving needs. Don’t anchor yourself to a solution that has clearly reached the peak of its capabilities. Carefully consider additional solutions available from the software company, and look at integrations and interoperability with critical tools.