ERP Software Solutions

Welcome!

Welcome to www.erp-software-solutions.com . We hope you will find ERP Software Solutions to be a valuable resource. Please drop us a line if you have any suggestions for us and we appreciate your visit.

Why Tailored Software Is Better Then Canned

I was speaking to a company during a phone conversation yesterday explaining the products we offer and of course with the economic crisis we are in right now the first question was how much does it cost? I’m sure those would have been the first words out of my mouth too considering the way everyone is watching what they spend. I explained the products and gave a general price. To no avail the customer was more interested in a specific price. He then proceeded to tell me how he had an offer for an entire system, accounting, scheduling, job tracking and so forth for the price we estimated 2 modules at. Then I started thinking…

Manufacturing software has come a long way over the past few years. Highly configurable systems are outpacing canned systems and providing a path for innovation.

Manufacturing software which can be configured to suit the customer's needs in a short time frame at reasonable cost is within reach.

The system our kind client is referring to is a canned software system (better known to some as an out-of-the-box system). For a few thousand dollars any company can purchase a system that will “work” for them but will it offer the exact processes they are looking for? I would take a guess and say no. Canned software systems can be purchased fairly cheap however, if the company requires any sort of customization or upgrades they must pay to have them done. Don’t get me wrong this may work for some companies and if the system is perfect for them that’s great! In general canned software places many road blocks in front of its employees in terms of usability and functionality. There is a large potential that there will be extra screens and menus that may not pertain to the company that is utilizing the software. These added screens cause wasted time and procedures that should be fairly simple become complicated.

My suggestion to our potential client and to all of you is to look into tailored (not customized) software. These systems are fast tracked and tailored. Unlike a canned system the screens and menus are from a basic template and then designed for your needs and only the functionality that your company will require. Though they may cost a little more than a canned system they will save you money in the long run. Tailored software takes approximately 6-8 weeks to design. They can be easily upgraded and changed and IT personnel at your company can even learn how to extend and modify the system. Computer software is continuously growing and changing and with a tailored system your software will change and grow with your company keeping you competitive in your market and running as effectively as possible. Unfortunately, with a canned system you will have to keep re-purchasing a system each time an upgrade is available which can potentially set your organization back and affect your bottom line.

On that note… take a look at some additional articles I came across that will help you with your decision on purchasing canned or tailored software.