subject: How Bespoke software can improve your business [print this page] Today Computers are an indispensable business tool without which many business simply could not operate. Not only can these machines save you time and money some of their tasks would simply be impractical for your workforce to perform, but are you really getting the most from your machines?
Within your business you probably have many computers all using off the shelf software, which for many tasks they are perfectly suited for, but when it comes to the software you use to operate your organization the packaged software often comes up short.
This isn't the fault of the developers of the software, they are simply creating a solution which is useful to the vast majority of their customers, but at some point pre-built software operates in such a different way to your business that it becomes an obstacle to overcome.
Consider the software you use for your business. You probably have an accounts package, stock control software and electronic point of sale software none of which communicate with one another and depend on your staff to key in data from one system to another. Each of these systems in their own right are excellent solutions and serve you well but the man hours needed and the inevitable degree of human error is bothersome and costly. This is where bespoke software can help.
A bespoke application is written to your specification and can be built to operate exactly as you wish your business to operate. For example: A bespoke EPOS system could automatically update your Stock Control and Accounts software immediately after a transaction is completed, eliminating the need for your staff to update the two systems by hand. A fully bespoke solution could combine all three of these systems into one and automate most of your back office operations.
It is also incredibly difficult to have off the shelf software modified as you need when your business grows or changes in the way it operates. A bespoke application however can be modified and improved upon whenever you need.
Lets take another example:
Gary runs a small chain of Sandwich Bars and currently uses off the shelf software for his accounts, stock control and EPOS. There is a significant overhead of administrating his business as data must be collected from each of his stores manually and then hand typed into each of the software applications. As Gary is on a tight budget a complete bespoke solution is beyond his reach.
He selects a local development team and they recommend that a custom EPOS system is built which will update both his existing accounts and stock control systems automatically over the internet. Not only will the system save him having to collect data from each store by hand but man hours saved typing this data into each of the applications he needs to run his business.
Later Gary decides he is going to improve the way his business works and decides that he wants the customers themselves to build their own Sandwich in store.
His developers could recommend that the EPOS system is extended to allow customers to select the components of a Sandwich and build their own from touch screen terminals while in the store. The details of the customized Sandwich would then be sent to the appropriate screens for staff to prepare the Sandwich. The new extension could also collect payment from the customer once they have completed their order.
After the development Gary not only finds that he has saved money on the administration of his organization but has gained a competitive edge. With customers creating orders themselves via the touch screens and many paying at the terminal his staff are free to serve more customers and can prepare meals faster.
Additionally a new opportunity becomes possible. With the computers themselves collecting orders and payment in store only a small amount of work is needed to enable customers to place orders over the internet opening the door to a potentially new untapped source of customers.
