The football season is now well underway around the world, the controversial summer transfer window has now closed until the New Year meaning clubs now have no choice but to use the players they’ve already got to achieve their goals. Some clubs chose to bring in star players for mega money while others were more careful with their cash and some did nothing at all. In many ways, choosing software for your company is like going out in the transfer window in search of the striker who’s goals are going to help you to win the league this year.
You wouldn’t just go out and splash the cash on any enterprise mobility solutions, for example. You would go out, study the market and maybe even trial the different options before decided on your favourite, most suitable option and then paying the right price for that product. Sound familiar football fans?
When you begin researching a new piece of software, you tend to look for a combination of three things, the same three things that the majority of football managers will also be looking for – a top performer, with good pace and at a good price. In terms of performance, you want something that is going to last and run at a rate that is beneficial.
A top manager wouldn’t spend big money on a striker who was slow and not fit for the job, and the same should be true of you and your business software. If it slows the computer down or if it doesn’t fit in with the goals you’re trying to achieve – essentially proving to be nothing more than an inefficient expense rather than a benefit – you’re going to feel as though you’ve wasted your money and the performance of the team in terms of productivity will also take a hit. Make sure that whatever device you buy, and whatever software you choose to accompany it, the system actually does the job you need it to do.
The price is also a key element. Yes, you want something that is high quality and going to fit into the company seamlessly, but you don’t want to go paying over the odds for it. Top managers who have bought expensive strikers that have turned out to be a ‘flop’ have been left red-faced which is why it’s vital that your investment turns out to be a winner. Get a number of quotes for similar products, negotiate with the provider and make sure that you get the best deal for the company both in terms of price and value for money. Just because it’s cheaper doesn’t always mean it’s best!
The difficulty is that with new software, you often only know the true success or failure of your investment after a few months by which time you’ve already paid to get the new equipment in place and operational. With some technology there are “quick wins” but in terms of operational technology, you will need to give it chance to settle in before making any assumptions. This will give your staff time to feel comfortable with the new equipment and for the customers to express their opinion. Only when you’ve gathered their feedback and seen the affect on the books can you judge whether it’s been a successful investment, a bit like the end of season goal scoring charts – you want a van Persie, not a Torres!
Speed, Performance and Price: Why Choosing Software is Like Buying a Striker
