Tag Archives: custom business software

Options for Integrating Business Software With 3rd-Party Apps

Options for Integrating Business Software With 3rd-Party Apps

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Among the services we offer here at Modest is integration with Gmail and Google Calendar. We can modify existing systems or build brand new business software with integration included. Best of all, integration isn’t limited to Google Workspace apps.

Business software can be fully integrated with thousands of third-party apps. The benefits of doing so include:

  • Centralization of all applicable data.
  • More streamlined data transfer.
  • More efficient workflow.
  • Increased automation capabilities.

Depending on use case, integrating business software with third-party apps can literally revolutionize the way companies use their software. Third-party integration could very well be the most useful – and simultaneously, the most underutilized – capability of modern software development.

API Integration

We have several options for deploying third-party integration as we build custom business software. The most common method is arguably API integration. APIs, also known as application programming interfaces, are small apps written expressly for the purpose of facilitating integration. That is why they exist.

API-based integration allows different software systems to seamlessly communicate and exchange information. The advantages of such an arrangement are clear:

  • Communication between apps is standardized.
  • Data exchange occurs in real time.
  • Workflows and individual tasks can be automated.
  • Access to third-party data and services can be granted on an as-needed basis.

Third-party integration by way of APIs is more common than most people know. It is so prolific that the chances of you using an integrated app on any given day are pretty high.

Other Ways to Integrate

While API integration is a fairly common way to handle things, it is not the only option. Another popular option is something known as the integration platform. An integration platform is an online platform designed to be an intermediary between applications and ecosystems. The key components of a solid platform include:

  • API management.
  • Pre-built connectors.
  • Data transformation tools.
  • Workflow automation.
  • Built-in monitoring and analytics.

Within the integration platform sphere there are multiple options. Developers can look at enterprise iPaaS (integration platform-as-a-service), embedded iPaaS, and unified API solutions. Each option has its strengths and weaknesses.

Above and beyond integration platforms are:

  • Data Extraction Solutions – When API integration is not technically possible (usually older software without API capabilities) integration can be achieved through data extraction. Data extraction is clunky and not very efficient, but it gets the job done.
  • Plugins – Some software vendors prefer to offer integration through plugins, addons, and extensions. These additional pieces of software tend to offer limited integration with just one other software package.

A general rule in modern software development is to look at API integration first. We move on to integration platforms if they are more appropriate, but we stay away from data extraction and plugins unless absolutely necessary.

Security Is a Top Concern

Regardless of how third-party integration is achieved, security is always a top concern. There is no point to building custom business software that doesn’t utilize the latest and greatest security strategies for protecting data and keeping hackers out.

The challenge in this regard is distrusting API developers. Whenever you’re mixing software developed by separate entities there is always a risk of unknown vulnerabilities. But with the right policies and procedures in place, those risks are minimized.

What does your current business software look like? Is it integrated with third-party apps your organization uses frequently? Third-party integration is a normal part of the development process here at Modest. We invite you to learn more about it and how it can streamline your workflow, improve productivity, and unlock the full potential of your business software. If you require it, we can build something new from the ground up.c

Does Your Software Create Pain Points Rather Than Mitigate Them?

Does Your Software Create Pain Points Rather Than Mitigate Them?

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The launch of the personal computer changed everything. The promise of that launch, made some 40 years ago, was greater efficiency and productivity. And it was all supposed to be possible with little to no pain points. How are we doing in 2024?

More to the point, how is your business software doing? It should be mitigating the pain points that normally reduce efficiency and productivity. But as we have seen time after time, off-the-shelf business software has a bad habit of creating pain points. It is not supposed to be that way.

Common Pain Points for Business

Software pain points vary from one business to the next. Some organizations are held back by a long list of pain points that are never addressed. Others only deal with a few of them, successfully working around them with creative solutions. The Modest philosophy is to eliminate pain points altogether. Where they cannot be fully eliminated, they should be mitigated as much as possible.

Here are some of the common pain points related to business software:

  • Outdated Tech – Modern technology moves at breakneck speed. Trying to keep up while using outdated tech only makes life harder. The outdated technology is just not as efficient.
  • Inefficient Processes – Inefficient business processes create huge pain points at nearly every level. Inefficiencies disrupt workflow, waste resources, and eat up valuable time.
  • Limited Integration – Off-the-shelf software solutions are often crippled by limited integration capabilities. If an organization isn’t using the most popular apps and data sources, their business software might not integrate at all.
  • Limited Insights – Business software incapable of delivering detailed analytics ultimately ends up offering limited insights. As a result, decision makers do not have the maximum amount of data they need to plot a course forward.

Other types of pain points can directly impact the customer experience, an organization’s competitive capabilities, and even the ability to scale and adapt. If an off-the-shelf solution creates more pain points than it eliminates, what has an organization gained by investing in it?

We Do Things Differently

Off-the-shelf business software will always exist. It will always be an option for organizations that don’t want to invest in custom software. Still, we want you to know that Modest does things differently. We design custom business solutions tailored to meet each client’s specific needs.

One of the things we take great pride in is our ability to get to know each and every client. Before we start building any software, we invest ourselves in fully understanding what the client wants to accomplish. We also learn the client’s workflow, business processes, tasks, etc.

We want the finished product to work for the client rather than forcing the client to adapt to the way we wrote the software. Forcing clients to adapt is the start of creating pain points that might never be overcome.

Your Software Shouldn’t Be Painful

The Modest philosophy is that your software should not be painful. No matter the work you do or the industry you are involved in, your business software is a tool that should enhance everything from productivity to customer satisfaction. Nothing about your software should be holding your organization back.

An off-the-shelf solution requiring workarounds to function only creates pain points. Being stuck with such software is motivation enough to look into a customized solution. We encourage you to take a look at what Modest has to offer.

We also want you to know that custom software does not have to be prohibitively expensive. Thanks to our module-based approach, we can design and build affordable business software for nearly any organization.

2 Common Login Problems Custom Business Software Solves | Modest Software Development

2 Common Login Problems Custom Business Software Solves

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Business management software comes in many, many flavors. There is something for everyone. The big challenge is finding an off-the-shelf solution that works well for your organization without requiring workarounds. Speaking of workarounds, two that we are frequently challenged to address are directly related to logging into business software.

Here they are:

  1. Sharing logins to avoid paying for additional seats; and
  2. Not providing login credentials to some employees in order to control data access.

Both are workarounds to off-the-shelf software that make life more difficult than it needs to be. Custom business software is the solution. When Modest builds your software on top of our customized business software platform, the login issues go away.

Sharing Logins Among Employees

When it comes to sharing logins to avoid paying for additional seats, we get it. Software licenses can be prohibitively expensive, especially when vendors charge for every seat instead of offering a more economical group license.

Unfortunately, sharing logins is risky. Software developers do have the legal right to license their software as they see fit. They also have the right to enforce said licenses. Being found out of compliance can get very expensive very quickly.

We Don’t Charge for Extra Seats

Here at Modest, we don’t charge for extra seats. We work out a price that both we and the client feel is fair. After that, extra users are welcomed with open arms and at no additional charge. You can have as many seats as you want. You can have as many as you need to ensure that all the work gets done. You will not pay a dime extra.

We believe there is a better way to develop and offer business software. A big part of what we do involves not nickel and diming customers to death through licensing fee structures. When we say you don’t pay for extra seats, that’s exactly what we mean.

Not Providing Login Credentials

Not providing credentials to certain employees in order to prevent data access is another common practice we fully understand. Data is sensitive. It needs to be protected at all costs. But not giving employees credentials only prevents them from participating in the workflow. It could mean extra work for those employees who do have credentials.

It turns out there is a better way to do things. How? We can approach business software security from a permissions-based mindset that limits access to data based on need. We can assign access controls to your entire database as well as your applications. Then we can assign each user a role. Users only have access to data and applications their roles call for.

It Doesn’t Have to Be All or Nothing

Business software security doesn’t have to be an all or nothing deal. It is not like you need to throw open the doors to everyone or lock out the entire world completely. Through the judicious application of permissions and roles, access to both data and applications can be tightly controlled. Everyone on your team can be given login credentials without sacrificing security.

Off-the-shelf business software works well for a small number of businesses. But truth be told, most businesses would be better off with custom management software. Software customization solves plenty of problems including sharing logins to avoid additional licenses and locking some people out in order to control data access.

If you are not convinced, give the Modest team the opportunity to show you exactly how all this works. We would relish the opportunity to try to convince you that our custom business management software can solve your organization’s login problems.

The Crucial Role APIs Play in Custom Software Development

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A company whose bread and butter is custom software development needs to keep up with all the latest trends. That means keeping up with the latest APIs from all the most popular business tools. To say that APIs play a crucial role in custom software development is to state the obvious.

A Software Intermediary

Known formally as an application program interface, the API is essentially an intermediary between differing software systems. APIs allow different applications and services to share data. They facilitate integration so that systems maintain full functionality even while interacting with one another.

At the heart of every API is a core set of rules and protocols. They define how participating systems interact. For example, consider web APIs. Their core function is to facilitate interaction between web-based services and other applications.

How APIs Affect Custom Software Development

As a company that specializes in custom software development, we work with both off-the-shelf and custom APIs on a regular basis. We know firsthand just how crucial they are to the development process. Understanding their role really boils down to knowing how APIs affect what software developers do.

1. Development Speed

Developing custom software can be a time-consuming enterprise. It does not have to be though. At Modest, we manage development speed by utilizing a modular system. But APIs also have an impact on speed.

APIs give us access to pre-built functions and services out of the box. By plugging in the appropriate APIs, we avoid having to build certain portions of our custom software from scratch. This speeds up the process and reduces overall development time.

2. Better Integration

If custom business software has a weak point, it would be interoperability with other systems and applications. APIs reduce interoperability problems by facilitating better integration with third-party services, applications, and databases. Better integration means a more seamless experience along with streamlined functionality.

3. Enhanced Function

Certain types of APIs give us access to advanced features, functions, and capabilities. In addition, APIs offer software developers access to third-party services without having to build those services from scratch. It all adds up to a level of enhanced function that makes a custom software package worth investing in.

4. Improved Scalability

Scalability is always a concern when designing custom software. Businesses need the ability to quickly scale in either direction as circumstances demand. But if a custom software developer does not know how to make its product scalable, there is a problem. APIs can make a significant difference.

Some APIs lend themselves very well to scaling because they allow developers to adapt to new technologies and features. Not only that, but developers can also adapt more quickly due to API standardization.

5. Lower Development Costs

Rounding things out is the potential for robust API deployment to lower development costs. APIs standardize communication and data transfer. They leverage existing functionalities that save developers the time and effort that would otherwise be put into developing those functionalities from the ground up.

APIs Are Building Blocks

A good way to think of APIs is to look at them as building blocks. Developers can deploy specific APIs and then build around them. Where there is a gap in the code, it can probably be filled with another API.

Note that we have simplified this explanation of APIs to help our readers understand the crucial role they play in custom software development. Needless to say, we rely on APIs even though we use a modular system for developing custom business software. In the end, it all works out to your benefit through business software you can actually afford.

Choosing Free, Freemium, or Custom Software for Small Business

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Finding off-the-shelf, fully functioning software for small business is not the easiest task in the world. So many off-the-shelf products are either terribly bloated or barely functional. Companies are reluctant to invest in them because they don’t feel they are getting enough value. But if not off-the-shelf solutions, then what?

Our experience has been that companies unhappy with off-the-shelf software tend to look at one of three other options: free, freemium, or custom-built business software. Each option comes with its advantages and disadvantages. One of them is always better than settling for an off-the-shelf package that doesn’t quite do what a company wants it to do.

1. Free Software for Small Business

When the chief concern is spending good money on software that doesn’t represent exceptional value, there is the temptation to look at free packages. It is understandable. As long as a company is not going to have to settle for something that could require significant workarounds to make it functional, there is no point in paying a lot for it. If you can get it for free, bonus.

Admittedly, there are some free and open-source software tools worth looking at. There is nothing inherent to free software that dictates it needs to be garbage. But as a general rule, free software is short on function. It almost never comes with support, either. And when you are talking about software for small business, support is critical.

2. Freemium Software for Small Business

When off-the-shelf software doesn’t offer the right functionality and free software fails to deliver on support, there is always the freemium model. Freemium business software is software that offers basic functionality free of charge. Getting access to advanced functions and services means paying a fee.

The freemium model is a common way to introduce a piece of business software to prospective buyers. Developers are willing to accommodate a certain number of free users, knowing that most of their customers will want access to premium features and support. Those that pay cover for those that don’t.

Also note that freemium software generally comes with built-in marketing tools designed to encourage free users to upgrade. In-line marketing can be intrusive and annoying, especially when nag screens are involved.

3. Custom Software for Small Business

When free software won’t cut it and freemium packages prove annoying, there is a third option in custom business software. This is where Modest shines. Custom software for small business is our specialty.

Custom software is just as its name implies. It is business software built exclusively around the needs of the customer. It definitely costs more than free software. It could cost more than freemium software depending on how much a company is willing to spend on premium features and support. Yet custom software can be cheaper than off-the-shelf options.

Why We Believe in the Custom Business Software Model

As a company, we could choose from among several models for delivering software to our clients. We have chosen to build custom software using a modular approach because we believe it is the best way to do things. We believe small businesses benefit tremendously from the custom model – in some cases, even more than they know.

Custom business software from Modest is built to accommodate your workflow and processes. It is built with all the features you need and none that you don’t. With our software, there are no workarounds necessary. You get more function than you would from free software without the nag screens and other marketing tactics normally associated with freemium products. Is there a better way to acquire software for small business?

Software for Small Business: Key Characteristics of Customization

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Software for small businesses comes in all shapes and sizes. You have off-the-shelf software companies buy for less if they can live with limited function. There are off-label deployments of commercial software packages that were designed for an entirely different purpose but that can be utilized effectively enough with some workarounds. Then there is custom software.

Custom software is what we do. We create software specific to each client’s needs based on a modular system that keeps costs in check without sacrificing function. We are firmly committed to custom software as a better solution than off-the-shelf packages and off-label commercial deployments.

That being said, not all custom software solutions are created equally. If you are thinking about software customization, be careful about the vendor you ultimately choose. Here are some key characteristics you should insist on:

1. User Friendliness

There is always the temptation among software developers to create solutions from their point of view rather than the view of those users who will ultimately have to work with it. The end result can be a package that isn’t user-friendly. This is a non-starter for a lot of companies searching for new software.

Software for small businesses should always be user-friendly. It should have as gentle a learning curve as possible. Users should be able to master the software in a few weeks. It should never take months for users to get comfortable.

2. Built-In Scalability

Custom software for small businesses should offer built-in scalability. Otherwise, a company is left having to deploy multiple solutions as their business grows and expands. That might be good for a software developer looking to maximize revenues, but it is not good for the small business. As the customer, a small business deserves scalability.

3. Some Amount of Flexibility

Custom business software should be flexible enough to adapt to a company’s unique needs. However, it should not be so flexible as to be filled with bloat (see the next point). It should definitely not be so rigid as to force users to change workflow unless, of course, changing the workflow would make things more efficient.

Unfortunately, this particular aspect is generally touch-and-go for software developers. It can be hard for them to determine how much flexibility a package needs because they will not be working with the finished project in the wild. Their experiences will be limited to the more sterile development environment.

4. No Bloat (or as little as possible)

For some companies, the impetus for going with custom business software is the opportunity to get a tailor-made solution without any bloat. You know the score. So many off-the-shelf commercial products are so bloated as to be difficult to use. They offer tons of features that never get utilized. In the end, they are paying developers to create a whole bunch of bells and whistles that will remain forever buried in so many menus.

Minimizing bloat makes software more efficient. Just saying no to bloat makes software easier to use, more secure, and decidedly more user-friendly. A smaller footprint on the company’s network is an added bonus.

5. A Budget Friendly Price

Last but not least is a budget friendly price. Companies in need of custom software for small business should not have to pay an arm and a leg to get it. Granted, it’s probably going to be more expensive than off-the-shelf software. Still, custom software should be affordable.

Modest specializes in custom software for small businesses. If you would like to know more about what we do, we are always willing to answer questions, discuss software needs, and propose the best solutions we can.

Overcome Software Pain Points With a Custom Solution | Modest Software Development

Overcome Pain Points With Custom Business Software

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Imagine the following scenario: a company has been using the same legacy business software for more than 20 years. It is no longer keeping up, so Mike is given the task of finding an adequate replacement. His biggest problem is the many software pain points his colleagues complain about. And since new software means new pain points, he is stifled in his search.

Does this scenario sound familiar? Have you ever found yourself in a similar position? Pain points are one of the biggest hurdles to adopting new business management software. Too many pain points can stop you in your tracks. It is easy to find yourself so afraid of adopting new software that you never actually do. Meanwhile, your legacy software continues to be more of a burden and less of a helpful tool.

5 of the More Common Pain Points

There are as many software pain points as there are business software developers. Pain points come in all shapes and sizes. Below are five of the more common ones we have encountered as a custom software development firm. Perhaps you are familiar with them.

1. Compatibility

Rarely do companies rely on a single piece of business management software to run everything. Rather, multiple software solutions are employed. This creates a problem when it’s time to upgrade or replace – new software isn’t necessarily compatible with the other packages a company is using. Sometimes new software is not compatible with a company’s current business or workflow.

2. Software Bloat

Software bloat can be a pain point on multiple levels. First, bloat can make new software too overwhelming for users to learn. Second, companies pay for bloat. A company could spend a lot of money on a bloated piece of software filled with features that will never be used.

3. Missing Features

The other side of the bloat problem is business management software lacking critical features. Missing features do not help people get their work done. Meanwhile, the IT team needs to spend a lot of time creating workarounds.

4. Lack of Support

Off-the-shelf business software rarely comes with the kind of support businesses need. Without proper support, a piece of software can become a real nightmare. Have you been there?

5. Price and Value

Shopping for new business software makes one realize just how expensive running a business can be. Price is a big pain point. In addition, a perceived lack of value makes the pain point hurt even more. If you feel like you are paying too much and not getting enough in return, you may be reluctant to buy new software in the future.

Custom Software Is the Answer

It is not possible to eliminate every pain point that comes with business software. Pain points are a normal part of the equation. But there is a way to minimize them: a custom software solution from a company committed to developing packages around how you already do business.

Custom business software can have its own pain points. Here at Modest, we limit the pain points by learning your business. We learn what you do, how you do it, and whether you think you can do it better. Then we design software to fit your unique needs. You get nothing more and nothing less.

Every software package we develop comes with our full support. We will answer your questions, help you troubleshoot problems, and even teach you how to use your new software. We do what we do because we believe in the power of customized business solutions. If pain points are keeping you from upgrading your software, let us talk.

Harnessing Custom Business Software to Drive Innovation | Modest Software Development

Harnessing Custom Business Software to Drive Innovation

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Modern companies are not afraid to tell their customers just how innovative they are. Meanwhile, management routinely talks about innovation during team meetings, collaboration sessions, and training sessions. Here at Modest, we believe in innovation, too. So much so that we also believe companies can harness custom business software to drive their innovation.

Software is part and parcel of modern business. No one does paper anymore. Everything is electronic, digital, and computer based. Therefore, business software forms the foundation of everything a company does. A company trying to be innovative without software capable of supporting innovation is not going to get far.

Off-the-Shelf vs. Custom Business Software

The developers behind off-the-shelf business software do their best to innovate. Yet off-the-shelf software has one major flaw: it is designed to appeal to the broadest possible customer base. That might be good for them in the sense of being able to sell a lot of licenses, but it is not good for their customers.

Custom software goes way beyond automation. It goes beyond the basics like connectivity, file sharing, and group collaboration spaces. Custom business software is designed to solve very specific problems – with direct solutions rather than workarounds. It can be designed to capture unique data points or give a company an edge over its competitors with features not found in off-the-shelf solutions.

A Tailored Solution

By its nature, custom business software is a tailored solution. We take that concept one step further by making it our business to learn and understand yours. We take the tailored solution concept to its logical conclusion by designing software around how your company does business. You tell us what you do and how you do it; we create software to make it happen.

A big advantage of tailoring each solution to the customer is winding up with a package that contains only the required features and nothing more. You are not saddled with bloated software loaded with features you will never use. You also don’t have to find workarounds for missing features.

Automation and Data Capture

Business management software is made better when automation is built in. Let’s face it, there are some routine and basic business tasks that don’t really require human intervention. They can be automated through a custom business software solution. Automation frees employees to do more important things. Your team has more time to innovate because it is not spending time on mundane tasks.

Along with automation is customized data capture. This is where some of the most exciting innovations are born. We write software that can capture as little or as much data as you want. You and your management team can then figure out how to use that data to the company’s advantage. You supply the metrics; we will find a way to capture them in your business software.

You Maintain Control

The secret to using business software to drive innovation is maintaining control over the software environment. Rather than your company’s business software being in control, you and your team members are running the show. You use your custom business software as a tool for doing whatever it is you do best. And because the software is customized to your current workflow and practices, it pushes you forward rather than pulling you back.

Innovation is critical to moving forward in modern business. If your company is lacking in innovation, could it be that your business software is holding you back? The possibility is worth considering. In the meantime, reach out to Modest and let us show you how custom business software can help drive innovation within your company.

Unique Businesses Often Need Custom Software | Modest Dev

Unique Businesses Often Need Custom Software

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Clients are motivated by all sorts of things when they come to Modest in search of custom business software. A motivation we hear a lot is the need for software that adapts to an unconventional business. And we know from experience that there are a lot of unconventional businesses out there.

It is not unusual for us to work with companies whose businesses are unconventional that nothing off-the-shelf even comes close to meeting current needs. They come looking for custom business software because they have exhausted the workarounds they have been applying to their off-the-shelf software. Tired of the workarounds, they want something made just for them.

Managing the Chaos

One of our clients operates a very unique business in the Salt Lake City area. Without getting into the details, her business is set up in such a way that tasks are passed from one party to another similar to how relay race runners pass a baton. Prior to coming to us for custom business software, the business owner felt like she was barely managing the chaos created by her off-the-shelf product.

We fully understand such thinking. We have come alongside more than one client working so hard to overcome the limitations of off-the-shelf software that the work environment could be described as nothing less than chaotic. That’s generally the case when unconventional businesses attempt to adapt to conventional software.

One of our goals is to bring an end to the chaos. We don’t want to simply manage it; we want to eliminate it. We do so based on the foundational principle of giving clients only what they need and nothing more. We accomplish it by starting with basic modules that function as building blocks for a custom software package.

An Affordable Way to Build

Our development process revolves around software modules for several reasons, the first being that it is a more affordable way to build custom business software. We don’t want our clients to have to exhaust their finances to get a good software product. We want them to be able to afford what we build. The module model allows for that.

Starting with modules also allows us to build in customized functions in shorter amounts of time. The foundation for each and every function already exists within the modules. We just need to modify it to meet the needs of the client. And when you are running an unconventional business, plenty of modifications are likely needed.

Still another advantage of the module model is built-in scalability. As a company grows, we do not have to reinvent the wheel to keep their software going. We simply adapt what is already working to accommodate a larger number of users.

The Best Way to Meet Unique Needs

We think it is safe to say that the best way to meet unique needs in terms of business software is to invest in custom software development. Yet there is a considerable barrier to overcome: cost. Custom software development is not always cheap.

We are very cognizant of budgetary concerns. Once again, that is why we utilize the module approach. We are firmly committed to the idea that clients can have customized software uniquely designed around their processes and workflows without spending a small fortune.

If you run an unconventional business for which off-the-shelf software is insufficient, we invite you to learn more about custom business software built on modules. We would love the opportunity to demonstrate how the Modest approach can lead to software perfectly tailored to your business at a cost that fits into your technology budget. We hope you will give us that opportunity. Contact us today to learn how we can build a custom software that best suits your business.

Overcoming the Custom Software Learning Curve | Modest Dev

New Software for Small Business Overcoming the Learning Curve

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Custom software for small businesses is what we specialize in. And here at Modest, we do our absolute best to give each client exactly what is needed. We get to know our clients’ businesses so that we can develop software that easily adapts to how they do things. Even so, the learning curve that comes with new software cannot be avoided.

Employees still need to learn how to use new software. They still need to learn how to navigate, how to complete basic tasks, and even how to troubleshoot to some extent. Learning all this information takes time. In software development, the amount of time and effort required is represented by the learning curve.

We Face It, Too

Before going on to explain how your organization can overcome the learning curve that comes with new software, we want you to know that we face the learning curve, too. We need to deal with it in relation to the technologies and tools we use to create custom business software.

Whenever a new technology merges, we need to learn how to use it. Likewise for new software development tools. You could say that our developers are in a constant state of education given the fact that our industry is evolving so rapidly. The main takeaway here is that we understand the learning curve. We feel your pain. That’s why we try to align software to a client’s workflow as much as possible.

Minimizing the Learning Curve

It is our position that the key to overcoming business software’s learning curve is to minimize it as much as possible. The shorter and less steep the learning curve is, the more quickly employees get beyond learning to return to maximum productivity. Here are some suggestions for doing just that:

1. Map Routine Tasks

You can help your software developers create better software by mapping the routine tasks your employees normally do on the computer. By mapping, we mean writing down the steps they take to complete a given task.

For example, how does a sales executive translate digital data into printed reports? Mapping all those steps provides information a software developer could use to make the process as simple and efficient as possible.

2. Ask for Feedback

During the early stages of software design, ask employees for feedback regarding your current software. Find out what they like and dislike about the package. Ask for any suggestions they might have for improving workflow. With that information, your developers will be better able to create custom business software that maximizes intuitiveness while simultaneously minimizing the need to learn new workflows.

3. Incentivize the Learning Process

Having to learn new software is unavoidable. Some amount of learning is always required. However, an innovative approach some companies are now beginning to look at is applying gamification to learning new business software.

Gamification is literally applying game-playing principles to incentivize the learning process. A good example would be sending employees through a series of learning modules followed by a quick review and on-screen test. Employees can compete for the highest test scores.

4. Leverage Demonstrations

Finally, do not rely exclusively on written documents to train employees. It is better to leverage hands-on demonstrations that encourage employees to walk through routine tasks with the help of an experienced trainer. Live demonstrations beat static training documents any day.

Choose Modest as your developer for custom business software and we can promise you will get software designed around your current workflows. We will also collaborate with you to overcome the learning curve that comes with new business software. Contact us to learn how we can build a custom software that suits your business