What is Enterprise software and who needs it?

Is enterprise software only old-school ugly looking systems based on closed-source tech?

The simple answer is NO. However, when speaking with different people, mentioning enterprise software usually brings back bad memories of big complicated systems. Systems they don’t want to use, they don’t know how to use and systems where they don’t understand what they can do. Enterprise software is usually connected with software like SAP or those you might see used by employees in government institutions.

However, enterprise software is not only that – basically it is every software used to benefit the organisation as a whole, and not an individual.

There are a few main criteria that every enterprise software needs to satisfy:

• Widespread performance
• Ability to be used across multiple physical locations
• Scalability
• Robustness
• Orientation towards business
• Critical to the mission of the enterprise
• Ability to interface and to be integrated with other software
• Centrally managed

What that means is that enterprise software should be easily managed and can easily handle the increase or decrease of users in a short period of time. But maybe the most important thing is that every enterprise software should benefit the organisation in three different ways.

1. Increase the revenue of the organisation by aiding the sales decision-making process.
2. Cut the cost of organisation by reducing the time employees need to deliver important information or finish complicated processes through automation.
3. Scale down business risks that an organisation might have by making complicated processes faster and more efficient, reducing the chance to make costly mistakes and making everyone’s life easier

Platforms for Enterprise software

Generally speaking, users today are on the move and are used to work on multiple screens, sometimes in parallel. Having the ability to access the software from your desktop computer, laptop, tablet, mobile phone, and even your smartwatch, is a must nowadays. Being that enterprise software is usually more complicated and has different options, you would expect to have reduced versions on your mobile devices where you can at least view and access specific information, with which you can work when you are using your desktop or laptop computer.

To be able to do that, modern enterprise software should be cloud-based solutions rather than desktop apps. Although one might argue that desktop apps have a benefit of a higher security, modern cloud-based solutions are quite safe, easily manageable, scalable and definitely upgraded with new features much faster.

An example of a cloud-based enterprise software is Eye on the Goal, a digital product we’ve built for our client Performance Fact. Being in the consulting industry, but in a specific niche of building long-term development strategies for educational districts in the USA, our clients noticed that their strategies are not implemented or are slowly implemented due to the lack of guidance.

We designed and developed an easily accessible platform to guide educators through key components of their work:

• Strategic planning within the school district level
• Visualizing and analyzing data about student learning and professional practices
• Monitoring, managing and tracking progress of projects and people
• Collaboration among practitioners and school staff
• Creation of detailed and data-supported reports

You can find out more about this example in our case study.

I have an idea for Enterprise software, but where should I start?

As with every new idea and every digital product, you should start by asking yourself questions that will help you vet the idea and see if it’s going to be beneficial either for your or other organisations on the market.

Questions you should ask yourself are:

1. What is the problem that I am solving?
2. Do I have the need for such a software?
3. Is there a need on the market?
4. Who is my target audience?
5. Is there competition on the market?
6. What challenges do I have?
7. What do I want to achieve?
8. Will it increase my revenue, reduce my cost or my business risks?

Essentially, these questions will help you in visualising your enterprise software. You will find out if this software is something you need, are there alternatives on the market, who will use it and will it bring a long-term benefit to your organisation or other organisations that might want to use it.

If you reach a positive decision and decide that designing and developing an enterprise software is a way to go, there are two roads you can take. The first one would be using internal resources or building a team to design the concept and take it to the final product. This road might be expensive and not very efficient, especially if design and development aren’t a part of your core business. The second road you can take is to engage an IT company such as Bornfight, that can help you move your enterprise software faster and more efficient on the roadmap. This way, you reduce risks that additional, non-core resources bring to an organisation and your cost-benefits can be much higher.

Ready to move forward?

If your answer is YES – we are here. Feel free to contact us and we’ll help you conquer the world with your idea.