The robustness of the solution offered: an asset that matters greatly and that, unfortunately, is not visible in the phase of the presentation / analysis of the provider.
On more than one occasion, during the 10 years since we started operating on the market of software solutions for business management, we have encountered the situation where our customer cannot see beyond an attractive presentation of a solution at the provider selection phase, even if this evaluation of the solution / solution provider occurs over several meetings. It is also necessary to take into account the way the solution really functions for other customers – and this verification should not be directed only towards the clients that the solution provider suggests but towards a larger number of clients who should be directly contacted. Proper functioning of the solution but also – equally important – the quality of implementation is to be verified directly with customers with a similar activity profile.
Haven’t you ever been in a situation where an application that “does it all” is presented and if it does not do it all “we can develop it for you, no problem”?
What about implementation? “Piece of cake, fast, almost costless, do not even think about it !”
How much confidence can this approach inspire?
I feel safer when I am told by a reference (or better yet by several references, clients like me) that it is a good solution, robust, that it solves major problems well and that for those problems that it does not solve perfectly, the guys told me from the very beginning that this might happen and they offered me a compromise solution, that the implementation was not easy but the provider’s team was there for me and helped me to get over the difficult moments and now after several months of work we are quite satisfied with our choice!
Unfortunately, choosing a business management software provider is not easy! I do not buy a software package (no matter how renowned it might be). I choose a long-term partner: a software solution adequate for my field, together with a serious team, capable of implementing this solution and determined to be with me for a number years. Careful and thorough checking of references is a critical factor in eliminating the risks associated with this very important decision for your business.
Marius Iurian – Managing Partner Transart