Does it make sense for small businesses to adopt solutions that work well in large corporations? This is probably one of the most discussed issues in the software industry. Proponents of this approach argue that “growth” software keeps investments in purchased software and motivates companies to maximize the use of business applications and thereby develop. Opponents, on the other hand, tend to believe that leveling in real business is only harmful, and small companies must go their own way, including in choosing the right software solutions for them.
The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle. Both options have the right to exist. This post will focus on the obvious and most important benefits of IT solutions from small software developers.
1. Functionality without frills. A pile of unnecessary features is a real scourge of software from large developers. The usual text editor is no longer easy to learn, and data analysis capabilities have been added to spreadsheets. Cool and interesting, but why? A significant part of these functions will not be required by 99% of users. At the same time, the cost of developing, testing and marketing these tools is already included in the cost of the solution. Small developers operate differently. They offer an already mature product that successfully solves a key task, but at the same time is not overloaded with functionality.
2. Price for the most important thing. Small software vendors seek to gain a foothold in the market, including through a more attractive price for their products. Along with the lack of excessive functionality, this factor plays into the hands of buyers: good software from a manufacturer, which is not yet widely known, is often several times cheaper than an analogue from a major vendor.
3. Focus on software quality. As a rule, small software companies are founded by people from global IT giants. They bring the best practices of software development and development into the culture of products and pay maximum attention to key functionality. The result is a software product polished to a shine, capable of performing the tasks for which it was bought.
4. The main value is customers. Small companies are well aware that customer focus is their main competitive advantage over larger competitors. How quickly does technical support solve user problems? How open is the company to contacts with customers? Does she constructively build client communications? Happy customers are willing to talk about their positive experience with the products of a small developer to the entire market and thereby attract the attention of potential customers to a particular solution.
5. From wishes to functionality. ISVs tend to listen carefully to their clients. Reasoned justification of needs by customers is often transformed into new desired features of the product. The more compact the target audience of the solution, the stronger each specific customer influences the functional changes in the solution that it uses.
6. The effect of novelty. Even large companies are constantly looking for new solutions. They don't want to save money. They are interested in something else. Often, small theme software vendors win over large competitors by offering a simpler and more elegant solution to an actual problem, for which even giant corporations are happy to pay.
7. Fame in the world. Small and effective IT solutions are created all over the world and may not be known in other countries due to the fact that vendors have not yet developed enough to invest in promoting their products on the international market.
We definitely recommend that customers look for and try new software, since the vendors themselves provide all the conditions for this. By default, almost every vendor offers keys for a 30-day demo period. If there is a task to extend the testing period, it is again much easier to negotiate with small companies. BGT's experience will help you communicate effectively with vendors.
We are constantly looking for interesting, but still little-known IT solutions to ensure their availability for companies, as well as to establish their full support - from pilot implementations to technical support. You can choose a business application for the tasks of your business in our portfolio.