The Next GIG
When a flooring dealer is shopping for software , there are three types that most companies will consider :
• Generic “ off the shelf ” retail box software ; i . e . Quick- Books , Peachtree , Real World and more .
• Custom solutions ; developed in house by the dealers staff or subcontractors
• Industry specific software , i . e . RollMaster , RFMS , QFloors , CDMS , Pacific Solutions , Aya and others .
Each one has pros and cons for the flooring retailer . Generic retail “ off the shelf ” software generally lacks core functionality needed by flooring business management and associations . Customized software solutions are expensive and require a lot of time and energy to teach the developers your business and process flow management . An industry software developer will address very specific needs important to your core processes . Frankly , it is rare that the industry specific solution is not the best option . Here are a few major advantages to using flooring industry specific software :
Flooring Industry Specific Software vs Generic Software : What to Consider
3 : Work with a vendor that understands your needs . The advantage of working with an industry specific flooring software vendor is the relationship that develops , and the understanding of your needs and problems . This creates a unique ability to offer solutions or suggestions they have seen your competitors use .
4 : Ability to mold your software to fit your business , instead of molding your business to fit your software . Many companies will choose software from large national companies Often the company is forced to change the way they do business , because the software does not accommodate their needs . Flooring companies must be careful , because large national software providers often ignore the needs and requests of their clients . Flooring enterprises should always check all the references and see how effectively the company meets the needs of the flooring industry . Additionally most flooring software vendors , such as RollMaster , develop API ’ s ( application interfaces ) that allow industry specific software to connect to third parties , which delivers the best of all worlds .
1 : Your competitors are already using it . One of the most compelling reasons is that you get a solution that fits immediately , plus you gain functionality you didn ’ t recognize as critical to profitability and control of your business . The implication is that your competitors have already solved problems with which you may still struggle .
2 : Reduced costs of program Industry specific software is generally a fraction of the cost of creating custom software . A typical rule of thumb is that you are generally getting $ 100 worth of programming for every $ 1 you spend on an industry specific solution . Many companies find that the high cost results in forced acceptance of functionality that is not productive for business .
5 : Shorter learning curve Often times the real cost of software is not the licensing fee , but the “ soft cost ” with loss in productivity and morale that comes with implementing a new system . These issues are minimized with an industry specific vendor who understands your employees and business needs . The industry and business process flow familiarity minimizes issues with switching to a new system , as it reduces costs in support and training .
Although no industry specific software is ever an absolutely perfect fit , using the 80 – 20 rule makes sense . When you find a solution that does 80 % of what you need , you are better off starting there and working with the industry specific developer than any other provider in further development of additionally needed functionality , which by the way , is likely to be in the works anyway . ❚
60 Premier Flooring Retailer | Q3 2017