3 Common Software Selection Mistakes (with Tony Chen)
Selecting a software is difficult no matter what size your business is.
For larger companies, the number of complexities within operations, processes, and organizational structures only adds to the level of difficulty of selecting the right software.
For most SME’s, the difficulty often lies in finding a software that fits current and future needs.
In this article, Red Pill Labs’ Project Manager, Tony Chen, goes over some of the mistakes he’s seen companies make when conducting a software selection.
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Tony Chen (Project Manager, Red Pill Labs), highlights common mistakes during the software selection process.
1. Putting Too Much Trust into a Vendor
It’s important to remember that vendors are often biased.
Whether you’re speaking to a salesperson during a product demo or consulting with technical experts, it’s vital you don’t disregard your own needs.
Trusting a salesperson too much without verifying their claims (or thoroughly understanding your own needs) can lead to several potential pitfalls.
Firstly, you may end up investing in a software that doesn’t adequately address your organization's requirements.
Salespeople are incentivized to promote their offerings, and that may not always align with your best interest.
Secondly, relying too much on a vendor's word can result in alternative solutions being overlooked; alternative solutions that may be better suited for your business in terms of functionality and/or cost.
SEE MORE: Where to Start with A.I.
2. All Capable Is NOT King
Have you ever been made fun of for using a 2-in-1 shampoo? Yes, we found a connection between software selections and shampoos…
Just like when you use 2-in-1 shampoos that claim to moisturize and strip oils at the same time, you soon realize that trying to do both doesn't work as effectively as you thought it would- if at all. Similarly, when it comes to selecting software, aiming for solutions that try to do everything might not serve your business needs as well as you'd hope.
While it may seem convenient to have an “all-in-one” solution, you should ask yourself whether the software is the most effective option for your business. It should ultimately make sense within your business’ processes. Assess software solutions based on how well they align with your organization's unique requirements and workflows, opposed to the extensive “features” lists a vendor may send you.
SEE MORE: How to Execute Change Management for Remote Workers
3. Overlooking Feasibility
Building on the previous point; just because a software is all capable does not mean it’s a perfect fit for your business. It's crucial to prioritize feasibility of any software or technology, including a various range of different factors.
Determining whether a software is feasible means considering factors like training requirements, learning curves, and adaptability to existing processes. While a software may boast many features, its value lies in how well it integrates into your operations and how easily your team can use it.
Training and implementation costs can impact feasibility significantly. Investing in software that requires extensive training or disrupts workflows may lead to productivity losses. Also, consider user-friendliness—a complex interface can hinder adoption.
SEE MORE: Cost of Change vs Value of Change: ROI on Retail Technology Implementations
About Tony Chen
Tony Chen is a Project Manager at Red Pill Labs. He has been involved with numerous implementations over his 10 years of experience in business transformation and process improvement. Tony is an expert in ERP & CRM implementations, excelling at matching stakeholder expectations with project objectives, ensuring success is defined and achieved across the number of different industries he’s been involved with.
Fun Fact: Tony’s first ever vinyl he bought was from “The OffSpring”, which he graciously added to the vinyl album collection at the Red Pill Labs office.
Why Red Pill Labs
Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Red Pill Labs a technology advisory and project management company specializing in providing services to the mid-market.
Acting as a business incubator led by a team of experienced management consultants, Red Pill Labs’ team has experience in over 300 software selections and numerous project management engagements, with a project success rate of over 96%.
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