How Bespoke software can improve your business

Today Computers are an indispensable business tool 
without which many business simply could not operate.Lets take another example:
Not only can these machines save you time andGary runs a small chain of Sandwich Bars and
money some of their tasks would simply be impracticalcurrently uses off the shelf software for his accounts,
for your workforce to perform, but are you reallystock control and EPOS. There is a significant
getting the most from your machines?overhead of administrating his business as data must
 be collected from each of his stores manually and
Within your business you probably have manythen hand typed into each of the software applications.
computers all using off the shelf software, which forAs Gary is on a tight budget a complete bespoke
many tasks they are perfectly suited for, but when itsolution is beyond his reach.
comes to the software you use to operate your 
organization the packaged software often comes upHe selects a local development team and they
short.recommend that a custom EPOS system is built which
This isn't the fault of the developers of the software,will update both his existing accounts and stock control
they are simply creating a solution which is useful tosystems automatically over the internet. Not only will
the vast majority of their customers, but at some pointthe system save him having to collect data from each
pre-built software operates in such a different way tostore by hand but man hours saved typing this data
your business that it becomes an obstacle tointo each of the applications he needs to run his
overcome.business.
  
Consider the software you use for your business. YouLater Gary decides he is going to improve the way his
probably have an accounts package, stock controlbusiness works and decides that he wants the
software and electronic point of sale software –customers themselves to build their own Sandwich in
none of which communicate with one another andstore.
depend on your staff to key in data from one systemHis developers could recommend that the EPOS
to another. Each of these systems in their own rightsystem is extended to allow customers to select the
are excellent solutions and serve you well but the mancomponents of a Sandwich and build their own from
hours needed and the inevitable degree of humantouch screen terminals while in the store. The details of
error is bothersome and costly. This is where bespokethe customized Sandwich would then be sent to the
software can help.appropriate screens for staff to prepare the
 Sandwich. The new extension could also collect
A bespoke application is written to your specificationpayment from the customer once they have
and can be built to operate exactly as you wish yourcompleted their order.
business to operate. For example: A bespoke EPOS 
system could automatically update your Stock ControlAfter the development Gary not only finds that he has
and Accounts software immediately after asaved money on the administration of his organization
transaction is completed, eliminating the need for yourbut has gained a competitive edge. With customers
staff to update the two systems by hand. A fullycreating orders themselves via the touch screens and
bespoke solution could combine all three of thesemany paying at the terminal his staff are free to serve
systems into one and automate most of your backmore customers and can prepare meals faster.
office operations.Additionally a new opportunity becomes possible. With
 the computers themselves collecting orders and
It is also incredibly difficult to have off the shelfpayment in store only a small amount of work is
software modified as you need when your businessneeded to enable customers to place orders over the
grows or changes in the way it operates. A bespokeinternet – opening the door to a potentially new
application however can be modified and improveduntapped source of customers.
upon whenever you need.