Should you update your enterprise software?

Before you embark on the path of investing in new enterprise software it's important to know a) what isn't working now and b) the specific areas of your business where new software could have a positive impact.

If you aren’t sure your current situation demands a change, ask yourself: Is there missed revenue? Missed opportunities for increased profit? Is growth being constrained by legacy software? Could new software allow work to be done faster and with less effort?

When you switch to software that’s better suited to how you do business, you can improve: 

• Reporting – minimize the work needed to generate reports by using software with enhanced capabilities
  
  
• Productivity and efficiency – work faster using more intuitive UIs and more straightforward workflows
  
  
• Quality – make fewer errors, reduce turnaround times, get better handling of workflow exceptions, and deliver a higher-quality service overall 
  
  

Rolling out new software across an entire organization can seem overwhelming. But when your current application is severely affecting the health of your business, it pays to make a change. Read on to discover situations when looking for an alternative solution is justified and necessary. 

9 reasons to change enterprise software applications

Is this true for you?  

The surest sign you have outgrown the functionality of existing software is that there are too many spreadsheets.

Companies use a surplus of spreadsheets (and sometimes Access databases) to add missing functionality to the business process.

The biggest strength of spreadsheets is that they are so flexible, but that is also their biggest weakness because it is so easy to make errors.

1. Poor Performance
Stability issues, inadequate features, and overcomplicated workflows waste users’ time and lead to errors.   

2. Lost Revenue
In a business, profitability is impacted every single day that software applications don’t live up to the hype.   

3. High Costs
Outdated legacy software can cost more to maintain compared to newer systems because of increased administration, development, and help desk requirements. It can drive up costs since integrating obsolete software into more modern systems is difficult. 

4. Price Hikes
A vendor might increase the price of product support and maintenance, forcing businesses to seek a lower-priced alternative   

5. Growing Pains
Business growth may mean existing systems can’t keep up with increased volume, and there is a need for software that scales better. Moving into new markets, downsizing, or other business changes can also bring about a need for new or different solutions. 

6. Product Sunsets
Businesses are forced to find an alternative when their original product is sunset by the vendor. This means that the product is no longer updated, and security vulnerabilities are no longer patched.   

7. Risk and Compliance
Regulatory changes can alter how you do business and what kind of software you need to do it. You may need to use an application/s that can reduce risk and help you stay compliant. 

8. Major Systems Changes
Major changes include moving from the desktop to the cloud, or from one document management system to another. 

9. Innovation
Software that’s past its prime can be replaced with newer and better solutions. This will ensure your business is taking advantage of technology improvements and innovation, helping to give it a competitive advantage. 

Continue your journey by downloading your free guide to enterprise software selection. Discover tips, advice, best-practice process, and real people's success stories so you can avoid the most common mistakes people make when selecting new enterprise software.