Vision
Current Scenario: (from the point of view of software developers, resellers etc) Softwares are available, in fact available in plenty. Available for any process or activity. There are ‘n’ number of developers, ‘n’ number of people selling it, and of course many buying it. It is a undisputable fact – we have moved into a IT DOES MATTER world.
THE GAP : Lets view it from the user end. How does one go about buying a software – lets forget the big ones, the mighty players, ERPs – oracle, SAP, Peoplesoft and even Navision for that matter – how does one – Ok lets put it this way – How does one big company buy a small time software or how does one small company buy a big software. Referred by someone – advertised – marketed – nice literature- fitting my budget – some reasons to buy. Do we have statistics as to how may fall into the ‘HAPPY CUSTOMER’ category and how may softwares are in the “lived happily ever after” list.
The need of the hour:A database of information about all softwares. It should a open platform for the user to know the softwares available for his line of activity.
Though the deciding factor in software purchase may be pricing, but other factors like the look and feel, technology, missing features etc also results in software failures.
Apple to apple comparison is not possible in softwares. What needs to be done is , first set a criteria to decide if the software is eligible to be selected for any user. Identify the areas, which are needed for the eligibility test. Lets say -
- Modules
- Functions
- Features
- Looks and Feel
- Technology
- Pricing
List out the general requirements in each area
List out the elements which, if missing will have a tendency to make the software bad and ugly.
This forms the minimum criteria for software to be called good to use. Only softwares, which are selected by minimum criteria, will go into the total evaluation.
The total evaluation will consist of all the features for each specific type of software.
The information is made available in the database. The user specifies his requirement and needs, and all softwares, which meets minimum of 75% of his requirement (any software 10% is customizable part and 15% is always unavailable solutions).
As a next step, if the missing functions, features etc are given grades or marks, a software that is closest to the users requirements is easier to identify.
Hurdles: Plenty.
Resistance from the software developers, It is easier to sell to a user with less awareness. But this ambiguity is resultant of most failures.
