There is plenty of software out there that may be tailored to your industry. Whether you walk pets, run a cafe or are an underwater basket weaver, there is probably a piece of software that has special functionality for your industry. So, in this second area to explore, we’ll dig into the topic of industry-specific software.
Questions Worth Asking
Consider the following criteria when evaluating software specific to your industry:
- Which of your competitors use this software or mobile app?
- What is similar and what is different between your business and those competitors?
- Does using this software increase or decrease your competitive advantage with those competitors?
Seek Other Options
When evaluating software that caters to your market, also include non-industry specific options. By doing so, you will see which best covers your company’s critical functionality. You should still rely on your work, from part one of this series, to determine the best software fit for your organization. But if the industry specific software used by many of your competitors doesn’t really fit your process, perhaps your process has a unique element that sets you apart from the others.
Limitations Can Be Your Advantage
If you are evaluating software that is used by many of your competitors, also note its constraints. Any software constraints may be forcing your competition to do business in a certain way. Even if that software isn’t a good fit for your company, it may reveal some telling information about limitations that your competitors face. You can capitalize on these shortcomings by going in a different direction.
There is nothing wrong with using software built for your industry, but don’t feel that you have to use what everyone else is using for fear of being left out. You may find some unique advantages to taking an alternate road.