Top ten reasons for changing software

Top ten reasons for changing software

...ten things I think about you


We recently came across a piece of research recently from consultants Deloitte Touche*, undertaken in the 1990s. The work looked at the selection criteria when first selecting an IT system ...and repeats the exercise for the same process second time around.

Most companies now find themselves replacing an incumbent IT system, rather than commissioning a brand new system from scratch (replacing manual procedures). The original work was carried out amongst management accountancy customers, but is believed to be more generally relevant in other business sectors.

The paper looked at the stated reasons for selecting an IT system, with a ranking according to their importance. The interesting part comes when people were asked the same questions the second time around when they came to replace that first system. The rankings were vastly different second time around – many of the key decision factors the first time around (for example price and ease of implementation) were seen as much less important second time around.
 

2nd time 
 1st time 
 Criteria 
1 8 Support provided by the partner
2 10 Vendor's track record of success
3 4 Software's ability to fit the business
4 7 Growth potential of the software
5 1 Price of the software
6 9 Quality of documentation
7 5 Functionality of software
8 3 Ease of use
9 2 Ease of implementation of new system
10 6 Software works with existing hardware

 

Factors given a much greater ranking the second time were quality of support, vendor’s track record of success and growth potential of the software. To caricature the change in emphasis, the first set of rankings reflected a harder-nosed ’bean-counting’ approach to decision making. Whilst the second time around there was a distinct shift towards the softer ‘people factors’, those things emerging from the corporate culture of the potential supplier.

Price is clearly always going to be important, but with a more measured second purchase, made with the experience of the first behind you, it slips from the top spot to the middle of the pack.

Another factor demoted right to the bottom of the list is integration with existing hardware. Obviously this is not even a risk factor with a modern Windows Server–Client PC (or thin client) infrastructure, but it suggests that anybody thinking of protecting their investment in older technology may be chasing diminishing returns.

Once you get beyond the capital costs of your main server, the costs of the remaining hardware requirements are likely to be less and less important, particularly when you take into account the established trend of falling costs and improving performance over time.

With the benefit of hindsight, organisations implementing a new IT system are taking a more measured approach with their decision making second time around, evaluating the full range of a supplier's offerings, but focusing less on price and more on delivery and future potential.


* Deloitte and Touche conducted a study of 1,500 companies, all of which had to replace systems purchased during the previous 24 months.

 

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Testimonials

  • "It was obvious the company was being held back by the limitations of the old system."

    Operations Director, CF Anderson

  • "Good customer service is easier to achieve with good IT systems to back up our staff. Progressive provides us with an efficient system for dealing with customers, and good management tools to enable us to concentrate our efforts in the right direction."

    David Dunmow, Group Finance Director, James Latham plc

  • "To stand out from the crowd, you need great customer service. Really great customer service."

    Progressive Solutions' guest blog, Builders Merchants Journal

  • "The time was right for a change of software at Alsford's and we selected bisTrack from a shortlist of three. The key criteria was 'business fit'. We wanted a Microsoft Windows, intuitive solution which would best serve our claim to be 'The Timber Experts' in all our 20 branches."

    Neil Fuller, MD, Alsford Timber

  • "We saw benefits straight away, particularly with the time we saved on monthly stock takes and sourcing information for management reports."

    Nigel Williams, Chairman, Premier Forest Products

  • "Inventory accuracy is higher because everyone is more focused and our staff can see the benefit of getting it right."

    Ian Murchie, Operations Director, Howie Forest Products

  • "With bisTrack we now have real-time information on our profitability, which allows us to continually optimise and make decisions on our business plan."

    Stuart Hall, General Manager, Lawcris Panel Products

  • "We looked at several systems, but most of them were using the same out-of-date technology as the system we were replacing!"

    Rodney Scoles, Director, T Brewer & Co

  • "To stand out from the crowd, you need great customer service. Really great customer service."

    Progressive Solutions' guest blog, Builders Merchants Journal

  • "I'm happy bisTrack will grow with us. If we find we need something which isn't already incorporated, I'm confident Progressive will work with us to fill the gap."

    Operations Director, CF Anderson

  • "I was working with 2.7 in our test environment and looking at all the work you have done. Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all you do to make this a great technology partnership."

    Brian King, Lumber USA

  • "We helped ourselves by getting bisTrack on board quickly and painlessly while business was slow, so we won't have disruption as we start to implement a very aggressive three year strategic plan."

    Neil Fuller, Managing Director, Alsford Timber

  • "We chose bisTrack because we needed to move on to the next generation of software."

    Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty

  • "Performance across the system is continuously enhanced too. Since our last release, finding products is now significantly faster ...by up to 30%."

    Gary Brookshaw, Product Director, Progressive Solutions

  • "bisTrack was a big investment for us but it's the best change we've ever made. We've grown so much over the last four or five years, we simply couldn't have carried on using a manual system."

    Gerwyn Thomas, partner, TL Thomas (builders' merchant)

  • "Performance across the system is continuously enhanced too. Since our last release, finding products is now significantly faster ...by up to 30%."

    Gary Brookshaw, Product Director, Progressive Solutions

  • "Progressive's experience was important, as was the link with Microsoft. We think that's the way ahead for all merchant systems."

    Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty

  • "I was working with 2.7 in our test environment and looking at all the work you have done. Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all you do to make this a great technology partnership."

    Brian King, Lumber USA

  • "Our staff have margin figures right in front of them now, so they're much more aware of the profit they are making."

    Robert Blumsom, Blumsom Fine Timber

  • "The reporting capabilities of bisTrack really help the sales department answer day to day enquiries. It gives them instant access to information about purchasing volumes and when timber is due to come in."

    Wayne Abrams, Project Leader, Arbor Forest Products

  • "We looked at several systems, but most of them were using the same out-of-date technology as the system we were replacing!"

    Rodney Scoles, Director, T Brewer & Co

  • "Stock counting is one of the best facilities in bisTrack ever. Stock counting across multiple locations is effortless with multiple entries of the same product. Entering a count is even easier. Counting 10,000 lines used to take two of us 4 days. This time it was 8 hours."

    East End Group

  • "Our staff have margin figures right in front of them now, so they're much more aware of the profit they are making."

    Robert Blumsom, Blumsom Fine Timber

  • "We saw benefits straight away, particularly with the time we saved on monthly stock takes and sourcing information for management reports."

    Nigel Williams, Chairman, Premier Forest Products

  • "At Complete we have a responsibility to the environment. That’s why we’re trying to lower our Carbon Footprint. We introduced e-commerce cut down on paper receipts & are introducing electronic billing through bisTrack for customers."

    Richard Moody, Director, Complete Building Materials

  • "I'm happy bisTrack will grow with us. If we find we need something which isn't already incorporated, I'm confident Progressive will work with us to fill the gap."

    Operations Director, CF Anderson

  • "Good customer service is easier to achieve with good IT systems to back up our staff. Progressive provides us with an efficient system for dealing with customers, and good management tools to enable us to concentrate our efforts in the right direction."

    David Dunmow, Group Finance Director, James Latham plc

  • "I was working with 2.7 in our test environment and looking at all the work you have done. Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all you do to make this a great technology partnership."

    Brian King, Lumber USA

  • "Stock counting is one of the best facilities in bisTrack ever. Stock counting across multiple locations is effortless with multiple entries of the same product. Entering a count is even easier. Counting 10,000 lines used to take two of us 4 days. This time it was 8 hours."

    East End Group

  • “A member of our buying group told us about bisTrack, although we looked at four or five other software packages. Key factors in the eventual selection of bisTrack were its SQL platform and our confidence in the people we dealt with.”

    Gordon Rothwell, James Hargreaves (Plumbers Merchants)

  • "I can export information into Excel by right-clicking and manipulate it to my heart's content."

  • "Our relationship with PSI has been transformed this year. This is due almost entirely to having an Account Manager as a single point of contact, who knows our system and our business."

    Eric Jones, IT Manager, Alsford Timber

  • "We chose bisTrack because we needed to move on to the next generation of software."

    Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty

  • "Inventory accuracy is higher because everyone is more focused and our staff can see the benefit of getting it right."

    Ian Murchie, Operations Director, Howie Forest Products

  • "It's a very nicely laid out system with easy to follow structural menus and taskpads which, even if I haven't used a particular function before, I find relatively simple to complete."

    Chris Pratt, Pratts Timber and Builders Merchants Ltd

  • "If we hadn't changed to bisTrack we simply couldn't have grown like this."

    Nigel Williams, Chairman, Premier Forest Products

  • "Stock counting is one of the best facilities in bisTrack ever. Stock counting across multiple locations is effortless with multiple entries of the same product. Entering a count is even easier. Counting 10,000 lines used to take two of us 4 days. This time it was 8 hours."

    East End Group

  • "We chose bisTrack because we needed to move on to the next generation of software."

    Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty

  • "Our staff have margin figures right in front of them now, so they're much more aware of the profit they are making."

    Robert Blumsom, Blumsom Fine Timber

  • "I can drop-down and drill into any business information easily, which enables me to analyse a situation very quickly. It gives me complete control."

    Mark Congdon, Financial Director, Noyeks Newmans

  • "It was obvious the company was being held back by the limitations of the old system."

    Operations Director, CF Anderson

  • "The reporting capabilities of bisTrack really help the sales department answer day to day enquiries. It gives them instant access to information about purchasing volumes and when timber is due to come in."

    Wayne Abrams, Project Leader, Arbor Forest Products

  • “A member of our buying group told us about bisTrack, although we looked at four or five other software packages. Key factors in the eventual selection of bisTrack were its SQL platform and our confidence in the people we dealt with.”

    Gordon Rothwell, James Hargreaves (Plumbers Merchants)

  • "Our computer system impacts on every aspect of the business. Buying, selling, importing, transport planning, as well as accounts. If you install the wrong software, without the right level of performance or functionality, it will cause significant problems throughout your business."

  • "I can drop-down and drill into any business information easily, which enables me to analyse a situation very quickly. It gives me complete control."

    Mark Congdon, Financial Director, Noyeks Newmans

  • "To stand out from the crowd, you need great customer service. Really great customer service."

    Progressive Solutions' guest blog, Builders Merchants Journal

  • "We chose bisTrack because we needed to move on to the next generation of software."

    Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty

  • "I can drop-down and drill into any business information easily, which enables me to analyse a situation very quickly. It gives me complete control."

    Mark Congdon, Financial Director, Noyeks Newmans

  • "Inventory accuracy is higher because everyone is more focused and our staff can see the benefit of getting it right."

    Ian Murchie, Operations Director, Howie Forest Products

  • "The time was right for a change of software at Alsford's and we selected bisTrack from a shortlist of three. The key criteria was 'business fit'. We wanted a Microsoft Windows, intuitive solution which would best serve our claim to be 'The Timber Experts' in all our 20 branches."

    Neil Fuller, MD, Alsford Timber

  • "I was working with 2.7 in our test environment and looking at all the work you have done. Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all you do to make this a great technology partnership."

    Brian King, Lumber USA

  • "There’s no doubt that bisTrack is a good tool. We’ve a fantastic record for growth and we’re getting a lot out of bisTrack now, particularly over the control of our business."

    Mike MacLellan, MD, GPH Builders Merchant

  • "If we hadn't changed to bisTrack we simply couldn't have grown like this."

    Nigel Williams, Chairman, Premier Forest Products

  • "The reporting capabilities of bisTrack really help the sales department answer day to day enquiries. It gives them instant access to information about purchasing volumes and when timber is due to come in."

    Wayne Abrams, Project Leader, Arbor Forest Products

  • “Hargeaves are ideally placed to take advantage of the offer – whilst we plan to continue using e-Xact to update our product file we also want much better control over special product sales and purchases."

    Gordon Rothwell, James Hargreaves MD

  • "With bisTrack we now have real-time information on our profitability, which allows us to continually optimise and make decisions on our business plan."

    Stuart Hall, General Manager, Lawcris Panel Products

  • "We helped ourselves by getting bisTrack on board quickly and painlessly while business was slow, so we won't have disruption as we start to implement a very aggressive three year strategic plan."

    Neil Fuller, Managing Director, Alsford Timber

  • "bisTrack is an excellent piece of software and getting better. Their approach to meeting our needs is excellent. eBusiness is not going to be big for another 12 months but PSI are there already, which means we’re ahead. They're very open to ideas and keep getting better at turnaround."

    Adam Myers, Beesley & Fildes

  • "It was obvious the company was being held back by the limitations of the old system."

    Operations Director, CF Anderson

  • "bisTrack was a big investment for us but it's the best change we've ever made. We've grown so much over the last four or five years, we simply couldn't have carried on using a manual system."

    Gerwyn Thomas, partner, TL Thomas (builders' merchant)

  • "At Complete we have a responsibility to the environment. That’s why we’re trying to lower our Carbon Footprint. We introduced e-commerce cut down on paper receipts & are introducing electronic billing through bisTrack for customers."

    Richard Moody, Director, Complete Building Materials

  • "bisTrack was a big investment for us but it's the best change we've ever made. We've grown so much over the last four or five years, we simply couldn't have carried on using a manual system."

    Gerwyn Thomas, partner, TL Thomas (builders' merchant)

  • "Inventory accuracy is higher because everyone is more focused and our staff can see the benefit of getting it right."

    Ian Murchie, Operations Director, Howie Forest Products

  • "The great thing is we can always export information to Excel and produce any report we need — such as an aged debt report by sales rep, or our bespoke ‘exposure’ report, which helps us assess potential credit risk and protect ourselves."

    Damien Cosgrove, Credit Control Manager, Noyeks Newmans

  • "Our relationship with PSI has been transformed this year. This is due almost entirely to having an Account Manager as a single point of contact, who knows our system and our business."

    Eric Jones, IT Manager, Alsford Timber

  • "Good customer service is easier to achieve with good IT systems to back up our staff. Progressive provides us with an efficient system for dealing with customers, and good management tools to enable us to concentrate our efforts in the right direction."

    David Dunmow, Group Finance Director, James Latham plc

  • "We improved net margin by 3% within 6 weeks of going live on bisTrack."

    Andy Halpin, Payne Timber

  • What will YOU do with your week off?

    "With the time saved we've carried out branch refurbishments and I've taken my first holiday!"

    John Cavanagh, MD, Cavanagh Timber

  • "There’s no doubt that bisTrack is a good tool. We’ve a fantastic record for growth and we’re getting a lot out of bisTrack now, particularly over the control of our business."

    Mike MacLellan, MD, GPH Builders Merchant

  • "We spent a long time evaluating several systems and I'm confident that bisTrack is the best available."

    Andrew Laver, Arnold Laver Timberworld

  • "We chose bisTrack because we needed to move on to the next generation of software."

    Stephen Fairbairn, MD, Henry Alty

  • "The reporting capabilities of bisTrack really help the sales department answer day to day enquiries. It gives them instant access to information about purchasing volumes and when timber is due to come in."

    Wayne Abrams, Project Leader, Arbor Forest Products

  • "To stand out from the crowd, you need great customer service. Really great customer service."

    Progressive Solutions' guest blog, Builders Merchants Journal

  • "bisTrack was a big investment for us but it's the best change we've ever made. We've grown so much over the last four or five years, we simply couldn't have carried on using a manual system."

    Gerwyn Thomas, partner, TL Thomas (builders' merchant)

  • "Once we started building up information we could trust, we started seeing real benefits. If stock accuracy was the main benefit, then quality of management information was next."

    Peter Kerr, FD, Palmer Timber

  • "Good customer service is easier to achieve with good IT systems to back up our staff. Progressive provides us with an efficient system for dealing with customers, and good management tools to enable us to concentrate our efforts in the right direction."

    David Dunmow, Group Finance Director, James Latham plc

  • “A member of our buying group told us about bisTrack, although we looked at four or five other software packages. Key factors in the eventual selection of bisTrack were its SQL platform and our confidence in the people we dealt with.”

    Gordon Rothwell, James Hargreaves (Plumbers Merchants)

  • "The people at Progressive Solutions are likeable, straight_

    talking individuals who have a

    commitment to continuously develop and push the software forward."

    Joe Tipper, Walter Tippers Ltd

bistrack Customer Portal | Progressive Solutions UK

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