What is Modular Software?
Continuing our series looking at the cost of the software. One of the dangers that ERP software faced was that as it added every increasing functionality, it made the user interface more difficult to use. Some of the home screens I have seen look more like the cockpit of a 747 rather than something you can run from a laptop screen. The more functions, the more buttons, and Steve Gates’s mantra of “how many clicks” becomes noticeable. This makes a difference as I have found that when training younger users, whom you would think would be used to the software that is where I get most resistance. This is because they expect everything to work as an iPhone app but don’t appreciate the logic of the task at hand. Older workers, who are not as adept at software, I find it easier to train as they understand what the process is, even manually, so the logical sequence of events makes the software workflow make sense. You may be able to lodge a VAT return in three clicks, but you are going to need more than that if you want to check that it’s right before uploading.
Modular software can work as a Xero Add on.
This is where the move to modular software, connecting different software to sync with each other is starting to take some of that pain away. Programs such as DEAR Systems just do inventory management. It’s happy just selling, purchasing, and tracking stock (amongst other things. But when you want to do accounts, it just dumps all the relevant transactions’ in Xero add on or QuickBooks and the accounts department can do their job without ever having look at DEAR. This allows accounting packages to works like a Xero add on, that just focus on their task and the periphery software feed directly into the ledgers. If they need to check a specific PO to make sure all the goods have been received, they can click on a hyperlink and come up in a separate window. The benefit is that each program is dedicated to that one task so the screen is dedicated to just those functions. It doesn’t need to clutter the display which was always the problem with traditional ERP selections. The same thing with CRM, you could link that with Hub spot or Capsule and that would be free to do what it does, then post quotes into DEAR when confirmed. It is more of a software smorgasbord rather than a set menu as you can simply choose what you want not just get everything whether or not you need it. Better than that you have a choice of side dishes. If you don’t like that payment service (i.e. PayPal you change to Stripe. Shipping service you can swap Ship theory to DHL. This is more flexible than trying before you buy as you can swap providers midstream and it doesn’t affect the core program. This kind of plug and play arrangement allows you to not only be more flexible but it will turn out a lot cheaper than a traditional ERP as you only pay for what you need.
See the next of our series “The downsides of Modular Software“.
