software quality Archives - Dymeng Services

Businesses rely on their technology stacks now more than ever, with software controlling or monitoring nearly every aspect of a company’s operations. That’s a lot of moving parts, and a lot of things can go wrong. Apex Global has highlighted the problems of poor software quality. Increased work interruptions, loss of revenue, increased support costs, and decreased reputation are all downsides to having software that isn’t quite up to the task.

Challenges of Poor Quality Software

In the case of your business operations, there are two ways software can be of low quality.

The code itself is subpar. This will result in crashes and unexpected behavior, causing the time you spend fighting with the software to outweigh the benefit you’re getting out of it. If you’re experiencing software with poor quality code, you already know because you’re experiencing it on a regular basis.
The software isn’t integrated well. Even seemingly well-written code can cause problems, but the problems may seem less obvious since most people have just accepted them as the way things are. When software doesn’t work well together, it can cause many frustrating problems, including missing information, slowdowns, and crashes.

No matter the reason your software isn’t working, there are a few big issues that can arise as a result of poor quality software (especially when you’re using multiple software programs to manage your business).

Data Lock-in

Software companies aren’t always big on letting people move to the competition. When this happens, businesses find themselves stuck using a proprietary data format. The information can usually be transferred, but not without hassle and headache. You may like your vendor now, but will they continue to suit all your needs as your company grows? Many software giants have come and gone over the years. Can you ensure the developer of yours will still be around long into the future? If not, the data lock-in could become a problem for you.

Code Bloat

As software ages, it rarely ages well. New technologies come along that need to be integrated, but backward compatibility with the old software must be retained, or else everything breaks. The result is bloated, unwieldy code that leads to even more slowdowns, bugs, longer time between bug fixes, and a host of other headaches.

Lack of Flexibility

Even the best software has interoperability limits. With all of the software solutions in place at businesses, many of which are custom-designed, it isn’t possible for all of the programs to work well together. But in order for a business to be successful, the tools you rely on need to function like a well-oiled machine. To get things working, you need to hire an outside development firm to perform the integrations — but then, you’ll be right back to the typical problems of poorly written software.

The Cost of Poor Software Implementations

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing businesses to hastily upgrade their tech stacks, 2020 was not a good year for IT departments. According to a report by the Consortium for Information and Software Security (CISQ), businesses lost over $2 trillion to poor quality software.

While the pandemic certainly inflated the numbers, $520 billion of that was from problems with legacy software, the types of problems that will crop up eventually anyway. Another $260 billion was lost to failed software projects. Inflated though they may be, these numbers show just how bad outdated software and poor development can hurt businesses. While the investment in software may seem like a lot of money upfront, it will certainly save you even more money over time.

Does Your Business Struggle with Poor Quality Software?

If your existing software stack isn’t working, then a custom software solution may be the answer to your problems. If you’re looking for a better software solution, our expert team of developers can analyze how your business operates and design a system that will take advantage of modern advances so you can replace legacy software before it gives you even more problems.

The total cost of poor software quality in the U.S. is estimated at $2.08 trillion. When your software isn’t what it should be, you can expect it to have an impact on your business, but not in a good way. If you find yourself using software that isn’t quite up to par, it’s not a matter of it it will cost you, but when and how.

8 Hidden Costs You May Not Have Thought About

Your business has to run efficiently if it’s going to make money. So when your software isn’t helping you streamline your day-to-day operations, it’s going to affect the way your business runs, and how much money you’re making (or losing).

For instance, have you ever done the math on how much you lose when a loyal customer or productive team member leaves? Have you considered how much it costs to regularly replace your mix-and-match software programs with other software programs in hopes that they’ll be better? Do you know the true cost of the time you and your team spend trying to implement the different types of software? The answer is much more than you’d think.

1. Time

This is quite possibly the largest cost that many people don’t stop to think about. In reality, though, it should be the first cost you think about because it’s going to take the most from you.

To start, when you know your software isn’t working well for you and your team, there’s usually a conversation about the problem and how to fix it. That conversation is just the beginning, though, and is typically followed by research into potential solutions.

Once you’ve settled on your new software, you have to purchase it, and then implement it. The process of setting up new software takes time, and during setup, you’re likely to face a host of challenges that could take longer than you planned. When your software is finally installed, you have to train yourself — and your team — to use it. All of those steps are important, but they take time and cost you majorly as a result.

2. Efficiency

Not all software is built the same. As such, not all software runs the same, and you may find yourself dealing with disruptive software issues more often than you’d like. This is especially true if you’re using multiple, out-of-the-box software programs instead of software integrations or custom software development.

It’s hard to find one software program that can do everything you need, but having so many programs means you’ll more often notice slowness, crashes, and functionality difficulties. Some software programs have vulnerable security, too, which means your business is at risk of being compromised. According to Gartner, the average cost of IT downtime is $5,600 per minute. Most businesses can’t afford this, and they shouldn’t have to; but many do, without even realizing it.

3. ROI

When you get new software, you expect a relatively quick and noticeable change in your ROI. After all, software is designed to ultimately help your business be more efficient and profitable. However, installing and learning new software takes time and often begets disruption of business operations that reduce the overall value of the software.

When your software malfunctions, it reduces your team’s productivity, which in turn reduces your ROI. If it continues long enough, you won’t just notice how ineffective the software is, but how much it’s affecting your team and your business as a result. The initial hopes for positive, fast ROI quickly turn to disappointment and frustration when you realize you’re getting delayed ROI — or worse, no ROI at all.

4. Outcome

Unless your software is custom-made for you, then it’s not going to do everything you want it to do. More often than not, the functionality of poor software cannot meet your needs and expectations, so you don’t get the outcome you were looking for when you decided to buy it.

Software can’t fix everything. In fact, it can’t even do everything, especially if you opted for out-of-the-box software programs that aren’t designed for your business needs. When you choose pre-packaged software, you’re also choosing undesirable outcomes, like unhappy team members, reduced productivity, mix ups, disruptions, and — in extreme cases — the downfall of your business.

5. Goals

Successful businesses have both short-term and long-term goals they plan to achieve. Without the right tools and processes in place, like software that streamlines your workflow, you’re going to have a hard time meeting those goals.

Every business needs resources in place to help them achieve their goals, such as expansion and increased market share; good software is just one of those resources. Without the right software programs, you won’t just have trouble meeting your current goals and business needs, but also setting your business up for future growth and success.

6. Productivity

Software solutions are supposed to help businesses enhance efficiency, improve speed, and increase revenue. However, software that’s frustrating and difficult to use does the exact opposite, greatly reducing productivity and profits as a result.

Unless you switch your software, upgrade it, or invest in custom business software, your team will continuously struggle to complete typical daily tasks, and your business will bear the brunt of it.

7. Opportunity

When you’re looking for business software, you’re really looking for a better way to work. When you select poor software, not only will you miss out on a better way to work, but you’ll also find yourself facing other consequences that affect your business on a daily basis. For example, your team will likely spend a significant amount of time trying to work around the associated deficiencies, wasting time, losing money.

The right software will produce opportunities for immense success; poor software will take that opportunity away from you while adding other stressors your team and business shouldn’t have to worry about.

8. Peace of Mind

In every role, at every business, there are daily concerns and to-dos. When you’re trying to get your business to run more efficiently and effectively, you can’t waste time or money on tools or processes that keep you from doing so.

Poor software means you have to worry about whether your software is working, your team is able to do their jobs, and if your business can run the way it needs to in order for you to be successful. Good software gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your business is running smoothly, like it should, so you can focus on what matters most: a profitable and successful business.

Upgrade Your Business with Custom Software Solutions

At Dymeng Services, we understand how frustrating software can be for businesses, which is why we provide durable business software solutions that empower you to work smarter and increase efficiency. To avoid the hidden costs associated with poor software choices, we recommend investing in your business with software that will work for you.

To learn more about custom software, or to find out how our team can help your business run more smoothly, schedule a call with our team today. We’ll help you find the software solution you need so you can get back to business.

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