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Why is Enterprise Software so complicated in 2021?

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CIOL Bureau
New Update
Enterprise Software Ecosystem

In 2021, using enterprise software is akin to taking a road trip. Does it sound exciting to hit the road - not with a plan but only the confidence that you are on the right path? Sure, it does. But an enterprise' software journey is often so complex that without a plan – you are likely to get lost in the middle of nowhere. That is where the road gets bumpy.

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Ecosystem connectivity in the time of software complications

Think about all the software that your business needs daily. From MRPs and CRMs to ERPs and HRMs, these business applications are often the backbone of an enterprise. In today’s COVID-19 climate, with digital transformation becoming an inescapable reality, enterprises have no choice but to seamlessly move from a siloed approach to fully enabled centralization. It’s why the average software landscape of today is dependent on maintaining connectivity while managing the speed of innovation.

And let’s not forget that SaaS players have already disrupted this landscape in the recent past. Powered by cloud computing, and AI-ML, their modernized business applications changed (forever) how enterprises look at software agility, scalability, and stability. Nowadays, centralized management is no longer a luxury. It’s a critical requisite for maximizing software ROI.

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At the end of the day, it’s all about the end-user

Another requisite is the need for user-friendliness. While software’s complexity may be inevitable, the end-user experience is a different beast altogether. Once again, the SaaS model has impacted end-user psychology to the point that simple-to-use graphical UIs, with as little training as possible, has become a common expectation. Ironically, in many cases - the end-user is not the buyer. While the software gets tested for its functions, many enterprises often don’t get a chance to evaluate how user-friendly it can be.

Furthermore, the cloud-enabled globalization of software has been a cat among the pigeons as far as customization is concerned. From translation for multiple languages to localization of data, they must continue to be feature-rich yet make it easy for the user to leverage their functions.

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Let’s look at three other factors that make enterprise software a complicated journey:

• Change management

Switching to new software, especially from age-old legacy systems, tend to imply a complete overhaul of business processes. Traditionally, different enterprise software existed in siloes; it means that bringing them under one roof can further complicate this journey; from implementation and integration to monitoring and support.

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• Software adoption

As mentioned earlier, usability is important. But what if the end-user is off to an uninformed start? It is necessary to bring about a shift in the mindset of end-users to accelerate and simplify their adoption. And it should happen before they start using the software to keep their respective operations up and running. Software training should be as minimal as possible. But it is crucial for management to effectively communicate the need of the software itself.

• Regulatory compliance

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Software capabilities are evolving, but so are regulatory requirements across the world. Any enterprise with global footprints must be two steps ahead of region-wise compliance requirements, especially when it concerns data management. In some cases, it can even play a role in determining the scope of software implementation.

Last year, there was a sudden spurt in the emergence of virtualization and cloud technologies for enterprise software, given the restrictions imposed by the pandemic-fueled lockdown. The year 2021 is witnessing this pattern continue to emerge stronger than ever before. Enterprises have started to understand that software complexity has the dubious potential of being an inhibitor of operational efficiency and business growth.

To navigate through this journey, they must harness the power of AI and ML to improve user experiences while eliminating redundant processes. Beyond that, they also require a specialized vendor who can help build and maintain a resilient and flexible software ecosystem.