In the pursuit of business efficiency through digitised processes, two primary software approaches emerge: customised software and configurable software.
Both methods offer ways to tailor systems to business needs, but they do so through very different approaches.
Customised Software
Customised software involves altering the code of the software to modify its behaviour.
These are often referred to as hard-coded solutions. They may offer a quicker and cheaper fix during development, but can become more expensive when future changes need to be made to the application.
Configurable Software
Configurable software involves building flexibility into the application from the outset.
This gives users options to adapt settings, rules, and workflows without needing custom code every time the business changes.
Although it can require more planning upfront, the finished product is often much closer to the ideal system for the business.
In recent years, there has been a clear shift in software development towards configurable applications, enabling end users to adapt systems autonomously as their needs evolve.
The rise of configurable software has been driven by several key factors.
Flexibility Without Complexity
With configurable software, businesses can quickly adapt to changing requirements or market conditions by adjusting configurations themselves, without the need for extensive coding or deployments.
Security
In the fast-paced world of cyber threats, the ability to keep up with security measures is crucial.
Configurable software can offer security features and updates that help mitigate risks, protect applications from cyber-attacks, and enhance overall system security.
Standardisation and Integration
Configurable platforms often adhere to industry standards and best practices, making it easier to integrate with other systems and maintain compatibility across upgrades and updates.
Configurable software is increasingly important for the marine industry.
The trend towards configurable software will continue, and its transformation in the marine industry is being driven by rapidly increasing customer expectations from booking through to check-in.
Ferry operators are each unique, but they can still benefit from an application that anticipates varied operational needs within an established vessel-specific framework.
Just as CRM platforms like Salesforce and Zendesk serve diverse customer demands, configurable software can serve the marine industry.
With customer expectations increasing across the full journey, the adoption of configurable software may be the only way to keep up.