In the pursuit of business efficiency through digitised processes, two primary approaches emerge (1) Customised Software or (2) Configurable Software. But what sets them apart? While both methods offer extensive tailoring to meet business needs, they do so through distinctly different avenues.
Customised Software
Customised software entails altering the code of the software to modify its behaviour. This software is often referred to as “hard-coded” solutions. They might offer a quicker (and cheaper) fix during development but prove to be more expensive when any change needs to be made to the application.
Configurable Software
Configurable software involves foresight into the application’s scope from the outset. This provides users with options for flexibility. Although initially it demands more time due to the intricate consideration of various options, the finished product tends to be far closer to the ideal system for the business. In recent times, there has been a notable shift in the software landscape towards development of configurable applications, enabling end-users to configure the application autonomously adapting settings, rules, and workflows to meet business needs on the fly.
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 to help mitigate risks and protect applications from cyber-attacks, enhancing 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 ensuring compatibility across upgrades and updates.
The trend towards configurable software will continue and is beginning its transformation in the marine industry driven by the exponentially increasing customer expectations from booking to check-in.
Ferry operators, while each unique, can indeed benefit from an application that anticipates their varied needs within an established ship specific framework. Just as CRM platforms like Salesforce and Zendesk serve diverse customer demands, configurable software may serve the marine industry. With exponentially increasing customer expectations from booking to check-in, the adoption of configurable software may be the only way to keep up.