These days, we can all agree: software programs that suit companies’ specific needs greatly improve their productivity and organization. When it comes to maintenance and construction management software in the real estate, that’s common knowledge.
Ainsi, lorsqu’apparaît le besoin pour une entreprise de digitaliser la gestion de ses travaux et/ou de sa maintenance, il peut être tentant de développer un logiciel en interne.
After all, isn’t that the best way to understand and handle your company’s specific needs? A few benefits of developing your CMMS internally
- it’s free of charge (aside from the opportunity cost of having your teams spend time on such a project)
- flexibility in entering your data
- advanced customization of your tool
- easy, straightforward distribution to employees
Pourtant opter pour cette solution présente des inconvénients bien plus nombreux que les avantages cités plus haut et auxquels la plupart des entreprises ne s’attendent pas. Investir dans un logiciel auprès du bon éditeur est une bien meilleure solution à long terme.
We’ll explain why.
A long and complicated implementation process
There are many steps between the moment you decide to develop your own software and the moment it’s ready for your teams to use. These steps’ length and complexity are often underestimated: defining specifications, establishing a project timeline, design concept and functional design, the development phase, testing, potential acceptance trials and optimizations, etc. All these stages can lengthen the project calendar considerably and incur further costs if they aren’t properly understood or if the IT team’s skills aren’t up to the task.
You’d be better off avoiding these pitfalls and placing your trust in an established software publisher. In addition to the variety of skills required for such a project, they have the benefit of years’ worth of feedback in comprehending the obstacles involved in implementing software solutions. Based on that experience, they can offer professional and highly effective solutions, particularly in maintenance and construction management with controlled costs and deadlines.
Understanding the complexity of your needs: specialized software is available and up to the task
Do you think your company’s maintenance and construction needs are too complex or specific to be trusted to a solution already on the market?
Pourtant, à l’instar de Twipi Group, certaines d’entre elles sont capables de s’adapter à n’importe quel processus opérationnel, du plus simple au plus complexe. Leurs solutions évoluent en même temps que les besoins de leurs clients et de ce fait, font face à un très large panel de demandes de process et de fonctionnalités.
They can now adapt to meet the needs of maintenance service providers, facility management companies, and property managers.
Furthermore, these solutions often include multiple APIs for easy links to existing software (accounting, CRM, etc.) used by the client company. This enables rapid syncing of all operational and administrative data.
It’s difficult to upgrade an internally developed software tool
An internally developed software tool is hard to upgrade. The company doesn’t necessarily have the required expertise and resources.
When you turn to specialized maintenance and construction software publishers, on the other hand, upgrading your solution is never a source of concern.
Because of their experience across multiple industries and with organizations of various sizes, it is easier for them to anticipate changes in companies’ needs and they are more responsive in developing new features.
Generally speaking, they also offer user support in the form of project managers assigned to each client, as well as convenient options to communicate with their product team.
That means they can integrate your feedback and requests directly into their product roadmap, ensuring that their solutions meet your needs over the long term.
Existing software offers optimal assurance of availability and security
Si vous choisissez d’investir dans un logiciel spécialisé disponible sur le marché plutôt que de faire développer un logiciel sur mesure, vous devez vous assurer que celui-ci sera disponible 24H/24 sans interruption et totalement sécurisé.
You’re in luck, because the leading publishers in the maintenance and construction management software market cut no corners when it comes to their solutions’ availability and security. The availability factor is generally upwards of 99%, and each element of these solutions is designed to ensure that clients’ data are entirely secure.
For example, all HTTPS/SSL logins are traced and secure, requiring a secure password valid for a customizable period of time, with a limited number of attempts allowed.
Moreover, outside specialists conduct security audits (including a penetration test) on a regular schedule.
Developing Software Internally: Watch Out for Hidden Costs
If you choose to develop a maintenance and construction solution internally, your investment won’t be limited to the initial amount; you’ll need to update it regularly to keep it functional, secure, and sustainable.
That means reinvesting in your solution on a regular basis, which will lead to higher, unplanned expenses.
Conversely, choosing a specialized external solution guarantees stable expenses with no surprises and better visibility. You’ll be charged up front for costs related to configuration and training, as well as a licensing fee per user.
Updates are the publisher’s responsibility, so there are no unpleasant surprises!
Finally, you can decide at any time to extend the solution to other teams or departments within your company. You’ll gain both flexibility and productivity by bringing together all your teams, regardless of location, under the umbrella of a single set of tools and processes.