Custom engineering software carries significant costs. Therefore, it’s imperative for firms utilizing custom-built solutions to ensure they derive maximum value from these substantial investments. However, when the expenses associated with specialized software maintenance outweigh the advantages, a reassess becomes necessary.
Recently, an engineering firm with this exact predicament approached Open iT. Aligned with prevailing industry trends, this enterprise is considering a strategic pivot – transitioning from their tailored engineering software programs to more widely-adopted, industry-standard tools. However, such a seismic shift, without the requisite insight and expert guidance, is unquestionably a complex undertaking.
Why The Shift to Standard Engineering Software
Initial consultations with Open iT unveiled two primary motivations driving the firm’s consideration to transition from custom engineering software solutions to readily available market-standard applications.
Financial Implications: Custom engineering software tailored for specific needs are no doubt valuable assets. However, this asset comes with its baggage in terms of costs. While off-the-shelf engineering solutions usually includes software maintenance as part of the initial purchase or subscription, custom-built software does not.
A holistic understanding of custom engineering software is vital for the seamless transition to standard engineering applications.
Custom engineering applications require ongoing maintenance and periodic modifications. Over an extended period, these recurrent expenses have accumulated, weighing heavily on the organization’s financial reserves. As these costs grow, the initial perceived value of the custom solution can start to diminish, prompting the firm to evaluate the long-term sustainability and financial viability of retaining such tailored engineering software solutions.
Adaptability and Agility Concerns: The dynamic nature of engineering projects means that engineers often rotate roles or are reallocated to different projects. Each rotation or role change necessitate the introduction to a different custom engineering application. Unlike standardized tools, where the interface and functionalities might remain consistent across different project contexts, custom applications can vary considerably in their design and operations.
This variation results in engineers facing a recurring learning curve every time they encounter a new application. The time invested in acclimating to these tools, while seemingly incremental, can aggregate to significant productivity losses. Consequently, project timelines can inadvertently be extended, potentially leading to cost overruns and client dissatisfaction.
Custom Engineering Software Insight: Paramount for Transition
To transition without disruptions and to ensure that the right standard engineering software programs are chosen, the firm requires a granular understanding of their current custom software usage. This involves understanding who uses which application, for what specific purposes, and how frequently.
This insight will not only enable them to determine which software brings the most value but will also be a compass guiding them towards similar standard software in the market. Moreover, with concrete data in hand, the firm can negotiate from a position of strength with software vendors, potentially leading to cost savings and securing contracts with the most ideal software license agreements.
Leverage Comprehensive Custom Software Tracking
In addressing these challenges, Open iT presents itself as a valuable partner. While several software monitoring tools provide essential management and tracking of commercial software licenses, Open iT differentiates itself with its proficiency in custom software tracking and analysis.
Knowing your engineers’ engagement with custom software guides you in selecting comparable standard tools from the market.
When the firm integrates Open iT’s LicenseAnalyzer into their systems, they are not merely adding another tool, but strategically positioning themselves to grasp a refined understanding of how their custom engineering software programs are utilized.
The LicenseAnalyzer‘s sophisticated analytics engine penetrates the layers of standard software usage tracking. By doing so, it successfully pinpoints and documents intricate software usage metrics right down to individual workstations. This precision offers a panoramic view of engagement patterns, highlighting both frequent and sporadic interactions with the custom applications.
Capture Relevant Business Intelligence
Yet, the true prowess of LicenseAnalyzer isn’t solely in its data-capturing capability. Instead of presenting a raw, unprocessed stream of information, LicenseAnalyzer refines this data into structured, meaningful intelligence. Such intelligence is invaluable, as it paints a clear picture of current software landscapes and usage inefficiencies.
Rather than overwhelming users with a deluge of unrefined data, LicenseAnalyzer meticulously processes, filters, and organizes information, translating it into structured, actionable intelligence. This means that every piece of information presented has been assessed for its relevance and significance, ensuring that decision-makers are not just informed, but insightfully informed.
Empower Insight-Driven Decision-Making
The insights garnered from LicenseAnalyzer are indispensable to any enterprise. By offering a nuanced view of the software license inventory, it allows companies to discern both overarching trends and tiniest details within their software framework. This means they can quickly spot inefficiencies, pinpoint seldom-used tools, and highlight potential areas ripe for improvement. Such profound clarity acts as a guiding light, steering firms towards decisions that resonate with their overarching goals and strategies.
With this depth of knowledge, the engineering firm stands at a strategic advantage. They can recognize their current software intricacies, enabling them to carefully and correctly select standard engineering software solutions that fit seamlessly into their existing operations. This positions them for a streamlined transition from tailored to standardized engineering software solutions.
Transition Right with Open iT
With Open iT’s expertise in custom software tracking and metering, the engineering firm isn’t shooting in the dark. They’re empowered with unparalleled visibility and clarity into their custom engineering software programs and their entire software inventory.
As they embark on this transition journey, they are equipped to make informed decisions, ensuring that the new engineering software tools they adopt are not only cost-effective but also align seamlessly with their operational needs, driving value and positively impacting the bottom line.
Is your company considering a similar shift? Get an Open iT representative to call you and discover how our solution can help your transition.
