Plug-and-play products are truly convenient, but here’s the rub: their developers mostly enjoy the convenience. All too often, “sell and forget” seems to be the motto. The end-user experience, however, is a different story. Introducing a rigid system into a living and breathing business carries a risk of stifling it. That’s why you don’t want a developer with a one-size-fits-all mentality. Instead, what you need is a true partner capable of delivering a bespoke solution and customizing it on the go.
Bending, Not Breaking
If you can tell in advance what tools you need to fix the puzzle at hand, then off-the-rack software and IT solutions may very well be your perfect fit. In practice, however, the reality is quick to challenge even the best-thought-out plans, and more often than not, a slight adjustment, even if possible, is not enough to get back on track. A time may come when you will need an overhaul or will be forced to execute a hard U-turn. In such an event, your ready-to-wear solution, fancy but rigid, may give way under pressure.
You can convince yourself that reaching such a breaking point is a valuable learning experience. But, in our humble opinion, it’s better to avoid it by ditching the one-size-fits-all mentality from the get-go and opting for a more flexible approach. To do this, you need to stop looking for a software shop where you can buy off-the-shelf products more or less applicable to your current needs, and start a long-lasting cooperation with a reliable partner, a developer and a consultant in one, that can offer you not only a bespoke solution for here and now but also an ongoing process of adjusting it to the ever-changing circumstances of your growing business. By doing so, you can ensure that what you get will bend, not break, under pressure.
From Bespoke to “Say No More, We’re Already On It”
We relish working with partners with unique needs and specific requirements in our day-to-day practice. First, we listen. This gives us preliminary clues as to what the problem may be. Next, we jump into the client’s current environment to see all the moving parts in action and explore all the nooks and crannies. After collecting as much data as possible, we proceed to the drawing board to design a tailored solution. Then, it’s time for real-life testing on a limited scale. More consultations within a working group established between our developers and our client’s teams involved in the process provide us with enough feedback to release a polished product, set for full-scale implementation.
This, however, doesn’t mean that our job is done. Far from it. “Sell and forget” is not our motto. We understand that businesses and organizations are constantly evolving, and their goals may change over time. That’s why we create open-ended solutions that can be adjusted as required whenever such a need arises, be it as a result of a shift in circumstance or new knowledge gained through interactions between the systems we provide and the working environment they serve. A simple tweak to existing functionalities or a major pivot and incorporating entirely new features – a single word from our client, and we’re already on it!
When it comes to delivering results, flexibility is king. With custom, bespoke solutions tailored to each client’s unique requirements, we can drive their success. From our first meeting through the development process and testing stages to ongoing support, we’re always there, ready to consult, receive feedback, innovate, and create value. As technical as the challenge may be, we never lose sight of the human element. Our goal is to adjust the system to the end user, not the other way around.
Magdalena Zakolska-Ochocka, Client Success Manager