Frankenstein systems are not fun. 

They often rise from the depths of legacy systems that have been built on too many times. Sometimes they can exist in young systems too. These systems are usually poorly designed, oftentimes with little forethought about future implications and levels of long term technical debt.

Architecturally, the platform is akin to an unstable bridge that could fall apart at any moment and without warning. All you need is a little pressure and more load than usual to send the pieces flying.

The result of this often comes in the form of your business being temporarily down until your engineers can sticky-tape the rubble back together again. Your processes can come to a screeching halt, leading to the loss of sales, reduced customer experience and workers who are unable to properly perform their job.

Why You Need to Upgrade and Modernize Your Platform

Imagine the world speeding along with the ability to pivot their business against consumer demand with a snap of a finger. 

You may try to do the same but you can’t. Why? Because you’re trying to turn an old car that’s done its mileage into an electric vehicle. It might work - but it comes with an unnecessarily high price.

Upgrading isn’t all about getting something new and shiny. Rather, it’s about having the ability to adapt and give your business the efficiency it needs. It’s more than just changing the oil, tires and windscreen wipers. It’s about getting a system that actually works and does what you need it to do. 

What it Can do for Your Business

Imagine if you could shave off a few minutes of waiting time in between clicks and tasks. It may not seem like a lot until you realize how much time disappears in between tasks.

Seconds and minutes add up - especially when you’re paying for your employees by the hour. Inefficiencies can also cause delays and cost your supply chains. 

An effective platform is one that is cohesive, with each part fitting neatly into the other. Flow is maximized, optimized and automated - leaving your employees with more time to do the things they need to do. 

A platform is like a tool and if the tool itself is blunt and slow, it can negatively impact how your business is able to perform and compete based on speed, responsiveness, and experience. 

Unifying and modernizing your platform can give you back ownership of these metrics, allowing you to properly compete with your product and services.

An ineffective system can hold your business back. 

When you’re looking for software development companies, look for businesses that know how to get systems and platform development projects right. Find the people who specialize with people who are able to provide the equivalent of a system’s floor plan, the engineers and builders needed to help deliver your project. 

This is because there’s more to it than just hiring developers. Building a robust platform is like building a house - you wouldn’t do it with just the builders. You need architects and engineers as well. You need people to survey your system in its current state. You need someone that is able to understand what you have and where you want to go. You need someone that has the ability to connect the right dots in the right places. 

And it these things you should be looking for when looking to hire someone to develop your systems for you.

Don’t just go in based on price alone. Check their portfolio and past work deliveries.  

Originally published by David Wesley from SRG Software