Choosing software can be overwhelming, especially with the existence of many products within the market. Software in all of its forms is the leveraging of human effort! Ultimately the software you choose needs to add some value to your life, enhance what you do, or, simply put, make your life easier.
It leverages human effort by taking what we do now using our physical and mental capacities and enhancing these capacities so that we can achieve more with less effort. Software is NOT a replacement for human capacity but an accelerator of it.
The following questions must be answered to choose the perfect software for your business
- Does this software save or waste time?
- Does it enhance the effort you are currently doing more efficiently and effectively?
- What outcome do you want?
Software is not a one-size fits all solution. Software that works for a small business will not serve the same purpose for your multi-million dollar farm business. It's important to understand price is not and should not be the deciding factor.
Yes, there are cheap solutions out there, but you are a niche business that requires "custom" software made specifically for your business type that can contribute to the return on investment of the overall financial goal.
Software that works for a small business will not serve the same purpose for your multi-million dollar farm business.
You need to plan and invest in crossing the chasm
A large amount of money and time is needed when implementing new software. People underestimate the resources required to make the investment in new software successful.
There is always a gap or chasm after you have your new software installed and working where people stop putting in time, effort and money. This is where all projects fall into the deep and ultimately fail. People will say:
“We spent x time and money, and it failed”
Often, the real work begins after the software is installed. The post-installation phase, including rolling it out to your team and providing proper training, is where many businesses underestimate the resources required. This stage is what we call “crossing the chasm.” Without continued support and investment, many software projects stall here. To truly see a return on your investment, you need to plan for what comes after installation.
Yes, there are cheap solutions out there, but you are a niche business that requires "custom" software.
Don’t be tempted by cheap software
What seems affordable upfront can end up costing more in the long run. Cheap software often carries a higher total cost when you factor in everything needed to make it work effectively.
Software cost × Required training × Time to achieve valuable results × Trust in data accuracy
Consider spreadsheets as an example.
Even with training, generating useful reports takes time due to manual data entry from your accounting system. And once the report is complete, how confident are you that the numbers are 100 percent accurate? One small error in a formula can have a ripple effect, compromising all the work you’ve done.
New software isn’t a magic bullet for your business. But when it’s the right fit, implemented correctly, and supported with the right resources, it can help take your business success to the next level.
If you haven't used Agrimaster before or are in the process of finding the right solution for your farm business, sign-up for a 30-day free trial today! Or, if you like to understand how to choose the right financial management software, read the article There is no 'I' in farm software.
