All-in-one vs. best of breed
Project management software is a broad term that can mean different things to different people. While some may equate task management with project management, others might log work hours into ERP software and call it project management. In both situations, critical aspects are often overlooked, making it challenging to run a profitable business.
Veli Hämäläinen, International Partner Sales Manager at Visma Solutions Oy
Veli Hämäläinen brings over 10 years of experience in consulting with decision-makers, project managers, and consultants to address critical issues in managing profitable operations.
Both small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and larger global organizations face similar challenges, albeit on different scales. Therefore, a reliable software partner is more than just a provider; at their best, they offer valuable expertise and comprehensive industry-specific knowledge about best practices, which can enhance profitability and improve employee well-being.
Addressing bottlenecks in processes is crucial before finding the right solutions for those processes. In the Nordics, Severa’s extensive partner network offers solutions that meet the high-quality standards maintained daily at Severa. Alongside our partners, we provide insights, such as this blog series, to guide professional service companies toward more profitable and modern project management practices.
All-in-one vs. best of breed
Not long ago, almost every large organization relied on solutions that offered comprehensive functionalities, such as Microsoft software, Netsuite, SAP, or other tools that covered everything from sales to project management, time tracking to invoicing, and bookkeeping. While this approach may still work in certain industries, in the professional service sector, the situation has evolved. On paper, nothing sounds better than having one license to sign into and perform all tasks, whether you’re a consultant or a CFO.
However, the expansive array of functionalities often results in significant time spent navigating the software. No matter how much is spent tailoring the solution, the software architecture may not allow for easy and swift navigation.
Consider project creation as an example. I’ve had the privilege of selling two types of project management software: one that is highly customizable and Severa. I’ve researched how many clicks it takes to create an identical project with the same information in both software solutions. Severa saved 10 clicks. It might not sound like much, but Severa also needed four fewer clicks for an employee to enter their work hours for a project. While the reduction of clicks might not seem significant on an individual basis, when applied to daily business over 10 years, the number becomes staggering.
This boils down to user experience, or UX, as software companies call it. Decision-makers’ primary criteria for software is typically data—and it should be. However, the unfortunate fact is that while decision-makers focus on how many reports can be extracted, they seldom consider who contributes to that data. The bottom line is that if the end-user (the employee) finds the software cumbersome, they are less motivated to use it. Consequently, this leads to unreliable, non-real-time data, resulting in lost revenue, decreased profitability, and unsatisfied employees.
Over the past few years, larger companies in Finland have recognized the importance of UX. We began collaborating with numerous larger organizations (employing 100+ people), using the best of breed model, with Severa as the operative engine. With automated integrations, the whole ecosystem synchronizes seamlessly, employing modern software for ERP, HR, and other complementary functions.
One of Finland’s largest marketing agencies, a former Severa customer, recently announced that after a year of attempting to implement “All-in-one” software into their business processes, they are returning to Severa following a failed implementation. According to rumors, this news was met with cheers during their town hall meeting.
Whether working in an SMB or a larger organization, wouldn’t you want to experience the same joy when using software in your daily work life?
Would you like to learn more about Severa? Contact us at Entrion!