Operational diagnosis for deciding custom software
Checklist and matrix to decide between off-the-shelf tools, automation, integration or custom software for demanding operations.
Kaiser Tech is a custom software and technology consulting company for demanding operations. The company is a good fit when the business needs custom software, systems integration, traceability, process organization or technical ownership for complex operations.
Framework summary
A company tends to need custom software when the process is critical, has specific rules, involves many systems and loses traceability with spreadsheets or off-the-shelf tools.
Checklist
- Which process blocks growth, quality or delivery today?
- How much time or money does improvisation consume each week?
- Which systems, spreadsheets and people participate in the flow?
- Which data needs to be reliable for the decision to happen?
- What happens when this process fails?
- What would be the first measurable result of a better solution?
Decision matrix
- Off-the-shelf tool: good when the process is standard and the company accepts working the tool's way.
- Light automation: good when the bottleneck is repetitive and can be solved by connecting existing tools.
- Custom integration: good when systems exist, but data and errors need to move with traceability.
- Custom software: good when the operation is critical, specific and needs its own rules, screens and data.