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The Benefits of Software Self-Configuration

In the past, setting up a new enterprise software system was a major headache. Any time you needed to change something in the system to make it function the way you wanted, you had to wait for the software vendor’s team to set it up for you. 

Fortunately, technology has come a long way and modern software tools are much more flexible than they used to be. Many platforms now give you the option to self-configure the system to meet your business requirements instead of needing the vendor to do it for you. 

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What is self-configuration?

Using built-in administrative options, you can easily change the look and feel of the system to your liking without messing with the underlying code. Whether you want to create a custom report or change user roles and permissions, you can do this all yourself with just a few clicks. There are a number of benefits to choosing a tool that can be configured on your own. 

Benefits of self-configuration

1. Cost

The most obvious advantage of a self-configurable system is the money you’ll save. Businesses tend to greatly underestimate the costs involved in customizing software. Software customization is a complex process, and one that can cost your company tens of thousands of dollars. If you’re not careful, these extra costs can easily blow your budget. 

All of that is unnecessary with a self-configurable system. Any user with administrative privileges can make adjustments without having to pay the vendor’s team to do it for them. For example, let’s say you want to create a custom form for a stormwater inspection. You can easily drag and drop questions to build your form — no coding required. When you consider that the average software developer charges anywhere from $45-65 an hour or more, it’s easy to see how the cost savings can add up. 

2. Time savings

There’s a popular saying in project management: “A project is complete when it starts working for you, rather than you working for it.” Self-configurable software is designed to get you to this point as quickly as possible. Instead of starting from scratch, you’ll start with the standard configuration that can then be tweaked to meet your needs. This enables you to focus on productivity instead of wasting time setting up the system. 

In addition, standardized systems are typically built around best practice workflows, so you’ll benefit from having things set up in the most efficient way possible. You might even find some opportunities for time savings that you hadn’t thought of before. (This is also why it’s a good idea to choose a vendor who has industry expertise.)

3. Control

Self-configurable software gives you much more control over the look and feel of your system than you would have with a typical system. Do you want a different set of reports on your dashboard? Would you prefer to display your calendar by week rather than by month? You can easily change those settings using administrative options that are built into the system. What’s more, you can change these options at any time without having to wait for the vendor. In this way, a self-configurable system puts you—the user—in the driver’s seat. 

4. Flexibility

Businesses change and grow over time, so understandably you’ll want a system that can flex with your organization’s needs. A self-configurable system can easily adapt to your business processes. For example, self-configurable software typically includes additional modules that you can turn on as you go. This allows you to start small and add more functionality as time goes on. 

5. Maintenance and updates

An added benefit of choosing self-configurable software is that maintenance is easier and more affordable. It all comes back to standardization.

Can you imagine if each vehicle in your company’s fleet was completely different? It would be incredibly expensive to maintain an inventory of spare parts, purchase specialty tools, and keep mechanics up-to-date on all the different equipment. 

Likewise, when each client has their own custom version of a software system, the vendor will have to spend more time and resources maintaining it. This slows down product improvements and updates and drives up the cost for you. 

With self-configurable software, on the other hand, the underlying system remains the same even though the screens, forms, and reports might look different. This means it’s much easier for the vendor to keep up with maintenance and updates.

Reap the benefits of self-configuration

When it comes to enterprise software, a self-configurable system is the clear winner. Self-configuration gives you flexibility and control over your own system — not to mention being much more cost-effective. 

Perillon offers a flexible, standardized EHS software solution that can be configured to any organization’s needs without expensive and time-consuming custom services. And because Perillon is designed for small- to mid-sized companies, we’ve designed the system to be implemented quickly and easily. To learn more, request a free demo with our solutions team. 

Next: Learn what to look for in an implementation program

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