A better spreadsheet, a ready-made system or a custom application? Start with the problem. These guides help you compare options, plan the budget and prepare for rollout.
Find out when a better spreadsheet is enough and when your team needs shared data, access controls and a history of changes.
Three questions before you decide
Choose the topic that matches your next step.
Compare ready-made software and a custom application using the same task. Include limitations, integrations and running costs.
Describe the task, users and exceptions. Use a brief template to prepare the details for a first conversation and estimate.
Separate planning, development and maintenance. See what affects the estimate and what to ask when comparing proposals.
Define who owns a job, where documents belong and what each status means. Turn everyday work into software requirements.
Identify the source of data and where it needs to go. Plan for errors, retries and checking that the connection works.
Prepare a trial import, data checks and a test with your team. Decide when to switch over and how to handle problems.
Agree who handles backups, updates and support requests. Also check how the application could move to another developer.