You may have heard IT wizards ramble on about tactical solutions, bespoke solutions and every solution under the sun. But what exactly is a tactical solution? And how does it work for businesses? In this article we’ll delve into the Better Technology psyche, and explore exactly what we mean when we say “tactical solution.”

In short, it’s pretty much exactly as it sounds - a plan or software tactically put in place to solve a specific challenge within a business. But there’s a key difference between designing a “tactical” solution and, let’s say, a “strategic” one. It may just sound like a different word for the same old thing, but when it comes to a tactical solution, it’s all about designing a plan or architecturing a piece of software quickly - and generally with a very specific goal in mind.

The buzz-phrase when it comes to tactical solutions is to deliver high on ROI, making sure to invest minimal time and budget from the client, but making as significant an impact as possible. It’s an interim, a quick-fix, and whether or not it’s a stepping stone to a larger plan, it’s a solution generally designed to scratch a very immediate itch.

Not only that, but tactical software and solutions also allow you to quickly see how a fully fledged solution might operate. The benefits of this are vast, allowing for new requirements and issues to be visualised, which can then easily be implemented, as opposed to diving straight into the fully fledged system (eg. ERP, Oracle or SAP). It’d be like bringing a brand-new toolbox full of specialist tools to put up a picture, when in reality your old-reliable hammer and nail would probably do the trick.

As you can probably imagine, a system such as this will take far longer to change, as well as potentially being far more expensive. And that’s not the aim of the game.

Let’s think of it this way.

You’re finally moving out of mum’s place, but you’re relying on a bicycle to move all of your stuff. Unsurprisingly, It’s a time-consuming venture, not to mention unreliable and generally more of a hassle than it’s worth. You’d like to start using a lorry, but unfortunately, that requires training and a significant monetary investment well above your budget and time constraints.

Do you:

• Keep using the bicycle, despite taking forever to move all of your things?
  
  
• Find a car within your budget and start using that in the interim until you have the required money and training for the truck?

• Take out a huge loan so you can afford an intense HGV training course and shiny new Globetrotter?
  
  

Realistically, option two is probably the way to go. In this scenario, you may even discover that a Lorry was never actually necessary, as your trusty Ford Focus provides adequate space for all of your dusty vinyls and records. Although you’d be done in one trip, the ROI just isn’t there; huge debt, possibly months of driving lessons and good luck parking your new lorry outside your city-centre flat.

As you probably guessed, the car represents a bespoke, tactical solution. Even if you’ve got your eyes set on a brand-spanking-new HGV, the car will certainly tide you over until you’ve got the time and money.

So, why choose a tactical solution?

Whether or not a tactical solution is the right fit really boils down to what makes a tactical solution, tactical. More often than not, there’s going to be multiple possible solutions for every problem. There will be cheaper or more dear solutions, limited or more flexible options, quick-fixes and more long term solutions, but the tact comes from designing an interim solution which is the perfect fit for your business’ specific requirements.

And that’s where we come in. At Better Technology Consulting we understand that there’s never a one-size-fits-all fix, and every single business or problem is unique. Bringing a juicy combination of business know-how and technical ability, we design bespoke plans and software that put the business first, not the tech. This means that each bespoke piece of software will be precisely what you need, so you can cash in on high ROI without breaking the proverbial bank.

If you’re looking to scope up a project and need a helping hand, get in touch with us today.

Nobody likes change, and nowhere is that more true than the world of software.  Consider the public reaction when popular sites like YouTube or Facebook change their layout. But just because something is new doesn’t mean it’s something to avoid – and in many cases, it would actively help the user.

Low adoption rates can be the bane of any software company, but there are plenty of tactics you can employ to drive greater adoption without too much added stress. Here are some easy ways to boost your software adoption.  

1. Position your software as a ‘push’ or a ‘pull’

Broadly speaking, there are two different ways that new software will be adopted by staff: either it’s ‘pushed’ on them by company policy, or they’re ‘pulled’ towards it by virtue of the fact that it genuinely helps them do their job. When trying to maximise new software adoption, it’s always a good idea to focus on the benefits to the user – both in the short and long term.

2.  Ensure your users actually need it

Before you even consider a change in software solutions, be sure that your users really need it. Generally speaking, you should avoid making changes for the sake of making changes. One idea is to run a survey prior to development to identify the level of need for the new software. If workflows are working just fine as they are, you’ll have your answer – and vice versa. 

3.  Find your champions

It is inevitable that some users will be more engaged than others; leverage this by convincing them to become your ‘champions’ who are willing to promote the benefits of it, train other users and provide comprehensive feedback.  Be prepared to offer 'sweeteners' such as specific features that they will benefit from in order to get these users on board.  Front-line champions are vital to successful adoption.

4.  Keep your roadmap open

It’s never fun to fumble around in the dark, and the same can be said for software. To get users both using and engaging with new software, it’s a good idea to be open and honest about the product’s roadmap. By signposting key features that will be available down the line, you can encourage users to make the most of software now, so that they can hit the ground running when the ‘killer feature’ they really want is introduced.

5.  Focus on a smooth user experience from day one

Software is always easier to adapt to when it just works. There are few better ways to guarantee low adoption than to provide software which is buggy, crashes often, or just doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. Smooth adoption happens when you create that magic balance of software that improves workflows, and does it in a way that’s fast, smooth, and easy. 

These are just a handful of ways you can improve user adoption of your software. For more ways to make software even easier to use, get in touch with us today. 

Building a business from the ground up is no small task. But with a little technical know-how, a pinch of luck, and a lot of hard work, Better Technology Consulting is truly here to stay. In today’s blog post, we’d like to explain a little about where we came from – and exactly how our past helps us stay focused on our future.  

Better Technology Consulting (BTC) is the brainchild of a technology geek who spent years as both a City trader and management consultant.  After getting bored of the "intangible" solutions that many consultancies were selling with little measurable impact, he soon realised that he could leverage his experience and channel it into developing real solutions for a huge range of companies, particularly by streamlining and automating processes through smart use of technology.

Smart. Simple. Focused.

So how exactly does BTC set itself apart from the pack? Well, we like to think there are multiple answers to that question, but there’s one that’s at the heart of every project – and that’s client-focus.

We don’t mean simply looking at what a business needs strategically in the long-term, but also looking at a more granular level by engaging with the users themselves. It’s amazing how quickly core issues can be identified when we see them first-hand.

Here’s a good example of this: one of our national clients had a few problems with a shared MS Excel spreadsheet that its sales teams were using. Put simply, there were too many people trying to use it at once, which made it slow, unstable and a pain to use.   The client suggested that we upgrade it to an MS Access-based database, however we knew that meant that each salesperson (who could be based anywhere) would need to be using a computer with MS Access installed in order to update their sales.  

After we spoke to the end-users themselves, it became apparent that the ideal solution would be something that could be updated from anywhere, and not require any new software.  Alongside that, a few extra requests cropped up, such as in-built reporting. 

Our solution? To develop a bespoke web-based application that could be accessed from anywhere with a connection to the client’s VPN (for security) and would grow with the team. A separate section on the website would host the in-built reporting and breakdowns and that was updated in real-time, every time a user entered information.  It didn’t take long for our client to accept our proposal and hop on board.

“Start small, and work with agility”

There’s an inherent risk with any software project that what you plan for might not be what you really need. Rather than waiting until the testing phase to discover potential pitfalls, here at BTC we do things a little differently. (And, dare we say it, better).

As part of our standard practice, we get involved in the design process as early as possible. This allows us to crystallise the essence of the project up-front. We start with a small team to keep initial costs down, then quickly create a working prototype of our proposed solution. This part is essential, because if everything goes right, the bulk of the budget can then be dedicated to something we already know will work.

Smart stuff, eh? At BTC, we use the well-known Agile methodology, meaning we develop in bite-sized chunks with time set aside for testing and feedback. This gives clients directional control of development, and keeps everyone on-target every step of the way.

Laying the groundwork for the road ahead

At BTC, we’re not satisfied until we’re sure our software is being used to its full potential. The best app in the world won’t do anyone any good if nobody uses it, which is why we focus on user adoption from an early stage.   We have a number of tools in our toolkit that we use to drive adoption early on, including a focus on the direct benefit to the user, documentation, training videos, and live demos.

We lay the groundwork from the start to ensure that the road ahead is smooth for both the software and the people who are actually using it every day. Even better, our unique design philosophy means that the software we deliver can be expanded and upgraded should the need arise.

It’s all part and parcel of the BTC philosophy, and it’s just one of the reasons that we’re the perfect choice for business software solutions.

The BTC team is always interested in what the community has to say, so please feel free to share, like, or let us know what you think in the comments below. Want to know even more about BTC? Don’t hesitate to check out the rest of our website or get in touch for a quick chat about your project.

We’ve had a very busy few months since our incorporation, but it's about time for us to get involved with the business and software development community by sharing our views on industry topics that we feel are important to us and our clients.

Our goal is to kick-off a discussion around current issues in the business technology world, discuss our experiences, talk about lessons learnt and share our company philosophies with the wider community.

Our hope is that you’ll find our content interesting, get involved with the discussion to make us all more knowledgeable and improve the services we offer.

We are very interested in connecting with all types of readers, from fellow developers to IT project managers, end-users or even just BTC friends who have an interest in business software or technology consulting - we’d like to invite you to join in with the community by sharing, liking or commenting on any of our blog posts.

And if any of our content ever strikes a chord with you, please don’t hesitate to check out the rest of our website or get in contact with us for a quick chat about your project.