Should you build or buy screen printing shop management software?
We get the question a lot actually. Many shop owners with technical backgrounds are capable of building something completely customer so why not?
I’m going to answer this question unbiasedly for you. This question comes down to focus. As a shop owner, you only have so many hours in a day. Every minute of your day is important and valuable to the business.
Buying any shop management solution, like Printavo, is going to suit 80-90% of your needs as a business. No tool on the market will be able to satisfy 100% of what you’re looking for. The reason is, Printavo has to be simple enough for thousands of shops to utilize. As we continue to push forward as a software company, we will get closer to that 100% but will never reach it. But realize, we are 100% focused on improvements. Our constant iterations are zeroed in on making the best shop management solution so you can focus on growing your print shop.
Building a shop management tool entails that same amount of effort. Maintenance, iteration, and improvements. Just like any new project, building a custom shop management solution is like an iceberg. The top can be visibly seen and doesn’t look too bad. But underwater is where the mass is.
Creeping projects scopes, delayed deadlines and expensive software development is just the beginning of getting a version 1 completed. Don’t forget about hosting and maintenance down the road. Does your custom solution integrate with email marketing software, a POS system, accounting tools or Google Apps?
As technology changes, you want to be on the cutting edge of it to drive your print shop forward. Pick wisely!
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