When you run canned software, you minimize your unique competitive advantages by appearing the same as your competitors by using the same software they do.

Custom Software maximizes your competitive advantages and leverages your unique qualities so they become inherintly obvious to all you interface with.

This being said, what’s the cost of giving up your unique qualities? There are many businesses who choose the customization route, and a sales application especially is in the forefront of customized systems, while accounting is in quite the opposite position.

I personally feel that the most advantageous position a company can put itself into is to take advantage of “canned” software in areas such as manufacturing and accounting if they can, while maximizing their competitive advantages in dealing with customers and prospects.

Can you have your cake and eat it too? A hybrid system that interfaces custom with can in my opinion is “the way to go” so:
Buy: Canned Accounting Software
Build: Sales and Customer Service
Ignore: The past history of data systems not being able to connect with each other.

That’s my take!
Sincerely,
Peter A Donovan
Applause Software [consultant]