The Pros and Cons of Installing A New Software System

Businesses everywhere are being forced to modernize their technologies, including software systems. There are many businesses that are reluctant to implement new software for a variety of reasons including comfort with the standard mode of operations, the cost of new software, or the time and resources that it might take to implement the system - not to mention, training employees how to use the new system. Before business leaders decide to implement a new system, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of making a switch.

The Cons of Implementing a New System

There are a few downsides to switching to a new system that business leaders should consider carefully before investing in a new system:

New Software Doesn’t Always Roll Out Smoothly

No matter how much a new system is tested before it’s implemented, there’s always a chance the software could have some bugs that need to be worked out. Perhaps data doesn’t populate as expected. Maybe there is an error in the functionality of a process flow or an integration point may have been written incorrectly. There are endless examples of what “could” go wrong when implementing new software.

The Cost of New Software

Most people understand that the newer something is, the more expensive it will cost upfront. New software comes with a variety of impressive features that also make it expensive. It can be challenging for a business to deal with the sudden overhead cost of rolling out new software, and cost allocation needs to be carefully considered.

The Training Time Involved

When a company decides to implement new software, the business has to take the time to train their employees to not only use the new system, but also train them on the associated business process changes. Depending on the level of change, this can represent a significant investment to realize a successful transition. While new software generally promises improved efficiency and decreased costs, it could take some time to actually reach this goal.

The Pros of Implementing a New System

There are also a handful of pros that business leaders need to keep in mind:

Decreased Costs in the Long Run

For business leaders, the cost of maintaining older software (also called “legacy technology”) is only going to increase. This is because the older the software gets, the harder it is to find replacement parts and professionals to fix problems when they arise. New software carries newly trained IT professionals and parts more commonly available, leading to lower maintenance costs.

Newer Software Increases Efficiency

With properly selected software, business processes can operate with significantly increased efficiency. Advancements available in newer technology allow automation and streamlining of processes that simply aren’t available with many legacy systems, which in the end justifies the costs of implementing new technology.

Improved Security

Perhaps most importantly, a new software system will lead to improved security. As technology advances, the creativity of viruses will advance, as well. Legacy systems are not always up to code in terms of new threats, especially once out of warranty or maintenance. By investing in the latest versions of software, businesses are also making an investment in the latest versions of cyber defense and anti-malware technology. This will keep the company’s data out of the wrong hands and ensure that the business has adequate defenses against hackers and viruses. Prioritize safety of the company’s data.

Ultimately, it’s important for every business leader to consider the pros and cons of investing in new software before making a decision. While new software may require a large investment upfront, it could lead to solid returns if used properly.