# How to choose custom management software: 7 questions to ask first

> Before having management software built, it pays to clear up seven things: the problem to solve, who will use it, the data you already have, where it has to run and who will maintain it over time.

Source: https://simplebuild.it/tutorial/come-scegliere-un-gestionale-su-misura
Author: SimpleBuild, Build simple. Deliver value.
Category: Custom software

Custom management software can save hours every week, or turn into a program nobody uses. The difference is almost always decided before the first line of code is written. Here are the questions to ask.

## 1. What problem does it need to solve?

Not "I need management software", but: *what do you do today that you'd like to stop doing?* Copying data from one sheet to another, hunting for a quote in your email, not knowing what's in stock. The more precise the problem, the simpler and more useful the program will be.

## 2. Who will use it, and how comfortable are they with computers?

Software used by one person is different from software used by five, with different roles. It also matters who will really use it: if it's someone not used to computers, a few clear screens are worth more than a hundred features.

## 3. What data do you already have?

Customers in one Excel file, products in another, appointments in a paper planner. It's worth listing them all: they can almost always be imported at the start, so you don't begin from scratch.

## 4. Where does it need to run?

- **In the browser**: you can use it from any computer, even from home.
- **On an office computer**: it doesn't depend on the internet.
- **On a phone too**: useful for people who work away from the office.

The answer changes a lot about how the program is built.

## 5. How is the data protected?

Management software often holds customer data, which means personal data. Always ask where it's stored, who can see it and how **backups** are made. Management software without automatic backups is a risk, not a saving.

## 6. Who maintains it over time?

A program needs updates: new needs, an operating system that changes, a bug to fix. It's best to know from the start who takes care of it, and that the code is handed over to you: that way you aren't tied to anyone.

## 7. What will it need to do two years from now?

You don't need to build today everything that might be needed tomorrow. But the program does need to be able to **grow** without being rebuilt: new screens, new users, a connection to your website.

## In short

Good custom management software starts from a clear problem, from the people who will use it and from the data you already have. If you like, we can answer these questions together: it's the first step of every project, and it also tells you whether you really need custom software.

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