Commercial Integrator December 2021 - 30

Software
Top 8 Ways Software Aids Integrators
1. Faster installations
2. Improves documentation
3. Closes more sales
4. More efficient billing
5. Reduces in-the-field errors
6. Helps better define business processes
7. Better client communication
8. Tracks leads more accurately
Most efficiencies aided by software directly
influence a dealer's bottom line.
Integrators Sound off on What They Want from Software Suppliers
Integration companies are never shy about vocalizing what they
want from any of their suppliers, let alone their software provider.
Here are just some of the verbatim comments from dealers
about their software wants and needs from both the survey and
from a Commercial Integrator focus group.
› We want a young company that is willing to listen to us
and make changes quickly, rather than saying a change is
going to happen six months from now. We look for a support
center that's typically somewhat local and will answer the
phone and talk to us. We look for somebody who knows our
industry well enough to understand the business that we're
doing, and understands how to build change orders.
› I prefer everything to be cloud-based. I don't want the Internet
in my office or the Internet at your office to be the reason
my software doesn't work.
› We look hard at the security aspect of any cloud-based software.
If we're going to put a bunch of client data up there, I
want to know that it's somewhat secure.
› We need links from the software to QuickBooks and to
email.
› Better tools for tracking feedback on various software tools
and functionality.
› Software needs to be easier to input via smartphones.
› I would like to see an all-inclusive software for the security
market with training and go-live support.
› Ease of use is most important.
› I want the software supplier to sit down with the users and
really understand their business. Also, look at all the additional
pieces integrators have to use to make their business
operate and build that into the product.
› Openness for integration with other systems is key. Cloud
support for ease of deployment is increasingly important.
› Monthly fees are an immediate turndown. Annual payments
or version purchase is better.
› I want the project management portion of my software to
give me the ability to better manage the change orders or
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Commercial Integrator DECEMBER 2021
track changes of the equipment at the time of the installation,
as well as give me real-time project profitability.
› Most software seems to be catering to larger business of a
100+ employees. I would like something for the one and the
one-to-11 employee range with customer support especially
for small businesses.
› Ease of setup, use, adoption, and intuitive user interface are
most important.
› The software needs to have an open API so individual
software can talk to each other. It doesn't need to be an allin-one
solution if everything works together.
› Supplier should talk to users BEFORE making the software
and BEFORE making big changes. Many companies make
software, but they have never used it themselves; there's a
big difference.
› Reduced cost and greater security are vital.
› The ability to file import/export from one system to another
is really important. A new speaker simulation software might
be cool, but if I have to redraw the room to use it, I'll probably
use something else.
› I want to see accounting and point of sale software solutions
added to the great project management solutions available.
› The software needs to be backward compatible with earlier
versions.
› Every project will likely require service at some point. Great
project management is critical, but the software must
include a great service-ticket tracking system.
› Interoperability between other popular solutions is the key.
It would be great if all software solutions would adhere to
some standardized method of business process, instead of
surgically solving very specific problems and ignoring overall
business workflow.
› We need better integration with other software and it needs
to be cloud-based.
› Please make the software more user-friendly. CI
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Commercial Integrator December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Integrator December 2021
