Q10: Is the Software Best of Breed?

Software companies that focus on Best of Breed, fix problems and provide very specific solutions for success.

Our friends at the Estimating Edge know software and they know roofing companies. They recently developed an e-book that helps roofing contractors ask the right questions when it is time to choose software for their businesses. Over the next few months, we are answering one of the questions from their e-book that should help you when deciding what software is right for your business.

With all the options that are on the market, not every product is going to be the right fit for your roofing business. The tenth question to ask is, “Is the software best of breed?” Read on for why this is an important question.  

Best of Breed means finding technology solutions that fit the specific need of the company and then committing to getting the best software for the need. Software companies that focus on Best of Breed, focus on fixing problems and providing very specific solutions for success.

Best in breed software goes deep into the vertical or need and does not put resources in other areas that will ultimately be just ok. An example is estimating. By being the best estimating software available and putting all resources to continual improvements for that one important function, the software company provides a focus that fits the estimators needs. Some software will try to include other functions or add on modules. They are taking their focus off of the needs of the estimator.

With open ended programming, your estimating and ERP can talk to each other providing two best of breed solutions that now reduce redundant entries and keying errors. So, look for the top best in breed technologies in turn creating a software stack that will position the roofing company for overall success.

By taking the time to focus in on the best of breed concept, the company will become stronger and employees will be happier with software solutions that fit their needs. Asking employees to simply adapt to software that they have to maneuver around or create “cheats” for is a fast road to discontentment. By creating software stacks that integrate with each other, employees can be a part of driving top performance in their job, team and division with the right tools.

If you’re curious about the other questions you should be asking and don’t want to wait for the next article, download the full e-book here.