How to choose the right software

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Software operations models

Different software approaches

How to implement software

How to choose the right software



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Popular “IT as a Service” models

IaaS PaaS SaaSInfrastructure as a Service Platform as a Service Software as a Service

IaaS delivers remote physical datacenter infrastructure that allows users to rent the usage of infrastructure instead of buying physical hardware.

IaaS providers typically offer physical Infrastructure as well as virtualization for servers, storage and networking.

Users if IaaS-Services have to manage the software stack on top themselves (Operating systems, middleware, applications, desktops).

PaaS delivers remote application development infrastructures and application environments that allow developers to build scalable and hybrid solutions.

Applications built on PaaS inherit the benefits of cloud architectures, like scalability or the access to services that require massive computing power, like machine learning, IoT or BigData.

PaaS allows micro-service based development to help developers focus on functional enhancements

SaaS represents the ‘classic’ cloud market that offers managed ready to run applications.

SaaS applications are likely to be usable via browser and often do not require local client installations.

Samples for SaaS are Office365, Salesforce, Evernote and many other for almost any purpose.

As everything (operations, storage, maintenance, support) is managed by the SaaS vendors it is easy to use this kind of offering.



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Azure as flexible IaaS + PaaS + SaaS platform for SME

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Run two virtual machines as Active Directory (AD) domain controllers and DNS servers in Azure and synchronize these services with your on-premises AD domain controllers. The application can then authenticate users without the added latency of connecting to the on-premises Active Directory.

Connect all your virtual machines in the cloud into an Azure Virtual Network.

Connect on-premises to the cloud with VPN over the Internet. For a lower latency dedicated line use ExpressRoute.

On-premises users now access their applications in the cloud with no changes to the user experience.

Package your application into a virtual machine and deploy it into Azure. Run at least two copies to provide redundancy in case of failure or add more to scale out.

Move your data layer to the cloud for the lowest latency. Take advantage of the SQL Server 2014 AlwaysOn feature to provide redundancy and failover.

The applications in the cloud and on-premises can securely communicate and exchange data.

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Azure connects OnPremise and Cloud and allows the free decision about the preferred operation platform for services.

Even though MS Azure is provided by Microsoft it is an excellent OpenSource application stack.



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Different software approaches

Out-of-the-Box (OOTB) No Code & Low Code Custom coded solutionsStandard-Software Configuration Frameworks Software-Engineering

Standard-Software Solutions promise to deliver answers for standard problems, fair pricing, low risk and easy implementation even for complex duties..

Traditional samples are ERP, PPS, CRM, HR, CAD, Office, financial systeme etc. that represent legal standards or industry good practice.

Most of these systems go hybrid or cloud today and add substantial value to the PaaS stack in the cloud.

No Code or Low Code solutions try to close the gap between Standard Software and Custom coded solutions.

These solutions promise more flexibility than standard solutions and less requirements for programming or IT-skills than Custom coded solutions.

Typical representatives of this type of solution are Workflow-Tools, Collaboration Tools or Configuration Frameworks.

Custom coded solutions allow the creation of everything that can´t be covered with the left two blocks.

Current PaaS Stacks like MS Azure allow search driven applications, Micro service architectures, IoT, BigData, Machine Learning and more – and it will take several years until these technologies will become a natural part of OOTB, No Code or Low Code solutions.

Custom coded solutions therefore are the right answer to innovation and digital transformation.

Standard Frequent Changes Digital transformation



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More details on ‘No Code’ and ‘Low Code’

No Code Low Code Workflow & FormsFlexible Standard Software Configuration Frameworks Rules and User Interaction

No Code solutions offer flexible configuration options within the given functionality.

As you can´t add things outside the box the flexibility is limited to the configuration options provided by the software vendor.

A lot of cloud services offer such abilities today.

Low code applications are built either from application templates or from scratch.

The underlying frameworks offer a wide variety of controls for data access, navigation and display control.

To easy logic implementation most of the frameworks allow at least the usage of programmed Script-Code.

Workflow & Forms tools help you to visually design technical workflows with user interactions.

These tools are often either part of Low Code solutions or can be combined with No Code or Low Code solutions to enhance the scope of capabilities.

The most frequent usage of such tools is the digital replacement of physical forms based processes and the controls of application behavior.

Flexibility on Standards Programming for Non Coders Process and Rule control



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More details on ‘Custom coded solutions’

Extensions Integrations SolutionsFeature Enhancements Bridging the gaps Innovate and transform

Extensions enables Software developers to enhance OOTB Software if the architecture of the product allows that.

Depending on the underlying software-stack these extensions can have different names, like ‘Add-Ins’, ‘Plugins’, ‘Extensions’, ‘WebParts’ etc.

As Extensions run in an existing Software-Ecosystem and typically focus on small enhancements, projects are likely to be small.

Integrating Software to close the gaps between systems, processes and data is complex.

To ease the pain the market provides several integration technologies that share all one thing: complexity.

If you use integration platform technologies or develop custom integrations heavily depends on the volume and complexity of integrations to be done.

When it comes to innovation, digital transformation, bundling of hard- and software or multi-platform solutions, there is no shelf to pick the future from.

If you want to transform an idea or a vision into reality you must become an innovator to see results.

Custom software is exactly the fuel to make your visions come true. And current PaaS-stacks are an enormous accelerator for your success.

Standard with cream whip Bringing the right things together Software of tomorrow. Today.



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How to implement Software

General Demand Definition

Business Case

Engineering

Detailed Requirement

s-Engineering

Change-Management

Technical Engineering

Alternative Solution

BenchmarkBudget

AllocationSupplier

Benchmark

Non-functional Functional

Techn. TestsIntegration

Deployments

Org. /ProcessChange

Data Migration

User Training

Enduser Rollout

Operations

Handover

Techn. Rollout

Helpdesk Support

Improvement Process

Enduser Tests

Building blocks of any Software project (OOTB, No or Lo Code, Custom Development

Prepare

Rollout

Implement



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What is inside the functional part?

OOTB No or Low Code Custom developmentAligning standard to reality Prototyping and improving Agile orchestration

Standard-Software delivers 1000% of features and processes out-of-the box so you have to carve out the 25- 40% that you need by configuration or customizations, if possible.

As you may need 8-10% of features from outside the standard, you have to add this by customizations, too.

Typically, you have to integrate and connect your existing systems, too, so you need integration work on top.

Business templates in such solutions are typically not too sophisticated. You typically start to configure new things according to your needs very early.

Major efforts done in such solutions are dedicated to data modelling, reporting and charting.

Integrations with other systems are typically an important part in these projects, too

Modern software is built in small bricks that orchestrate small services out of a huge PaaS stack called hybrid Cloud.

Major efforts done in such solutions are dedicated to data modelling, algorithms, forms, rules, reporting and charting as theses solutions typically start from scratch.

This kind of projects require massive knowledge, agile methods, strict organization and continuous integration for deployments.

For Vendor Partners only For non-coding IT-Experts For coding IT-Experts



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Risk comparison for software projects

OOTB No or Low Code Custom developmentUnderstanding the needs Organizational maturity Business to IT Aligment

A lot of standard software comparisons end with product feature benchmarks and miss to identify the real needs and realistic organizational change capabilities.

Another major risk are procurement driven software benchmarks that omit the fact that the implementation partners experience, mindset and ability to collaborate with the internal project members plays a major role in success.

With No Code or Low Code solutions you built solutions exactly like your organization required it.

Poor requirements engineering often results in poor software-systems.

Easy configuration lets customers underestimate the complexity of software projects and try to let business people do complex engineering work.

Custom development is about creating the future, so top of Nodge knowledge is required.

A frequent risk and fault is staffing innovation projects with old school developers.

This kind of projects require massive knowledge about agile methods, micro services and continuous integration to succeed.

Overestimation of Standard Underestimation of complexity Fear of the ‘unknown’



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Why standard software is no guarantee for success – important statements

60-80% of all OOTB features are never used. 30-50% of the 20% used are customized or custom coded.

Standard software fails to deliver the “in between” that is mission critical.

We think that our processes are pretty standard on a global level. The details make it difficult to use OOTB-Software

We couldn´t find a single OOTB system that covered our processes in detail. Even though we are pretty standard.It it easy to find a solution for a single pillar. But the challenge is to build an information network.

Collaboration is no longer limited to our own employees. We need solutions that bridge the gaps. We spent 80 TCHF in consulting to compare standard software. Finally we developed the whole thing with Low Code for less.

OOTB does not reduce the risk of project failure.

OOTBUnderstanding the needs

Standard-Software is great if your organization is able to use the software “as is”.

Changing your organization to match Standardsoftware can make sense if you implement software apart from your company USPs.

Once you need to customize standard software to your needs it is likely that it is worth to compare the project efforts with custom solution development.



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Which approach fits my needs?

There is no general answer to that question.

Each case has to be investigated carefully as each software choice has heavy influence on your future working model and your abilities to use, connect and analyze data .

We are here to help you. Ask us. Rüdiger GrosCEO EFEXCON AGT: + 41 44 586 [email protected]@efexcon