How to Manage Applications From Multiple Vendors

Within the business environment, applications have been growing in popularity. It is easy to see why. These applications provide businesses and employees with the tools needed to operate within the modern business environment and thrive. From computerized maintenance management systems to computer-aided facility management systems and sales force management systems, there is an application available to be utilized, and assist every department within your company. 

With so many on offer, it is a wise decision to implement these systems within your company. However, as with all things, problems do arise. The most notable problem companies are facing is managing all the mobile apps being implemented. This is to be expected, as vendor management of any kind is a complex process.

When it comes to vendor management for the applications implemented within a company, it must be conducted correctly. Without proper management, the applications can affect a business and overshadow the benefits of the application. For example, implementing systems from multiple vendors can be expensive. If the software solutions chosen are just the most popular, rather than the most suitable, you could be stuck with a solution that is not completely suitable for your company.

These are not the only problems that companies have when sourcing solutions from multiple vendors. It is vital to consider the following.

Key Considerations

Unnecessarily complex

Managing multiple applications can be a complex task. You have to consider the functions they provide, ensure they do not overlap with or hinder, other applications, and ensure it remains efficient. It is also crucial to note that not all systems are created equally. Some may be easier to use when compared to others. Spending money to train employees to operate on different platforms requires a lot of resources.

By implementing software solutions from a single vendor, the concerns around functionality and integration with complementary applications are not a problem. Due to the software vendor developing all of the applications, the learning curve will not be as complex as it is when learning about multiple applications, ensuring a simplified software implementation process.

Increased costs

Typically, if your company selects multiple vendors to provide their software solutions, the chances are that you will be paying several licensing fees. This is both expensive and wasteful.

By choosing a single vendor software provider, your company will begin paying a single licensing fee for access to their systems rather than multiple, which will work out to be more cost-effective for the company.

Uniform infrastructure

Are the software systems selected from multiple vendors cloud-based, or in-house? Do they require installation? Are they accessible on a single data storage platform? These questions need to be addressed when selecting software from different vendors. If they are not taken into account then the selected systems may not be a viable option.

With a single source software vendor, there is uniformity in the infrastructure. For example, it is cloud-based and does not require installation of any kind. This makes the setup time more convenient for a company and ensures there is uniformity in the infrastructure and data handling.

Conclusion

A multi-vendor software plan does provide benefits. Sometimes your company may be selecting the very best software solution in each sector. But it is important to note that the effectiveness provided by a single software vendor, such as CloudApper, can provide your company with multiple benefits, making it the right choice for many.