Not Another App

'Great! Tell me about your new app...'

Said no business buyer, ever.

I've come across the present day version of a particular recurring objection.

'We don't want another system, thanks.'

From back in the day there's been continual tension between having a single mega-system that does everything, and having lots of smaller ones that do each bit required.

I've never been a one-system-fits-all kinda guy.

It's just that I've never seen any such purported install work.

Added to the fact that their purveyors seem to emit the most off-putting brand of arrogance that cries out to go rewarded.

Those ancient yet dastardly IBM AS400s could never do everything.

Let's not dismiss how even today's Chinese oppressors haven't been able to dictate a sole 'internet' of interwoven mandated apps.

Rightly, the IT Manager of yore has seen their role diminish, reposition or evolve away from being the organisational gatekeeper when it comes to thwarting the adoption of tech that actually helps their colleagues and ultimately, creates the payment of their own wages.

Too many systems mean too many links. Which cause data issues. Silos and holes, opacity and duplication. Forcing many companies to state they don't want to become overrun with apps.

Yet we are not talking about the fundamental tracing of money through the operation.

No one single supplier can ever claim to truly be 'expert' in every single facet of how you conduct your affairs.

Conversations often veered towards the specialist versus generalist slant.

Usually when a Big vendor claimed they'll be doing that which you - as the fresher, smaller, niche vendor - do anyway. Soon.

They never were and never will. And even if they did, it'd be sub-standard. Think of all that time, effort and money wasted waiting for jam tomorrow.

In my homeland there is currently a huge scandal involving an Oracle Financials sale to (Europe's largest unitary) Council. Somehow - and having had the displeasure of dealing with senior people there I glimpsed how - the City of Birmingham lavished £130m on a needlessly bespoke version of their offering. Heralded as the complete, all-embracing, fully tailored solution. An utter disaster. Never got it working. They had the gall to brand it 'Discovery'.

All that cash now written off.

Not one civil servant nor elected official held accountable.

The Council even voted down proposals to hold a full independent inquiry into the disastrous purchase.

Ratepayers stranded on the enormous hook.

If ever there was warning for dealing with Big Tech in your domain.

There is distinction to be made between core systems and peripherals.

Those tools central to business and add-ons for subsets of tasks.

It's also true that there's a limit to the number of separate logons any particular worker can usefully engage in a day.

Two decades back I came across a small startup trying to take the pain out of filing, tracking and paying expenses. It was a good couple years before the first 'app' store. I quite liked their vibe.

Reps on the road were targeted so they could take a pic of their receipt or upload one received by email and cyber magic would do the rest.

Yet corporate bean counters and IT managers combined to say 'no'.

With not-so-hidden dismissive spectres like inconsequential, overload and controls apparent.

An idea ahead of its time, perhaps. I've definitely been there myself.

Yet also victim to the mere 'latest kid on the block' putdown, the powerplay purse-string holder fallback to always say 'no' when first asked, and 'if there's money being spent it's on what I want instead' mentality.

An inescapable momentum can though help any of us here that pitch the plug-in 'module' approach.

Associated costs of trying have all plummeted; financial, timespans and resource.

Implementations squash down to maybe minutes.

Day one outlays shrink to a hopefully reasonable monthly subscription.

Complexity driven out of usage now mapping ever closer to the task in hand.

Switching or piloting curves truncate.

Barriers to adoption crumple.

Yet over-riding all this, is the simple solution sale truth.

Find the right person and you shall prevail.

Old schoolers call them The MAN. As in, that person having the Money, Authority and Need.

More recent incarnations seek The Champion. They who hold clout and see both personal and professional win from what you bring.

Nowadays, so what if there's 'one more app' on board, so long as it can make a real difference? Safely, swiftly, sagely...

Can you?