Software is Changing. Are You?
Choosing the right software is one of the most important decisions when running a business. It is just as important as choosing the right person to hire, as the software you use helps form the bones of the structure that the people you hire to use that software fill in.
Because of this, people are often afraid to branch out and research new software, especially when they come from sources that are not known for their software. But just like how roles have evolved over time, so too has software. This is where extended engineering software comes in…
While there certainly is still a place for traditional software in the workplace, there are some areas where looking into newer options might produce better results. One of those areas is anywhere that requires observation and analysis from engineers.
Many people mistakenly believe engineering companies are trying to compete with software-only companies and wonder why they should invest in software that is not made by software experts. How the software sold by engineering companies differs from that of traditional software companies is often overlooked, but the differences are exactly what will help you choose which to invest into.
This blog post will serve as a comparison of the benefits of both traditional software platforms and what is sometimes called “Extended Engineering Software” so that you feel confident considering both options.
Engineering companies provide benefits to their customers through the distribution of professional voices and experience that can be called upon when needed. In recent years, many have begun experimenting with software that provides an extension to their service in the form of monitoring and data collecting so that they can continue to provide their engineering expertise without needing to return to the site each time. Let’s dive into some specific examples.
How Extended Engineering Works
Enviro-Stewards is an engineering company with a focus on sustainability, with the aim to assist businesses in becoming carbon neutral and reducing the amount of waste they produce during the creation or manufacturing of goods.
Traditionally, this would be done through an in-person evaluation using temporary logging equipment used by engineering staff with years of experience to deliver an assessment and a plan for the future. Whether that be the discovery of food waste in a production line, gas emissions, or the electrical bill, Enviro-stewards has the knowledge and techniques to reduce emissions and waste while also finding areas where money can be saved.
SanEcoTec, on the other hand, is a water health company that aims to help greenhouses, public pools, drinking water, and food processing locations maintain their water quality. This provides better-tasting products while vastly lowering the risk of water-borne illness.
Similarly, they conduct on-site consultations to monitor water quality, discover potential health risks, offer guidance to mitigate risks, and provide a plan for the future. They both eliminate as much risk as possible and help keep water in top quality.
With their Extended Engineering Software, Enviro-Stewards will be able to use remote monitoring sensors to maintain constant monitoring of customer data to ensure sustainability goals are on track. They track utility reduction goals, detect any anomalies that may present themselves, provide remote guidance for optimization and track their saved expenses, and discover new opportunities. This allows them to shift from being experts only present during parts of the journey, to being active participants in the entire history with real data from all of it.
SanEcoTec created a software called the Water Health Index (WHI), which allows them to monitor water quality remotely and notify their customers of any oddities or risks that could be present in the water, which saves them an average of 30% on water quality upkeep and reduces the number of health issues that arise.
Rather than simply taking a “can’t be too careful” mindset and overdoing chemical use in water, SanEcoTec can provide real numbers to identify where bacteria may be building up in pipes, how to eliminate that issue, and precisely what should be added to water in order to keep the quality safe.
What Extended Engineering Software Means
As outlined by the examples above, extended engineering software is not just meant to be a competitor to what software-only companies can provide, but rather a way for engineering companies to observe and receive diagnostics from afar to both save money for their customers and provide a better well of knowledge about their customer’s unique situation through far longer periods of observation than a physical visit to the premises could.
All of this is not to say that you should always choose an extended engineering software option over traditional software, but rather to clarify the difference between the two and show why you should at least consider what it is that your business is looking for.
As they each have their pros and cons, choosing what is right for you is the most important decision you can make. On that note, taking a look back at traditional software options and highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of both options seems prudent.
Pros and Cons of Software-Only
Software-only companies often build all-encompassing models that provide diagnostics and data directly to the business that purchases them, and if you can find one that perfectly matches your needs, can save vast amounts of time and money.
They spend hours each day perfecting their software and are experts in user-interface design, ensuring that each button feels intuitive and that the platform is navigable and interactable. They are knowledgeable in databases and security and know what makes great software great, leading to a sense of familiarity and intuitive design.
The catch is of course actually finding the perfect software, as every situation is different and when it comes to the real world, it is not possible to create a “one size fits all” software, so you will have to do work to find a model that is right for you. Especially if you are a small or new company, you may quickly come to find that popular software platforms for larger companies are far more than you require, and can often be overkill in some instances.
Pros and Cons of Extended Engineering Software
Extended engineering often means software that sends the engineering team diagnostics and data, allowing you more available access to professional opinions and a team that knows the specifics of your company. This gives us a net to fall back on if our own knowledge falls short and lets us create our own network of experts rather than relying on finding one model to do everything that may not even exist.
The downside here is the reliance on multiple different software which, while more optimized for your specific needs, may also end up more expensive and time-consuming during the initial phase of on-site assessments and baseline establishing, though the value of that time will go up the longer you make use of the software.
How to Choose
The differences between the two options means you can either try to find one software that can do it all for you if you have the resources allocated to learn and configure it, or you can choose to rely on multiple teams of experts to assist you if you prefer that direction.
While at first glance you may feel like dismissing engineering companies who are venturing into software due to a lack of experience, I hope this article has provided you the confidence to dig deeper into what services they are able to give to you and your business, as an investment into them may give you far more than you had been anticipating.