It’s often said that behind every great success is a great team. Working together with others that share your goals and ambitions nearly always results in a positive step forward for both parties, so why do so many companies close their doors and refuse to work with others?
Companies working in the same space often compete for the same customers which is vital for a competitive economy. This traditional approach to business stresses an importance on quality, value and customer service.
Some software companies choose to develop their products in-house, which can seem like a logical thing to do because they have the necessary skills and resources within the business. In reality, software packages usually have detailed requirements across different skillsets, most of which will have been explored, maybe even developed by other companies that may be more experienced, or better positioned to provide that specific part of the service.
For example, to run a Restaurant, you will need a point-of-sale solution, but you may also benefit from a stock management system, a payment system or an accounting platform. You could purchase all of these things from different suppliers. Alternatively, you could find a supplier that has partnered with others, all of whom are experts in their fields. In theory, if the point-of-sale provider has integrated their API with their partners, the software will work as one, giving the impression that it is one system, rather than lots of separate platforms. This is very important, because business owners should not have to transfer and update important data to multiple systems.
The benefits of this method of development can be transformational. Firstly, it allows the customer some flexibility when choosing their suppliers. For example, if you have chosen your EPOS supplier, you may be offered multiple choices for integrations that the EPOS company have partnered with, allowing you to choose the best fit for you for separate areas of the software. Secondly, each area of the software is developed by a dedicated team of experts in that field. It is also updated and maintained by the people that created it, bringing enhanced reliability.
This can also bring faster access to new technologies. When new integrations become available, you can add them without having to replace your whole infrastructure. It also challenges all the suppliers to innovate and keep enhancing their products, while providing great customer service, because they are aware of the ease for the customer to switch to a new supplier.
To summarise, choosing a supplier that works with integration partners can be a great way to futureproof your business. The software will work seamlessly, giving the impression that it’s from one supplier, but the added flexibility, reliability and quality that is achieved will give you the tools you need to succeed.
What is an API?