Insights

Practical thinking on business software.

Guidance for owners and managers who have to make software decisions and live with them. Written plainly, and informed by nearly 25 years of hands-on software engineering experience.

6 articles across 9 topics. We publish when we have something useful to say.

FeaturedSoftware Decisions

Should you buy software or get it built? A plain guide for business owners

Ready-made software is great for some jobs and frustrating for others. Here is a simple way to decide what to buy, what to adjust, and when it is worth having something built just for you.

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Published 6 October 2026Updated 8 October 20265 min read

In this article

It is rarely all one or the other. Most businesses do best with a mix.
For everyday jobs like payroll and accounts, buy a good product and use it as it is.
Software built for you makes sense for the work that sets you apart from competitors.
If your process changes every month, sort out the process first. Software can wait.

Latest articles

Process Automation
Before you automate anything, write down how the work really happens
Software built around how things are supposed to work falls apart on day one. Here is a simple way to find out how work really moves in your business, and what is worth automating.
Published 6 October 2026Updated 8 October 20264 min read
Upgrading Older Systems
Replacing old business software without bringing work to a halt
Your old system still works, mostly, but it worries you. Here is how to move to something new one piece at a time, without a risky "big switch-over" weekend.
Published 6 October 2026Updated 8 October 20264 min read
Manufacturing Software
Moving production off spreadsheets: what manufacturers should track first
Trying to put the whole factory into software at once rarely works. Start with one question everyone asks every day: where is this order? Here is how to answer it without a phone call.
Published 6 October 2026Updated 8 October 20264 min read
Connecting Your Software
Stop typing the same data twice: getting your software to talk to each other
If your team copies the same customer, order or invoice from one program into another, you may not need new software at all. You may just need your existing programs connected. Here is what to think about first.
Published 6 October 2026Updated 8 October 20264 min read
For Exporters
More than a website: what exporters need to turn enquiries into orders
Overseas buyers compare suppliers on how clearly and quickly they respond, not just on price. Here are four simple things Indian exporters can put in place, from product details to paperwork.
Published 6 October 2026Updated 8 October 20264 min read
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Topics

What we write about.

The decisions and projects growing businesses face when their processes outgrow generic software.

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Articles can only go so far. If you're weighing a decision about a particular process or system, describe it in plain language and we'll help you think it through.

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Write it in your own words. A real person reads every enquiry and replies honestly, even when custom software isn't the answer.

Practical thinking on business software.

Featured article

Should you buy software or get it built? A plain guide for business owners

Latest articles

Before you automate anything, write down how the work really happens

Replacing old business software without bringing work to a halt

Moving production off spreadsheets: what manufacturers should track first

Stop typing the same data twice: getting your software to talk to each other

More than a website: what exporters need to turn enquiries into orders

What we write about.

Tell Us What You Need