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Buying Business Software

Interior of Barracuda Room, Fareham Innovation Centre

"Any fool can buy a new machine; but will it still be working in a years' time?"

This was advice given to me many years ago as a departmental manager in a factory. I have since learnt that the same advice applies to software. Buying new software without considering whether it will meet the specific needs of the organization is a mistake.

A key question is:

"What are the specific business problems and objectives that the software is expected to solve?"


Once there is a clear understanding of what is needed, then different software options can be researched and evaluated. This includes looking at features, pricing, and vendor reputation, as well as any other factors that are important to the organization.

It is critical to choose the correct vendor: will the vendor, and by extension, the platform itself, still exist at the end of the contract?

After the software is purchased, it may take an extended period to implement properly and ensure successful adoption by users.


Workshop

What kind of business is this for?
Any business: from solopreneur upwards
 
Who is this for?
SME Company Directors
Senior Managers
Management protégés
Management KTP Associates
You are probably accountable for operations or other customer experience.
 
Why attend?
Understand what can go wrong in selecting software
 
Business Benefits:
Better understanding of the approaches to avoid expensive mistakes
 
Topics covered:
  1. Do you have a ranked shopping list of features? What are you willing to do without?
  2. What are the motivations for change?
  3. Research and evaluation
  4. Vendor assessment and selection
  5. What are their pricing models?
  6. Implementation and adoption: Total Cost of Ownership
  7. Software management, best practices, corporate policy

Exercises
There will be exercises during the day plus an overnight 'homework'.
 
Venues
Bordon BASE (Opens a new window), Barbados Road, Bordon, Hampshire, GU35 0FX.
Fareham Innovation Centre (Opens a new window), Meteor Way, Fareham, Hampshire, PO13 9FU.
This is not a 'hybrid' event: there will be no remote attendance.
 
Dates
Spring 2024
Dates to be confirmed: a consecutive Tuesday & Wednesday
 
Pricing
£1,700 for the two days
Includes refreshments and midday meal.


Students: Sponsored students, being booked a place by their college or university, may be eligible for a full 100% fee waiver.
Bursaries: Students may also be eligible for a travel and accommodation bursary from their sponsor.
Micro-Businesses: A discount of 50% is available to micro-businesses.

Dress Code
Business Casual
 
Next Steps
send email If you're interested in being informed of future dates, please write to enquiries@itsm-support.com (Opens your mail client).