Choosing Systems: Best of Breed vs. All-in-One

As you look for systems to fill your website content management, calendaring, facility scheduling, news, and communication needs, you will undoubtedly be faced with a tough decision... buying multiple systems to fit specific needs you have, or buying one system that has some shortcomings in meeting those needs.

Content Management Systems (CMS) are now adding some basic calendaring functionality.  Blog software is evolving to include opt-in email capabilities. Instant alert phone systems are adding web portals for communications.  Many web-based systems are evolving to include new functionality to sell to a broader spectrum of customers.  These developments leave you with a decision to have more systems that fit your needs, or less systems that are weak in key areas.

Here's 3 pointers to help you make the best choice for your organization.

1. Don't get the cart ahead of the horse.  Make a list of your specific goals and desired outcomes first, and then find the system(s) that best help you achieve them, rather than looking for a system that "looks like it would work."
2. Be realistic and practical about the actual "cost" of using multiple systems.  Most organizations significantly overestimate the cost and inconvenience of using different systems for different functions.
3. Ask potential vendors about integration possibilities with other systems.  Most vendors, especially web-based system vendors, are more than happy to work together to give you good integration options where needed.

The bottom line is this: if the features and functions you're looking for are important enough to be on your list, don't drop them for the sake of having "one system".  You spend too much time and energy in a system search to end up with a weak solution that doesn't accomplish what you set out to do!

Comments

[sayen]

Nice article.I think your post about business processes is relevant.Where the processes tend towards the ad-hoc, this can be a painful experience, and in these cases aligning them to an ERP system can provide longer term benefits.