Webinar recap

There is an urgent need for customizable software from both platform vendors and end-users. The key target audience for customizable business software includes developers as well as employees in sales, marketing, product, and revenue management. Digital assets are vital for any business to stay competitive, no matter the branch in which it is situated. 

When it comes to off-the-shelf solutions, a multitude of shortcomings hamper a software vendor’s competitive advantage, which in turn stalls their customers’ ability to stay competitive. We see a hard-line shift in what a digital solution needs to provide: 

• Users don’t want to pay for unused features that are integrated with standardized software.
• Users don’t want to deal with outdated versions or wait for new version releases.
• Software limitations are increasingly becoming a no-go when choosing solutions. 
• Unique and customizable software has become a requirement. 

Predominantly, businesses simply don’t want their operations to revolve around the capabilities of their software platform—they want it to be the other way around.  

How winning platforms have reinvented themselves

The paradigm shift becomes apparent when looking at software platforms that have managed to reinvent themselves. The average digital employee switches between different applications more than 1,200 times per day, resulting in platforms vying for screen time continuously throughout the day. The new playbook for modern software platforms keeps users active within one space while offering a customizable way of working. 

We can see a proliferation of so-called “super apps” as an answer to employees’ frustration of having to deal with a decentralized software suite. Think of successful conglomerates such as Hubspot, Zendesk, or Jira that provide an all-in-one experience to their users. Anything from managing support tickets to hosting a knowledge base is done through these types of modern platforms. By optimizing how users can collaborate and centralize their product offerings around the needs of different teams, these “super apps” maximize their screen time. 

Software maturity and customization

Customizability is becoming an increasingly popular demand among software buyers under the age of 45. The demand for customization that a mobile phone offers has now transferred to platforms such as CRM systems. When platforms wish to implement customization options, there is a maturity curve that they need to scale before becoming adept at their offering. There is a big difference between being able to configure input fields and third-party integrations, as opposed to having a community of partners building products for your platform. 

Getting to the latter point is no easy task. Software vendors are bogged down with ever-increasing backlogs, and complex overhauls of their systems are just not feasible. This means that the majority of platforms are left fighting for scraps in the market because competitors outpace them. A new way of thinking is needed to turn the tide for smaller software companies in order to keep up with these so-called “super apps.”

Betty Blocks has more than 15 years of experience in augmenting and customizing existing platforms with all sorts of tailored solutions. Our no-code/low-code platform allows vendors to rapidly add customization options to their products in a cost-effective way. No-code technology gives platforms the proper tooling to provide users the flexibility and freedom that they require.