Peter Searle, CEO of software development provider BBD, says: "Cloud and solutions in the cloud are a reality and very efficient in certain areas. Cloud solutions are attractive to all businesses from a cost perspective, and because the business processes are managed properly by the cloud provider. That packaged solution can still be provided in the business, but needs to integrate into legacy systems. The problems occur when businesses try to shoe-horn that into the cloud solution."
You can do things quickly because of the cloud, but user-centred design is about what the user wants.
Peter Searle, CEO, BBD
Searle says the increasing demands from users of software - who are becoming more sophisticated and have a greater understanding of what technology can do - are placing pressure on IT departments to accommodate these needs.
Custom software has traditionally been seen as a means to gain competitive advantage in a market. This principle still applies despite the levelling of the playing field, because similar services are now available to all through cloud services.
The pitfall lies in trying to create user- or consumer-focused apps that are merely a re-skinning of a backend function. Searle says to realise a return on the investment, companies are better served by designing for what the customer wants. "You can do things quickly because of the cloud, but user-centred design is about what the user wants."
He has some key takeaways for CIOs grappling with these issues.
"Forget about the technology initially, and look to ensure the user interface has been designed in a way that it will be consumed in the market," says Searle. "Also, understand the technology used by your target market: if you're targeting teens in the upper-income groups, you have to include the BlackBerry platform. If targeting Africa, you have to develop for feature phones."
First published in the August 2013 issue of ITWeb Brainstorm magazine
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