The Limitless Power of
Cloud computing and open source software can make it easier for dealers to create digital innovations.
”Is this possible?” This is by far the most common question one hears when discussing software. The answer is “yes” 99 percent of the time. There is very little that software can’t do these days. As such, the fi rst step an FE&S company needs to take to improve its software capabilities is to remove that disbelief in what’s possible.
By Sam Grote
Why is virtually anything possible with software? Your organization’s processes can almost always be broken down into a set of defi ned rules or instructions that govern what actions or decisions are made. A software program is simply a set of rules or instructions for the hardware on your computer to run. Therefore, you can take any of your organization’s processes and recreate them inside a software program. Importantly, it’s never been easier and cheaper to develop these programs due to advancements in cloud computing and open source software. In the past, companies had to buy and manage expensive physical servers to store and process data. Today, they can leverage cloud computing platforms such as Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud. This converts their storage and computing
SOFTWARE
needs from expensive and fi xed capital expenditures to signifi cantly cheaper operating expenses (pay for what you need). In addition, software developers around the world are creating new open source software libraries that can be reused by anyone free of charge. You rarely have to build new technology from scratch. There are many parallels between software and commercial kitchen design. The key with both is to identify the objectives and constraints (the collective rules) and then design from scratch the most effi cient solution that will stay within those rules. There is very little that isn’t possible when designing a kitchen but there is quite a lot that doesn’t fi t within the operator’s objectives and constraints (budget). It’s the same thing with software. There are many
approaches businesses can take to develop better software capabilities. Companies can hire their own software development teams, they can partner with existing software companies that service their industry or they can hire custom software development fi rms. Each of these approaches comes with its own set of costs, benefi ts and risks. The how is much less important
than the when. The FE&S companies that leverage better software today will almost certainly take market share from the ones that wait until tomorrow. Still, software does, in fact, have limits. Computers can do certain things way better than humans — they can store more data, process it faster and never make calculation errors. The power of software is that it automates the boring stuff your team hates doing so they can focus on the critical work that computers can’t do: fi nding new customers, servicing existing ones and building more enduring and profi table business relationships. Technology will not
replace humans. It is humans using technology that will replace the humans that don’t.
About the Author Sam Grote is the founder and CEO of Centerpiece and a former director at TriMark USA. Centerpiece’s mission is to help the foodservice equipment and supplies industry replace its legacy technology stack with a connected software platform that enables companies to succeed in today’s market.
24 FEDA News & Views
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