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Apple CEO Steve Jobs made a rare appearance at Apple’s financial results conference call; praising Apple’s integrated software, whilst casting doubts over the future of fragmented software.
I have to agree with Steve Jobs, integrated software benefits the end user of a product for many reasons. Primarily, there is only one user interface to contend with, making it easier to get to grips with how the software works and get down to making the most of the functionality available.
Fragmented software is praised for being “open”, however, it is only when software is truly integrated that the user is able to sit back and watch everything come together. Not only is usability increased, but also efficiency is greater. Many people argue that “open” software will offer features and benefits to “closed” software – however, change the word “open” to “fragmented” and “closed” to “integrated” and the conversation takes a whole different avenue.
Fully integrated software, at its best, offers the user everything they could need in one place – all elements working together for the benefit of the user. It is for this reason that, just as Steve Jobs took the decision to make Apple a “closed” product, I have created WinWeb.com with the same principles.
Offering my customers a fully integrated software suite to run their business, whilst at the same time allowing them to pick and choose the applications that are relevant to them, is something that I feel passionately about. Business efficiency is the key to success and integrated software is both time, and cost, effective.
Rather than this integrated approach being “closed” it instead opens up a whole world of possibilities for users. All fragmented software does for its users is close doors and slow business down through creating barriers between applications and resistance to forming a united software suite.
In the words of Steve Jobs “We think integrated will trump fragmented every time”. Do you?
Disclaimer: Stefan Töpfer is CEO of WinWeb.com
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
