Communications, Get Involved!

It’s no wonder why software developers spend most of their time and money trying to attract prospective new clients.  After all . . . .

It’s no wonder why software developers spend most of their time and money trying to attract prospective new clients.  After all, that’s where the money is, so you can’t blame them.  But, how well do they communicate with existing clients?

I’m so tired of developers who make little or no effort to inform their clients about new enhancements to the existing software.  Sometimes they don’t even provide this information to prospective clients (see the Smoke and Mirrors rant)!  These developers are the elitists, and you probably already know who they are.  They figure the client will discover these enhancements at the next major release, and that’s good enough!

Having said that, it’s not always the developer’s fault that their clients are not up to speed on the latest improvements and modifications to the software.  Often the client doesn’t put forth any effort to become informed.  The client’s reply to this accusation is that they don’t have the time to read all this information that inundates their e-mail and/or the Postal Service.  If they won’t read their mail, they for sure aren’t going to take a phone call from their sales rep.  Of course, when they do find out that the developer has a new feature (one that the client has needed desperately for 6 months), the client is going to be upset with the developer for not letting him know sooner!

What’s answer?  I don’t have the answer.  Apathy is hard to overcome.  Probably the best solution (as a client) is to belong to the software user group and get involved.  Participate at the conventions and establish contacts within the group.  If your developer does provide software update information, make sure you read and understand it.  It may be exactly what you need. 

A regular dialog with your software rep and a concerted effort to stay abreast the latest enhancements will keep you on the leading edge.  And, when the developer doesn’t furnish you with what you need, communicate – often and loud!