How to find the right software: Good reasons to test a software system before buying

Choosing the right software can be a difficult and lengthy process. Websites of different providers and conversations with sales managers can give you a feeling for the functionalities and goals of a software. However, the selection of a software should involve much more than just reviewing features. It is essential not only to be shown a demo, but also to try out the platform yourself. This allows you to assess the functionalities of a platform directly regarding your own requirements and goals and to determine whether it meets them.

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Putting the software's performance through its paces

It is easy for software manufacturers to only focus on the positive aspects of their platform in their external presentation. But does the software really meet your company's use case and keep pace with your requirements? You can find out by testing the system yourself. In most cases, the software company’s test systems are already equipped with demo data so that you can get started straight away. Ideally, however, you should use your own data and integrate the test version with your APIs.

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Test usability

But it's not just the performance of the system that counts. It is also important that the system is easy to use for all potential users. During the test phase, you can give all users the opportunity to try out the platform and provide feedback. Stakeholders who are involved in the decision to purchase the software also have the opportunity to get to know the system directly.

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Weighing up costs and benefits

By testing a software system in advance, you can gather arguments for or against a decision. This information will help you in discussions with management or various stakeholders who are deciding whether to purchase the platform. It also helps to discuss the costs of the system with the software provider while you test it in order to weigh up the relationship between costs and benefits and to coordinate questions or individual requirements in advance.

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The fulfillmenttools trial version

Since we are sure that you as a retailer know the needs of your business best, we offer you the opportunity to test our solution free of charge and without obligation for 30 days, to try out all functions and features and to integrate them with your APIs. We offer you maximum flexibility by allowing you to select and test the modules that suit your specific use case. With our Distributed Order Management (DOMS), for example, you benefit from the best routing decision for your end consumers' orders based on their individual criteria and data.

Our test system provides you with demo data, for example various facilities and articles, so that you can start your tests immediately after logging in. You can also enter your own data to get closer to your own use case. As soon as you have requested your test version and logged in, you have access to the test system and can test all functions comprehensively.

For example, you can make configurations regarding the individual locations that are available in the system, including the fulfillment times of the respective facility. These configurations are then taken into account when routing the respective orders. Or you can test the functions of the DOMS Configurator. The DOMS Configurator provides users with standard rules for order routing that can be activated and deactivated. This allows users to easily select individual rules and create a rule set which the system uses to make routing decisions. If the use cases require a more complex set of rules, the users can configure them themselves using our DOMS Toolkit. You can use our test system to familiarize yourself with these routing rules and test the functions.

Would you like to get an insight into the test system? Take a look at the demo videos by our Solution Consultant Andreas Runschke. If you have any other questions about the features, implementation or pricing, our team will be happy to support you with a product demo or a personal consultation.

A comprehensive software test has many advantages and helps you to test performance, usability and cost/benefit. This way, you can be sure to make the right decision for your company.

Would you like to test the fulfillmenttools solution yourself for 30 days without obligation and free of charge? Click here!