Why an Ongoing Website & Software Maintenance Plan Is Essential For Your Business
Virtually every modern business relies on computers in some fashion – from SaaS companies operating their entire business model online, to SMBs with comprehensive CRM integrations, to local trades that simply need a place to track their invoices via accounting software – which means that every business relies on some form of computer software.
Computer software is essentially the instructions that tell your computer how to work, so it is crucial that yours is able to operate at maximum efficiency, allowing you and your wider business units to get the most out of them and remain competitive in the marketplace.
Software and website maintenance includes the process of revising, upgrading, and adjusting systems in order to keep up with the needs and demands of your customers. After all, it’s one thing for software to work well immediately upon purchase; but most customers buy software with the idea that it’s going to continue to function for many years after the fact, despite their wider strategy consistently evolving, and wonder why system maintenance is required. With just a few savvy techniques conducted on a routine basis, you will allow your software to upgrade and, in some cases, remove any bugs that may be present, in order to continue functioning at maximum efficiency for as long as it is needed.
For this reason, you could make the argument that software maintenance is the most essential part of overall software development because it maximises the platform’s lifespan, thereby maximising value to the customer.
What are the Benefits of a Website & Software Maintenance Strategy?
You may be wondering why system maintenance is required. Over the span of its lifetime, software needs to be updated against operating system changes, hardware alterations, new feature inclusions, bugs found in the system, and so on.
It’s important to also note that maintenance is a normal and important part of the software development life cycle. Software isn’t static; in fact, you should think of software as a living entity. And like any other living thing, software requires regular upkeep to prosper.
One of the great benefits of software and website maintenance is that it also allows a business to keep up with competitors. We live in an age where technology can change in the blink of an eye, and in order to stay relevant, businesses need their computer software to keep up. After all, your competitors are likely enjoying the benefits of employing a software maintenance strategy, so it’s important you do the same to remain viable and with any form of digital advantage in the long run.
The Four Types of Software & Website Maintenance
There are four different types of website or software maintenance techniques, and each one is performed for a different reason. During its lifetime, any piece of software may have to undergo one or all types of maintenance, depending on its requirements, so it is important to build a tailored plan or strategy for your business that ensures these are adequately performed:
Corrective Software Maintenance
Corrective software maintenance is the most straightforward of the techniques we will discuss. Corrective software maintenance is necessary when there is an error in a piece of software that can hinder wider performance, and should therefore be addressed as quickly as possible.
Preventive Software Maintenance
Preventive software maintenance essentially means anticipating and countering any errors before they happen. This is where, during software product development, for example, teams will brainstorm potential issues that may stem from their efforts in order to formulate the necessary solutions and mitigate downtime. These types of issues are called, “latent faults,” and need to be detected and corrected before they become “effective faults.”
Perfective Software Maintenance
Perfective software maintenance updates software by adding new features if needed, and removing features that have become outdated or no longer work to a suitable degree. The aim of perfective software maintenance is to keep the software relevant for as long as possible, even as the market, and the needs of the customer, evolves.
Adaptive Software Maintenance
Adaptive software maintenance is all about keeping up to date with the latest changes in technology, as well as the rules and laws that govern your software. Some of these changes can include changes to your operating system, cloud storage, or hardware.
Qubisoft has a proven record of helping businesses with their software product development and maintenance needs, as well as offering recommendations that are designed specifically for you. Contact us today to discuss a website & software maintenance plan or strategy that delivers real benefits to your business.
