SaaS vs homegrown software for moving companies

What type of software is best for your moving business?

If you’re trying to create efficiency by investing in moving company software you’re likely trying to understand what kind of software makes the most sense for your business. There are a few different options to consider, but the most common ones you’ll encounter in your search are a homegrown solution vs vendor-built SaaS software.

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Homegrown software

Homegrown software is exactly what it sounds like– software built by a company in-house to meet specific needs, likely because there is no good commercial solution available. This type of solution has been popular with moving companies because historically, there haven’t been commercial solutions on the market that truly address the specific needs of moving businesses. 

SaaS

Luckily, vendor-built software as a service (SaaS) solutions are starting to fill the void when it comes to easy-to-use and scalable software for moving companies. SaaS software is subscription-based, which means you pay a subscription fee every month to access the software. It’s hosted in the cloud so your data is accessible from anywhere, on any device, and it’s administered entirely by the vendor so maintenance on your end is virtually non-existent.

Compare Homegrown vs SaaS Software for Movers

In this section we’ll dive into the specifics of homegrown vs SaaS solutions and the pros and cons of each.

Customization

Homegrown

Totally built for and configured to your business.

SaaS

More configurable than customizable– SaaS solutions aren’t built for you specific business, however they are built with a deep knowledge of what moving companies need for success.

Cost

Homegrown

When you’re building your own system, you’ll see the bulk of the cost up front.

SaaS

Annual, quarterly, or monthly fees plus additional fees for training and implementation.

Ease of use

Homegrown

Homegrown systems are often built by IT experts and aren’t necessarily easy for your average Joe to use. This can cause problems, because if your guys on the job aren’t using the software, then you’re only getting half the picture of your business performance.

SaaS

Your software should make your day easier, not be another full-time job. Vendors like Supermove specifically build for ease of use, so you don’t need a PhD to get value out of the system. Choosing easy-to-use software and complementary mobile apps helps get everyone in your organization on board quickly. 

Innovation

Homegrown

This is where homegrown systems really fall down. They quickly become outdated legacy systems, because maintaining, updating, and evolving them is too resource-intensive for most organizations to keep up with. This means you could get stuck with a system that doesn’t get used and doesn’t grow with your business. 

SaaS

You’re the moving expert, let us be the software expert. Vendors like Supermove are constantly making improvements based on feedback from business owners like you. This means that you’ll always have access to the most up-to-date, modern solutions for your business (without having to build them yourself).

Ownership

Homegrown

When you’re building and managing your own system, you have full ownership. No waiting on new features from the vendor.

SaaS

SaaS-based systems won’t be fully at your beck and call, however most software vendors have processes in place to listen to customer feedback and develop new features to address gaps and evolving needs.

Scalability

Homegrown

Unless you have a great internal IT team, chances are your homegrown system is going to struggle to keep pace with your business growth. 

SaaS

Vendor platforms are made to scale. Easily add users and trucks as your business grows.

Security

Homegrown

It might seem like keeping your data locally is more secure, but unless you have an IT security expert on staff, you could be risking your and your customers’ data. 

SaaS

The benefit of a SaaS product especially is that all your data lives securely in the cloud, which means it’s always available to you— anytime, anywhere.

Support

Homegrown

While control is one of the major pros of a homegrown system, oftentimes you’re trading support for that control. You’re reliant on your internal software admin for any support related to the system, and scope creep can lead to hidden costs that end up being a barrier to deployment.

SaaS

With a vendor you get more than great software. You get a whole network of support from help center articles, webinars with industry experts, a dedicated customer success representative and 24/7 technical support.

Conclusion: SaaS is Key to Unlocking Business Growth

The true differentiator of your business are the people and processes that you’ve brought in to create a superior experience for your customers.

A SaaS-based system like Supermove is a great way to support those people and processes with a system that can be configured to what’s already working for you, without having to take on the full-time job of administering a software solution.

If you’re interested in learning more about SaaS-based moving software, book a demo with us. We’d be happy to chat through specifics on how software like Supermove can help you organize, manage, and scale your moving business. 

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