Information technology is a large-scale industry with a lot of terms and concepts. However, not everyone understands the true meaning of some of these terms, resulting in many inconsistencies and incorrect information in many sources on IT topics. This often happens when discussing enterprise software applications that are confused with standard non-enterprise solutions. This article aims to draw a line between the two concepts and show how they are different and why they are not the same.
The concept of enterprise software
The concept of this type of software lies in its name. A corporation is a business, meaning enterprise software was created with business needs in mind. One of the most popular enterprise software is the corporate data warehouse. Modern businesses use them to improve data processing. Enterprise software tools have a similar working principle, and they will not differ much from one vendor to another. The only thing is that you can add or remove some functions that will meet your business’s needs. The variety of enterprise applications is quite large; developers create:
- Payment processing applications
- Tools for business analytics
- Human resource management
- IT service management
- Project management and much more.
The difference between enterprise software and consumer software
The software can be divided into three types, depending on the target user:
- Custom- this is the very same enterprise software designed to meet business requirements
- Consumer -applications designed for standalone users, i.e., ordinary network users. This would include apps for smartphones
- Personal – if a person has the knowledge and skill to write code, then they can create an application that they can use for their personal needs
Now that we know what enterprise software is, it is worth highlighting the difference between them and standard consumer applications:
- Purpose Group
The main difference between these two types of applications is the target users of each. Consumer apps are aimed at the masses, ordinary users, while enterprise apps are exclusively for business. The first type can be found in regular app stores such as Appstore or PlayMarket; the second involves a subscription with payment, which can be arranged on the official pages of the suppliers.
- Functionality
Consumer apps help us in our daily lives; they digitalize many aspects of our daily routine, from leisure to health. Corporate apps, on the other hand, are developed according to the industry for which it is intended. Although they are focused on simplifying and optimizing business processes, their purpose is to save your time, money, and resources.
- Types
Both types of applications can be divided into two types: open and closed. Available applications are those types of applications that can be accessed by the public, i.e., you can download and sign in to the application. Closed applications require users to enter a special identification code before logging in.
- Design
Consumer software developers experiment with design, color choices, font choices, and many other details to find that coveted formula that appeals to customers. For these applications, design is as important as functionality. Innovation is of secondary importance for enterprise-level applications because they are more focused on improving the efficiency of business operations. The principle is the less – the better, so the design of such programs are minimalistic and not particularly fancy.
- Revenue Generation
In the case of consumer applications, users pay for subscriptions, and providers spend money on targeted ads. In the case of enterprise applications, vendors pay to get a lifetime license to own the software and later set up their plans for users to make a profit from them.