Many integration firms begin their business using off-the-shelf tools like Microsoft Word and Excel. Those programs are familiar, inexpensive, and flexible. But as projects, teams, and client expectations grow, that simplicity becomes a bottleneck. It doesn’t take long before Word and Excel simply can’t keep up.
Integration businesses are inherently complex. Scheduling, billing, time tracking, design documentation, and service management all demand systems designed to connect the dots. Speaking in a panel at CEDIA Expo, two industry veterans outlined the importance of finding software solution that can grow alongside an integration company.
“I could never imagine running a large integration firm without an end-to-end ERP solution,” says Chris Smith, principal at TheCoTeam and former integrator with Advanced Audio and Cloud 9 Smart. “You can’t hand out a work order, track time, and manage product inventory in Word or Excel. You need the right tool for the job.”
Randy Stearns, CEO of D-Tools, agrees. “Our trade has unique needs—wire labeling, engineering drawings, rack layouts. Industry-specific software handles these natively, while generic systems like Salesforce or Netsuite require endless customization.”
According to the 2024 CE Pro Software Deep Dive Study, switching from Word and Excel to an industry-specific ERP solution can boost an integrator’s bottom-line profit by 13%. That’s not theoretical… it’s real money in the bank.
5 Ways to Weigh the Costs and Benefits of Industry-Specific Software
Adopting new software can feel like swapping one headache for another. Here are five tips to help integrators gauge the real value of a potential software investment.
- Identify Your Pain Points — Before any demos or quotes, start with “why.” “There shouldn’t be an evaluation process unless the company has identified a reason,” says Stearns. “Implementations are challenging and disruptive. There has to be a clear pain point or strategic goal that justifies the effort.”
- Apply the “30-Minute Savings” Rule — Stearns suggests measuring ROI in minutes. “If a tool saves each employee 30 minutes a day, do the math. If that time is worth more than the software cost, it’s a sound investment.” That simple benchmark turns abstract efficiency into hard numbers.
- Find Your Internal Champion — Software success depends on leadership. “A champion must understand both the software and the business process,” says Smith. “Most companies don’t have that skill set internally.” External consultants, he adds, can act as the best insurance policy against failure.
- Buy, Don’t Build — Smith warns against the temptation to heavily customize generic platforms. “I’ve deployed Salesforce in three businesses—it always required a six-figure human to manage it. That’s a massive ongoing cost.” Purpose-built tools like D-Tools come ready to support industry workflows without custom coding.
- Commit to Going All In — Software adoption isn’t a half-measure. “It doesn’t matter which solution you pick,” Smith says. “You need to go all in. You can’t be half in.” The commitment is as much about mindset as money.
The Human Capital Factor
Both veterans emphasized that off-the-shelf software doesn’t just slow operations, it burns out staff. “It’s like asking someone to mount a speaker with a box cutter,” Smith quips. “It’ll get done eventually, but at a huge cost to morale and productivity.” The right software, by contrast, empowers teams to focus on skilled work, bill more hours, and deliver higher-quality projects.
Generic tools like Word and Excel have their place for notes, budgets, and simple documentation, but running a modern integration firm demands more. An industry-specific ERP system doesn’t just streamline workflows; it directly drives profitability.
The lesson from both Smith and Stearns is clear: know your pain points, calculate your gains, choose a purpose-built solution, and commit fully. Because in this business, the right software isn’t just another expense, it’s an investment in your company’s growth, efficiency, and sanity.
