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The problem is that it kind of isn't because there is no clear way for your app to work with the app their employee's use for taxes or the desktop apps used by

The problem is that it kind of isn't because there is no clear way for your app to work with the app their employee's use for taxes or the desktop apps used by their supplier/customers. At the end of the day the 35 spreadsheets represent an workflow that your generic app will likely not automate, it's also not an empty market as every region have 5+ companies selling the magic silver bullet for mid-sized company bookkeeping, and all of them have an high degree of lock-in and cannot simply export it's data in an rigidly standardized format. The experienced small company manager know that an experienced bookkeeper can make the administration spreedsheetwork be an low frustration experience, and that the previous software vendor could not deliver the same.

dhruvkar 7y ago
>> 35 spreadsheets represent an workflow that your generic app will likely not automate This is part of knowing the niche. The "app" doesn't need to be generic, or an app at all. Add-ons for existing industry software, integrations between industry software and generic inventory management app, etc. are all ways to provide immense value. >> not an empty market Yes, but they are often flooded with generic apps. "Inventory management for SMBs" because there isn't anything more specific. Until a company is large (enterprisey) enough to bake their home-made solution. >> experienced bookkeeper can make the administration spreedsheetwork be an low frustration experience Not always. Definitely not true for our last two bookkeeping hires in the last 6 years. Part of it will always be a slog and as the load gets higher, sometimes the right answer is "hire another bookkeeper".
- Riguad87 7y ago
  In the "35 spreadsheets" scenario, I have found Quantrix to be the killer app. Very occasionally, Sharepoint and server side Excel is viable, but if you can import cleanly, Quantrix is almost there for claiming small proprietor mindshare. The beauty of anything that is easily understood as more robust logic, in a proprietors view, is the path that opens for you to work on the tricky bits they'd never let you touch otherwise.
  - dhruvkar 7y ago
    >> Quantrix Hadn't heard of it, I will check it out, thanks!
- Stranger43 7y ago
  The problem is that you need to be niche specific all the way down to specific region and specific supply chain and customer base for your app not to be "generic" and then we are practically doing custom coding for an specific customer.
  - dhruvkar 7y ago
    I think we're just arguing for the sake of it now. There is space for both viewpoints. >> Specific Region - the US. >> Specific Supply Chain - consisting for 100s of companies In my metro area alone (not in the top 20), there are hundreds of one type of company, not counting the others in the supply chain. Catering to a niche like that, i.e. building software where the customer base < 1000 companies is still a potential multi-million dollar software business. You are absolutely right, if you niche too far down, you'll get stuck customizing for each customer and that may not be worth it.

dhruvkar 7y ago

>> 35 spreadsheets represent an workflow that your generic app will likely not automate This is part of knowing the niche. The "app" doesn't need to be generic, or an app at all. Add-ons for existing industry software, integrations between industry software and generic inventory management app, etc. are all ways to provide immense value. >> not an empty market Yes, but they are often flooded with generic apps. "Inventory management for SMBs" because there isn't anything more specific. Until a company is large (enterprisey) enough to bake their home-made solution. >> experienced bookkeeper can make the administration spreedsheetwork be an low frustration experience Not always. Definitely not true for our last two bookkeeping hires in the last 6 years. Part of it will always be a slog and as the load gets higher, sometimes the right answer is "hire another bookkeeper".

Riguad87 7y ago
In the "35 spreadsheets" scenario, I have found Quantrix to be the killer app. Very occasionally, Sharepoint and server side Excel is viable, but if you can import cleanly, Quantrix is almost there for claiming small proprietor mindshare. The beauty of anything that is easily understood as more robust logic, in a proprietors view, is the path that opens for you to work on the tricky bits they'd never let you touch otherwise.
- dhruvkar 7y ago
  >> Quantrix Hadn't heard of it, I will check it out, thanks!
Stranger43 7y ago
The problem is that you need to be niche specific all the way down to specific region and specific supply chain and customer base for your app not to be "generic" and then we are practically doing custom coding for an specific customer.
- dhruvkar 7y ago
  I think we're just arguing for the sake of it now. There is space for both viewpoints. >> Specific Region - the US. >> Specific Supply Chain - consisting for 100s of companies In my metro area alone (not in the top 20), there are hundreds of one type of company, not counting the others in the supply chain. Catering to a niche like that, i.e. building software where the customer base < 1000 companies is still a potential multi-million dollar software business. You are absolutely right, if you niche too far down, you'll get stuck customizing for each customer and that may not be worth it.