Who looks out for the little guy?
July 2021
Question: Who looks out for the ‘Little Guy’?
Answer: We do!
Here at Assyst, everyone is welcome. ‘Inclusivity’ may arguably be an over-used word nowadays, but we were inclusive long before it was in vogue. Our customers come in all shapes and sizes, and everyone is welcome. Being a small company, you are never just a number to us. All of our customers are equally valued. But I’m getting slightly ahead of myself, so let’s start at the beginning.
There seems to be no shortage of ‘bigger is better’ messages, does there? Anyone who has tried to buy a small popcorn and cola at the cinema has seen the buckets they put them in. ‘Would you like to go large with your meal?’
There seems to be no shortage of ‘bigger is better’ messages, does there? Anyone who has tried to buy a small popcorn and cola at the cinema has seen the buckets they put them in. ‘Would you like to go large with your meal?’
Er, actually, no I wouldn’t. My waistline is already under too much stress as it is!
It might seem a stretch to compare the world of software to fast food, but bear with me.
Let’s look a little closer.
Many software companies seem to be obsessed with only targeting the large corporate companies. FTSE 250, top 50 fastest growing, top start-ups, top this, top that – to the detriment of the small trader, the one person band, the SME, the ‘little guy’. It started me thinking why they do this.
Bigger Deals
Bigger Deals
The accepted wisdom is that big companies have big revenues and therefore their budgets are bigger. This means that the IT spend for software can be many hundreds of thousands, even millions, per annum. A software vendor is easily dazzled by the headlights of a large deal. Blinded by ambition, or avarice, they dust off their trusty elephant gun and go off big game hunting. This feast or famine approach means they only need one or two big deals to hit target for another year and then you can hear the sound of champagne corks popping all the way to head office.
The Tiered approach
This is where a software vendor has various thresholds, and divides it focus accordingly. The large enterprise customers are still the main sales focus. R&D, marketing messages, and sales focus all go to the big game. SME and small traders are pushed over to resellers and partners. Like all the best divas, their sales folk won’t get out of bed for less than six (or seven) figure deals so the resellers take over. This means the poor beleaguered prospect gets the luck of the draw whether it is a good partner or perhaps a not-so-good partner. The buying experience can be quite bumpy, depending on the seller’s experience and product knowledge.
If you can’t afford our price, then perhaps our software isn’t for you
Like shopping in an expensive luxury store - ‘if you have to ask the price’ - we all know how that ends, don’t we?
This is where a software vendor has various thresholds, and divides it focus accordingly. The large enterprise customers are still the main sales focus. R&D, marketing messages, and sales focus all go to the big game. SME and small traders are pushed over to resellers and partners. Like all the best divas, their sales folk won’t get out of bed for less than six (or seven) figure deals so the resellers take over. This means the poor beleaguered prospect gets the luck of the draw whether it is a good partner or perhaps a not-so-good partner. The buying experience can be quite bumpy, depending on the seller’s experience and product knowledge.
If you can’t afford our price, then perhaps our software isn’t for you
Like shopping in an expensive luxury store - ‘if you have to ask the price’ - we all know how that ends, don’t we?
Software pricing is a dark art. I’m not always convinced they aren’t making it up as they go along. Often, the List price is so expensive, it cannot be discounted back down to earth without losing credibility and looking ridiculous. Even at 20%, 30%, 40% discount it remains resolutely beyond the budget of the individual sole trader. Of course, they won’t tell you any of this. Instead, they will add tons of new ‘features’ you never asked for, nor can ever envisage needing. This will justify annual price rises, as more ‘value’ is added to the product. It’s only fair you pay more – right?
Support is equally impersonal. Log a ticket over the Internet, no phone calls please, and wait. And wait…
Typically, this is handled by whoever is next available within an 8 hour SLA window. Transactional. Impersonal. Dispassionate.
Why is Assyst different?
Here at Assyst, we strive to be the kind of software company we would choose to deal with, if we were the customer. Assyst was born out of the frustrations outlined above – surely there had to be a better way?
Typically, this is handled by whoever is next available within an 8 hour SLA window. Transactional. Impersonal. Dispassionate.
Why is Assyst different?
Here at Assyst, we strive to be the kind of software company we would choose to deal with, if we were the customer. Assyst was born out of the frustrations outlined above – surely there had to be a better way?
We are small enough to still care for each and every one of our customers. Large or small, they are the lifeblood of our business, and never just an anonymous number on a spreadsheet. We know most of our customers by name. It really is that personal.
Our products are practical, pragmatic, and genuinely useful. We hear from new prospects and customers all the time about their experiences with the bloated, complicated, cumbersome systems out there which ultimately set them along a path to us. We never want to be like those other suppliers, and we won’t be. That is our commitment to you.
Our pricing is fair and transparent. More than fair. Our customers tell us this, often.
So, there you have it. There is a better way - we call it the #AssystAdvantage!
Perhaps we can help you too? Why not get in touch today and find out?
About Assyst Software
Assyst is the client management software suite of choice for Financial Advisers. The Assyst platform empowers and inspires Independent Financial Advisors, Investment Managers and Paraplanners with the #AssystAdvantage. Assyst enables Finance professionals to better run their business and help manage their regulatory reporting responsibilities.
Assyst is the client management software suite of choice for Financial Advisers. The Assyst platform empowers and inspires Independent Financial Advisors, Investment Managers and Paraplanners with the #AssystAdvantage. Assyst enables Finance professionals to better run their business and help manage their regulatory reporting responsibilities.