Enhancing Products with Supporting Tools
This article explores how products and supporting tools work together to optimize development, support, and service. It highlights the importance of aligning tools with products, the role of supporting sub-products, and the rising trend of SaaS solutions for efficient software management.
Products and supporting tools are like a glove and hand—interdependent and inseparable. They complement each other to bring creations to life effectively.
The Connection Between Products and Supporting Tools
Tools and methods are essential ingredients in the product development process. A product typically fulfills a customer’s needs, crafted using various tools like programming languages, testing environments, and servers. After production, the product is sold at a price, often accompanied by after-sales support, which relies on tools such as ticketing systems, debugging software, and databases.
Tools are aligned with the products being developed or sold. For example, coding languages and testing platforms are used during product creation. Some tools, however, are built solely to support the main product — referred to as supporting sub-products.
Functionality of Products and Supporting Tools
Main products often serve as foundations for creating additional products, such as how Microsoft’s operating system underpins programs like Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office.
Building on existing products, organizations develop supporting platforms that enhance service delivery. Support teams are trained extensively on the necessary tools and processes, ensuring they are well-versed in the products they support. Support levels vary depending on expertise, and support contracts are tailored accordingly.
Nowadays, Software as a Service (SaaS) is gaining popularity. SaaS solutions are integrated with self-correcting features that automatically resolve certain issues, making software maintenance more efficient and seamless.
