10 Keys to a Successful IWMS Integration: Pt. 9, Accessibility

This week we are proud to bring you Part 9 of our 10-Part series on successfully implementing an IWMS.  In this article we will discuss accessibility.

In any industry, there are certain tools that are considered industry staples because of how efficiently they allow one to accomplish tasks. Part of this efficiency is because of how accessible the tools and information needed are. In the IWMS arena, this is certainly true. In this article, I would like to discuss, not the applications themselves, but the types of applications that are available, and their advantages.

When my wife and I were first married, we would take many camping trips. I noticed that she would use a Swiss Army knife when she was cooking, and it served its purpose well. I asked her why she didn't just use the knife at all times, not only while we were camping. It would be a cost effective solution and simple to maintain and clean. She answered my question by saying that the utensils she
had in the kitchen, while many, were useful because they each had their own purpose and were constructed specifically for their individual jobs. She also was able to accomplish more because she had everything she needed right there in the kitchen, locally, whenever she needed it; the tools were accessible. So, while the Swiss Army knife was useful when she was away from the kitchen, the utensils she had at home were more effective and, in the long run, more efficient.

Server Applications vs. Web Applications

Professionals in any field will have a similar response to that of my wife's when talking about web applications versus server applications. The applications that are on premise have been designed to give users all the tools needed to complete a job, no matter how finite that job may be. Web applications, while useful and quick to access, may not always have the exact tools needed, or may require users to find a round - about solution to complete a task. Both types of applications, however, have their advantages and purposes. We've created a useful graphic that highlights the main differences.

Finding What's Right for You

Experienced professionals will prefer on-premise applications to complete the brunt of their work,
but cloud applications can be useful for quick fixes or remote work. The determining factor here has everything to do with accessibility. 

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