Application software index 2008

Produced by: Socitm Insight

Type: Reports

Our application software index provides a unique resource for organisations interested in comparing the performance of different software products and the companies that supply them.

The Software Index has been superseeded by Socitm's Applications Register, the online service offering a single source of information about hardware, software, IT and consultancy services used by local public service organisations across the UK.

Market analysis

The data that is collected by the survey is organised into 140 functional areas. These areas relate to the business processes carried out by organisations providing data. Respondents are invited to rate the products and services.

Supplier performance

Socitm's 2008 application software index lists 2065 suppliers and products. Some suppliers offer a wide range of software solutions while others can be regarded as niche players. The survey asks organisations to rate the performance of the chosen supplier and  roduct over six criteria. Our published data gives the average rating given by users. While providing a good basis for comparing solutions, this average rating disguises the variation of opinion that exists between customers.

Software life

The user perspective offers little evidence to suggest that software is getting any better. The overall performance rating given to software installed in each of the past the past ten years is fairly consistent. One might expect the quality of the products and services to have improved over that time. An average rating of 3.5 out 5 suggests that the industry is not delivering what it promises. Some of the software in our index has been in use for 30 years.

Pattern of use

In addition to a common core of applications similar organisations use a variety of other products to support the business processes. Some of the applications are used corporately; others are used departmentally.

The 2008 edition

We have made many improvements in response to suggestions from Socitm members at the start of 2008. For example we have provided the data in the form of spreadsheets, not 'pdfs', and we have improved the navigation and indexing.

The package

The 2008 package comprises a CD-ROM with two spreadsheets and supporting survey forms. it also contains an electronic copy of the executive summary (8 pages), plus three copies of the printed version of the summary.

The first spreadsheet lists for each functional area (one table for each)

• The company supplying the product
• The organisations using the product
• The year the product was installed
• The year the product is likely to be replaced
• The average satisfaction rating according to six criteria listed above

Each table is hyper-linked to a supplier index of the main companies that are operating in the market. The information contained in the index is:

• The name of the company
• The postal address
• The telephone number
• The fax number
• The e-mail address of known contact
• The web address

The second set lists for each functional area (again, one table for each):

• The organisation using a software product
• The year the entry was last updated
• The name of the product used
• The operating platform used by the product
• The date installed
• The expected replacement date

Improvements

We have made many improvements in response to suggestions from Socitm members at the start of 2008. For example, we have provided the data in the form of spreadsheets, not 'pdfs', and we have improved the navigation and indexing.

Those who have supplied data receive the package free of charge. The charge for all other organisations is:

• £295 Insight subscribers (public and voluntary sectors)
• £495 Insight subscribers (private sector)
• £595 All other organisations

Last modified: 5th September 2011