How Software Enhancements Offer Hard Savings
By Jeff Viney
Thermo Fisher Scientific
In these tough economic times, are you being asked to do more with less? Has your capital budget been cut, and is capital money harder to come by? Take a closer look at what you have. A software enhancement to an existing instrument or workstation can offer extended capabilities and increased efficiency for little or nothing.
Analytical instrument users are masters at finding new and innovative ways to use instrument software to increase productivity. Requests for additional function and features are often received by software providers from end users so they can increase the value they derive from their technology investment. Instrument and software providers are also hard at work developing innovative enhancements to solve new problems and increase performance. In many cases, a software enhancement is all it takes to gain new capabilities or reap more benefits from your analytical technology investment.
The software industry uses various terms to describe the enhancements that may be available for existing products. It’s important to understand the scope of the enhancement and how it affects your existing data and preferences before you proceed with any changes.
Software Patch
The software patch is also known as a bug fix or hot fix. This is a subsequent software release that incorporates requested or required minor changes needed to correct a bug or problem with the previous version. These usually require a partial update to the existing software file structure. The version number does not change but is usually incremented (example: version 1.1a to 1.1b). Software patches are usually provided to affected customers upon request at no charge.
Software Update
The software update is also known as a service pack, update rollup, feature pack, critical update or security update. This is a subsequent software release that incorporates requested or required major changes needed to correct numerous bugs, problems or security issues with the previous version. These usually require numerous updates to the existing software file structure. Software updates are normally indicated by a software revision number change (example: version 1.1 to version 1.2). Software updates are made available to the broad customer base to improve the usability of the product, generally at no charge.
Software Upgrade
The software upgrade is a subsequent software release that incorporates major changes or technological advances in functionality or capability. Upgrades provide enhanced features beyond those originally purchased. The upgrade usually requires complete replacement of the existing software file structure. The upgrade process typically leaves existing customer data and preferences intact while replacing the existing software with the newer version. Upgrades are normally indicated by a software version number change (example: version 1.2 to version 2.0). Software upgrades can usually be purchased at rates significantly lower than the original software.
Software Package Upgrade
Most software providers take a tiered packaging approach when promoting the initial sales of their products. You will typically see “light” or “basic” packages included with instrument sales to help meet customer budget requirements. Most software providers also offer tiered upgrades for those software packages. These upgrades provide users with additional software typically bundled into a higher level package such as a “professional” or “advanced” version. They usually include more advanced applications, more functionality, additional capabilities and better performance. Over time you can take advantage of these package upgrades to replace a lighter version of the initial software product.
Consult your software or instrument provider to determine what enhancement options are available for your products. They should be able to supply release or revision notes detailing all the changes and improvements offered by the enhancement. Don’t forget to check with your IT specialist to make sure any software enhancement plans meet your internal requirements. In most cases you should be able to add capabilities or improve efficiency for little or no cost.
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