If implementing new software in a business can be a nervy endeavour; implementing new aviation software in an airport can be downright panic inducing! If you’ve managed a software delivery project before then you’ll know that there are certain pitfalls that must be avoided and other elements that are invaluable to its success. Here, we’ll look at why up-to-the-minute aviation software is so important and what you should look out for to ensure your software upgrade (and subsequent airport operations) runs smoothly.
Why is good aviation software so important?
Upgrading your aviation software allows for a complete modernisation of daily airport operations without the hefty price tag of upgrading your hardware. The aviation industry is, and always has been, at the forefront of modernisation and innovation but as quickly as software changes, so does the need for the next upgrade. Cyber attacks, data breaches, phishing; the aviation industry stalwarts who are still using legacy systems are at increased risk of very modern attacks. Upgrading your aviation software can lead to bigger profits, improved productivity and happy passengers (who seem to be in short supply in certain UK airports at the moment).
What makes for great aviation software?
It goes without saying that overhauling your aviation software is a big undertaking but ultimately one that could have huge benefits. But, how can you ensure that the software you’re upgrading to is right for you? Let’s take a look at some of the most important factors that make aviation software successful.
- Aviation software must be agile
Things move quickly in aviation. It’s great to have the most up-to-date software available but what if something radical happens? Few people could predict the enormous impact that the Covid-19 pandemic would have on the aviation industry (and indeed society); fewer still could have foreseen the September 11 attacks. Aviation software must be agile and future-proof so that when it needs to change, it can do so quickly.
It’s important to work with a software implementation team who are open to modernisation and change. At AIRDAT, our team embraces agile values and will work at speed to ensure your team is fully trained on all software updates so they can hit the ground running.
- Aviation must be user friendly
Let’s face it, it doesn’t matter how wonderful the software is and how many benefits it offers, if it’s not user friendly it won’t work. The software must be created with users in mind. The AIRDAT team cares about the details and puts emphasis on the design and user experience. Not only does AIRDAT software do the job but it’s also wonderfully intuitive to use.
- Aviation software must be suitably tested
There’s nothing like a major software issue on day one to make your staff wary of the new launch. That’s why thorough testing and monitoring ahead of implementation is vital. The aviation software company that you’re working with should:
- Include developer peer tests
- Go through the process of automated testing
- Include unit testing
- Allow for manual QA & UAT
- Provide constant full stack monitoring as standard
If your current software provider doesn’t provide the above as standard, get in touch with us at AIRDAT today.
- Aviation software must be built in a transparent way
You may not be a specialist in software development and implementation but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have complete visibility of everything that’s going on as part of your update. At AIRDAT, we make our plan entirely transparent from day one. You’ll have immediate access to live, centralised documents – contacts, outlines, documents, designs, comments, costs – and it’s all there for you to refer back to whenever you want to. We’ll also provide daily updates as well as real-time project reporting so you can see exactly where we’re at with the budget. Want to reassign the budget part-way through? No problem, with AIRDAT it’s simple.
If you know you need to upgrade your aviation software but are worried about how this could affect your day-to-day business operations then get in touch with us. Your software implementation process will be a breeze.
