When is software ready? The smartPerform founders tell their story

Software that is never finished

Software is not a static product, but a living system that is constantly evolving. In conversation with Werner König and Jens Gerken, it becomes clear why smartPerform has focused on sustainability, innovation and continuous development right from the start – and why this principle remains a key success factor to this day.t.

Werner König

Co-founder of smartPerform. Today Professor for Interaction Design and Usability at Worms University of Applied Sciences.

When will smartPerform be fully programmed?

Werner König: I don’t think smartPerform – or the software itself – is ever really finished. Of course, we have or had a completely different challenge here than other manufacturers. Or agencies that developed completely individual solutions for customers and then only did this – but very well and very creatively. But the software itself was practically no longer usable.

The challenge for us right from the start was to say: we want a standard solution that can largely be used again and again. In other words, sustainability was already a major issue for us, also for reasons of efficiency. At the same time, we always developed the interface – i.e. how it looks, reacts and which smart functions are behind it – on a customer-specific basis and then made it available to all users.

That’s why it’s actually an advantage that the software is never finished. It remains innovative, it continues to change – unlike other software that is individually programmed. It is put in place once and then stays there for the next five years, and at some point it is thrown away. Thankfully, this has never happened with smartPerform, thanks to the team that took over.

Jens Gerken: I think everyone is probably aware of that nowadays. When you look at your smartphone, you wait every year for an update – Android or iOS – and assume that there will always be something new. But back then, it was something we had the odd conversation about internally. We were asked: “Yes, when are you going to be finished? When will we be able to earn money because the software is already there and we don’t have to build anything new? And when can we start working with it?”

And to make it something where you have to make a continuous investment – and you can’t do a calculation like “I’ll develop it, then it’s finished and then I’ll only earn money from licenses” – that was one way to get there.

Continuous development as a strength

The approach of never considering smartPerform to be “finished” has proven to be a decisive advantage. Instead of standing still, the software enables continuous innovation, adaptation to customer needs and long-term usability. This means that smartPerform not only remains technically up-to-date, but also promises future viability and sustainable added value.