Why Off-The-Shelf Procedure Software is the Ultimate Way to Scale

One of the most frequently asked questions we get from complex mission teams is,

“How is an off-the-shelf procedure software product more effective than using programs like Asana or Retool, or even building a custom in-house tool from scratch?”

Very good question! And we’re more than happy to answer that for you with what we’ve seen in our own experience and what we hear from our most successful customers.

When you use an off-the-shelf procedure software product like Epsilon3, you’ll see a significant improvement in three key areas:

1. Scalability

2. Resource efficiency

3. Team members’ focus and energy

SCALABILITY

Programs like Retool and Asana are great for organizing simple tasks for teams, but, as we found out, aren’t robust enough for operations. In fact, we actually looked at using Retool to help us build our MVP. However, we realized early on that we would quickly outgrow Retool as we considered more complex mission procedures and various use cases that teams often have. Each team role has multiple needs and requirements, which requires something much more capable and flexible to enable multiple operator sign-offs, detailed reporting/tracking/analytics of all past as-runs, the ability to explicitly repeat, fail, and skip steps on the fly, track redlines/suggested edits, integrate other data sources via APIs, and review and release (version control and configuration management) integrations.

In short, Retool and Asana are great for very simple use cases, but they don’t scale well or at a pace that matches demand and complexity of actual real-world use cases in testing and operations. 

RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

While working for SpaceX, our co-founder became increasingly frustrated as her colleagues didn’t have the time or bandwidth to devote to building and maintaining an internal procedure tool. When teams decide to build an internal tool, they often overlook how much time and money it actually takes to maintain and update a procedure tool that continues to adapt to the needs of the team with each mission. It takes a lot of effort for team members to address internal requests while they’re also trying to accomplish their mission tasks. 

One of our biggest clients spent over $1 million on building an internal procedure software tool, and it still wasn’t good enough to help them manage their complex missions which led them to work with us. We’ve created a procedure software that we’re passionate about and have invested the time and money into building a team that helps our customers focus on their mission.

TEAM MEMBER FOCUS

When you work with us, your team gets to do what they do best. They aren’t distracted and pulled off of the main mission goals if they’re also required to keep procedure software functional and updated. We take care of making sure the software is working so your team can make sure all the other critical pieces are falling into place without fussing with neglected software. 

Our goal is to make sure that your team isn’t distracted with software behind the scenes. We see all the innovative and inspiring work you’re doing launching satellites, saving forests, and improving travel time for people with busy lives. We want to make sure that all of your team members can give their all to your core mission whatever that may be. 

RESPONSIVE FEEDBACK

We are committed to responding immediately to every request submitted by our customers. Our team continues to grow rapidly so we can provide feedback in a timely manner that keeps your team ahead of schedule. Ultimately, we want to provide peace of mind and confidence in procedure software that amplifies the talent and vision your team embodies.

Rather than waiting on internal teams to find the time to address procedure software needs, it’s our team’s sole focus to respond and integrate any feedback we receive. We’re built to work with small and large scale teams because we sincerely believe that every one of our customers is up to changing the world for the better. 

READ MORE ON OFF-THE-SHELF vs. INTERNAL PROCEDURE SOFTWARE HERE  

FAQs

• Why isn't a general project management tool like Asana or Retool enough for complex operations?

  Tools like Asana and Retool work well for simple task organization, but they lack the robustness needed for complex mission procedures. They don't scale to support multiple operator sign-offs, version control, detailed run tracking, or API integrations.

• What are the hidden costs of building a custom procedure tool in-house?

  Building an internal tool requires significant time and money upfront, plus ongoing effort to maintain and update it as mission needs evolve. One of Epsilon3's largest clients spent over $1 million on an internal tool that still wasn't sufficient for managing their complex missions.

• How does off-the-shelf procedure software improve resource efficiency?

  Off-the-shelf software removes the burden of maintaining internal tools from your team, freeing them to focus on mission-critical work. The software provider handles updates, fixes, and improvements so your engineers don't have to.

• How does using Epsilon3 help team members stay focused?

  When your team isn't responsible for keeping procedure software functional, they can dedicate their full energy to core mission goals. Epsilon3 handles the software so your team can focus on the work that actually moves your mission forward.

• How does Epsilon3 handle customer feedback and feature requests?

  Epsilon3 is committed to responding immediately to every customer request, with a dedicated and growing team focused solely on procedure software. Rather than waiting on stretched internal teams, customers get timely responses that keep their operations on track.

• What specific capabilities does Epsilon3 offer that general tools cannot?

  Epsilon3 supports multiple operator sign-offs, detailed reporting and analytics on past runs, the ability to repeat, fail, or skip steps on the fly, redline tracking, API integrations, and full version control and configuration management.