An Overview of the Software Industry

Software Industry Primer

Software runs the world. At least it can seem that way based on the vast number of tasks and processes that depend on computers and mobile devices. The software landscape that enables these devices is vast and diverse, both in terms of the types of software products and types of software businesses.

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This primer will navigate this landscape, introducing key concepts such as the major types of software, how software companies make money, how software products are created, and what changes to expect in the future.

Course: 7 Chapters

Est. time: 45 mins

What's Covered In This Primer?

Introduction

The Product

Segments

Business Models

Software Development

Key Metrics

Trends

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Chapter 1 Breakdown

Why does the software industry exist?

Chapter 2 Breakdown

What is software and how does it work?

Chapter 3 Breakdown

What are the product segments in software?
Enterprise software, productivity software, and application development software
What is system software?

Chapter 4 Breakdown

What are the different ways companies license, deliver, and monetize software?
What is the difference between cloud-based and on-premise software?

Chapter 5 Breakdown

How are software products created?
Waterfall and agile software development
What is DevOps?
What are advantages and challenges of an agile approach?

Chapter 6 Breakdown

How is performance measured in the software industry?
Examples of company-level, product-level, and operations-level metrics

Chapter 7 Breakdown

What changes are coming over the next 2-5 years?

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Software Industry Trends

Software is eating the world

The foremost trend in software is its proliferation. This expansion takes two forms: (1) growth of new software companies and products, particularly via SaaS; (2) transformation of non-software companies into software companies.

Democratization of software

As software proliferates, more and more people are participating in software development. These non-coders are called citizen developers, and a growing number of tools now exist that allows them to build software. This is called low-code or no-code programming.

Growing emphasis on information security

Keeping up with the changing regulatory environment and increasingly sophisticated cyber threats is a major challenge for software developers, requiring significant attention and resources.

How Our Software Industry Primer Can Help

Build A Foundation

Go from newbie to knowledgeable in under an hour! Our primers break down the essentials of an entire industry - products, trends, terminology, and more - into a concise, easy-to-digest format. Gain the knowledge you need quickly, so you can hit the ground running with confidence and clarity.

Boost Your Credibility & Confidence

Stand out when it counts! Our primers are packed with industry insights, allowing you to navigate professional conversations with greater confidence and leave a lasting impression. With a solid foundation in industry knowledge, you'll feel prepared for any client conversation that comes your way.

Gain Competitive Edge

Nothing beats knowing! Our primers are concise but we never skimp on insights. Staying up-to-date on industry challenges, opportunities, and trends empowers business leaders to make informed strategic decisions and maintain a competitive edge.

Primed for Success

Trustworthy insights, sourced from subject matter experts

Organized and streamlined into digestible lessons

Presented in binge-worthy videos that learners love

Testimonials

Great content - I'm really impressed with the breadth and depth of the content in such a short amount of time. Great coverage of a broad range of topics. Great graphics and audio. Suitable for tech industry novices as well as an excellent refresher for experienced tech industry people.

- Consultant

I had worked on a SaaS project before this primer came out and felt lost/behind on a lot of the concepts/material. This primer hit on a lot of general concepts that I wish I had known going into the engagement. Purpose well served!

- Management Consultant

I thought the content was really well represented; high-level to start, and then diving into key sub-areas as we went. I have some experience with the topic - would DEFINITELY recommend this to others (have already shared with my team)

- SaaS Sales Professional

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a primer?

Think of a primer as your quick-start guide to understanding the landscape of an industry (such as Investment Banking, Renewable Energy, Retail, etc.).

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Industry information is readily available but Googling can lead you down a rabbit hole of scattered, inconsistent and text-heavy resources - leaving a fragmented picture of the industry. And this content can miss the mark: they’re either too long and full of extraneous details, making it tough for beginners to find what they need, or too short, leaving out critical detail.

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Primerli is changing this! All our primers are presented in a concise, engaging format, covering everything you need to know in binge-worthy videos.

Who are the primers intended for?

Primers are perfect for anyone looking to understand an industry, fast. Whether you’re a consultant preparing for a case in telecom; a salesperson hoping to make headway with a big pharmaceutical customer, or a student preparing for their first job interview, primers are the prep step that enables success.

How long does it take to complete a primer?

A full primer takes less than an hour. We pack tons of insights into each primer collection of bite-sized, binge-worthy videos that you can watch anytime, anywhere. Perfect for busy schedules - because learning shouldn’t take forever.

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And for industry aficionados, our primers are split into sections so you can bypass the introductory info and stay up-to-date on trends or brush up on terminology in less than 10 minutes.

What topics does the primer cover?

Each industry primer covers the essentials: key trends, terminology, value chain, economics, and products & services. But some of our technology and functional topic primers include additional sections to make sure all the critical information is covered and each primer is comprehensive.

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