There’s a lot of confusion and hype about the difference between software and technology. But the truth is, they’re both tools in your business’s toolkit. If you own a business, you probably have software in your arsenal. It can be a piece of an app or a whole platform built with software development kits (SDKs). Regardless of what kind of software you’re using, it all revolves around the same concept: software is code that makes something happen or a service that brings value to your customers. In this article, we’ll explain how the two are different and how they complement one another to deliver an optimal user experience and create great customer experiences.
What is software and what is software development?
Software, as we know it, is nothing more than computer code that makes a service or an app run. It may be a piece of an app or a platform. Whether it’s on a server or a mobile device, software is data that makes something happen. That’s it. But software development is a process of building software code from the ground up to meet specific business needs or requirements. It’s not about learning how to use a new programming language or framework. It’s about building a business-critical app from the ground up with modern technology. Some industries, like financial services, will use a combination of software and technology to achieve better results. In this case, a financial advisor may use a software platform to help them track client funds and a smartphone app to help them communicate with clients.
What is the difference between software and technology?
Depending on who you ask, the difference between software and technology can be very large. But the truth is, it’s not that significant of a difference. In reality, the two are pretty closely related. Both are made up of software and technology. But there are some big differences between the two, which we’ll discuss below. Technology is often used as a euphemism for “big data.” People outside the tech industry often don’t know the difference between data and technology, and they assume that the two are synonymous. But the truth is, they’re not. Technology can be used to store data, while data can only be used to store information. Technology can be used to process data, while data requires human judgment to process. And while software is used to make computer-related things happen, data is what drives those things. Data is what makes an app, website, or service work.
