No RFI, No Smooth Passage
‘No RFI, no smooth passage’ epigrammatically conveys how vital the integrity of the software selection process is for maritime businesses. We chose a humorous but expressive way to illustrate the point with a picture story about asphalt roads in urban areas.
Potholes in asphalt roads and software selection
Why do potholes in asphalt roads have everything to do with software selection?
At first glance, it may seem surprising to connect the frequency of potholes in city streets with the selection of software. However, software integrity is relevant in both contexts.
At first glance, it may seem surprising to connect the frequency of potholes in city streets with the selection of software. However, software integrity is relevant in both contexts.
Especially for enterprises looking to compare and choose ship management software, ensuring the integrity of the selection process is not unimportant.
Since the goal, clearly, is to acquire software that satisfies the widest possible spectrum of enterprise software needs and business use cases requirements both now and for many years to come.
With the present article, we hope both to entertain you and remain true to our mission to debate industry painpoints with you.
Bumpy Ride
Clearly, potholes in urban areas make for bumpy rides. How do potholes occur? Potholes form when water seeps into cracks in the road, then expands and contracts due to temperature changes, eventually breaking the pavement.
Within the root causes, winter weather plays a leading role.
Corrective actions
But it is the corrective actions that make all the difference. The prevalence in pothole incidence between cities in the United States and those in Scandinavia, Switzerland, and Japan jumps out at the observer. And logically we can attribute better roads to road maintenance, construction quality, and funding.
In fact, many European and Japanese cities invest heavily in high-quality road materials and regular maintenance, preventing potholes before they become a major issue. Their roads often use thicker asphalt layers and better drainage systems to minimize water damage.
In contrast, many American cities struggle with aging infrastructure, budget constraints, and delayed repairs, leading to more potholes.
Additionally, Scandinavian countries and Japan use different winter road treatments. Instead of excessive salting—which can accelerate road deterioration—they often rely on sand, gravel, or heated roads to manage ice and snow. This reduces the freeze-thaw cycle that contributes to pothole formation.
So, it’s not just the weather—it’s how cities prepare for and respond to it. What do you think? Have you noticed this difference first hand?
Software Selection
Does pothole incidence in asphalt roads have anything to do with software selection?
It does in the sense that ‘road maintenance’ translates into caring about the maritime industry’s thousands of use cases. ‘Construction quality’ translates into system design and funding corresponds to your vendor’s dedication to future-proof software developments.
Especially for enterprises looking to compare and choose shipmanagement software, ensuring the integrity of the selection process is vital. Since the goal, clearly, is to acquire software that satisfies the widest possible spectrum of enterprise software needs and business use cases requirements both now and for many years to come.
About Ulysses Systems
Ulysses Systems, a front-runner in software innovation, is the provider of well-tried management solutions for the Maritime Industry since 1996, dedicated to removing complexity from information technology and elevating usability. Its award-winning software, Task Assistant®, enables office and seagoing personnel to work intuitively and efficiently with minimal training and just-in-time information. Managers should expect a fast return on total software lifecycle cost from unique user-centric design and mature process optimization and minimization of information gaps. Currently Ulysses Systems is pioneering fast development of new annexes to existing software, including monitoring underlying systems for cybersecurity compliance.