Everybody Overcomplicates the Simplest Use Case

“What’s the biggest disconnect you’ve observed between what technology companies think users want versus what users actually need?”

That's one of the questions I've been asked to address at an upcoming event with LegalTech Talk.

As someone who’s been on both the vendor side and the enterprise customer side, I can honestly say:

It’s not about a battle between tech companies and users.

The real issue is that nobody wants to invest in technology unless it promises a massive payoff. That pressure leads to Overreaching and that Derails Projects.

Like what you see? Want to see more? I invite you to chat with my team at Shinydocs.

What's Wrong with a Simple Win?

There’s this idea that information projects and tech solutions only count if they’re big, bold, and transformative.

But what’s wrong with just fixing a real, immediate problem?

For example:

• You had paper. Now it’s digital = WIN
• You had a messy file share. Now it’s searchable and secure = WIN

That’s meaningful. That’s progress. It doesn’t have to be revolutionary to be valuable.

The Classic Example: File Shares

Here's an example I've seen time and time again.

Problem:
Your file shares are insecure, and no one can find anything.

Here's the Simple fix:

1. Use the built-in permissions to secure your files.
2. Index the files (Check out Shinydocs AI Search) so people can search them.

Now your team can find what they need, permissions are in place for security, and you’ve solved the real problem.

Here's what happens instead:

Someone decides you need a total overhaul. Everyone is supposed to be migrated to a modern desktop, new sync-and-share tools, and everything is centralized in the cloud.

Here's the problem.  Because this is an overreach - you never quite get there - the original problems remain. Paper documents still haven’t made it into the system. Lots of workloads (Like Finance's Linked Excel spreadsheets or Engineering's CAD files continue to live on the old file share.)

And now you have a frustrated team rejecting an unfamiliar system while still grappling with the same issues.

In the end, the problem hasn't been eliminated, but you have added complexity.

What “Simple” Really Means

Have you sensed a common theme here on my blog?

Simple is best.

Simple means solving the actual problem in the most direct way possible.

• Just scan the paper and make it a PDF.
• Just make that PDF searchable.
• Just let people find what they need without having to ask for help (eliminating delays and uncertainty.)

Key Takeaway

If you take one thing away from this post, it's this: