10 Years with Kulcs-Soft: The Lack of Evolution in Hungarian Software

Beginnings: Starting a Business and Choosing Software

In 2010, when I founded CSE Business Ltd., one of my first tasks was to select an appropriate invoicing program. Although several options were available on the market, I decided on Kulcs-Soft's billing program (if I recall correctly, the exact product name was Kulcs-Soft Számla Plus). Several factors influenced this decision: the software was one of the most popular solutions in the Hungarian market, it supported issuing invoices in foreign languages, and it contained a basic product and service management module.

I found the price-to-value ratio reasonable, especially since Kulcs-Soft was offering an attractive promotion at the time: a 30-day free trial version. I remember their marketing slogan was something like "You can earn back the cost of the billing software multiple times during the 30-day free trial period," although I don't recall the exact wording.

Design and Usability: Outdated from the Beginning

Even in 2010, it was noticeable that the program's user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) were quite outdated. The Visual Basic-like appearance was considered old-fashioned even then, when much more modern, user-friendly applications were already widespread. The program had numerous functional limitations:

• Window sizes could not be modified
• The layout was rigid and not customizable
• User processes were often not intuitive
• The quality and arrangement of visual elements did not meet the expectations of the 2010s

Nevertheless, the software reliably performed its basic functions, and since it was relatively simple to use, it proved to be an acceptable solution for a startup.

Platform Migration Challenges: MacBook and VirtualBox

In 2016, a significant change occurred in my work environment: I transitioned to the MacBook system. This presented a new challenge regarding the use of the billing program, as Kulcs-Soft was developed exclusively for Windows platforms. Although SaaS (Software as a Service) based solutions were not yet widespread in the domestic market in 2016, I sought alternative options.

The Turning Point: The Cost of Technological Lag

By 2020, the situation had become untenable. The Kulcs-Soft billing program running in VirtualBox became increasingly slow, significantly hindering my workflows. After acquiring the latest MacBook Pro, the problems became even more apparent: the outdated program running in a virtual environment couldn't take advantage of the new hardware's benefits; in fact, it worked particularly poorly on it.

This prompted me to review the market again thoroughly. Ultimately, I chose the billing program developed by Giant Step Ltd., which provided a modern solution that met contemporary requirements. Thus, after 10 years, I finally said goodbye to Kulcs-Soft.

Objective Assessment: 10 Years Without Development

If we objectively examine the 10-year history of the Kulcs-Soft billing program, the most striking fact is the lack of development:

• The UI/UX remained virtually unchanged for a decade
• The program did not align with technological trends (such as cloud-based solutions and mobile access)
• It did not adapt to changing platform environments (e.g., Mac compatibility)
• Its performance did not improve; in fact, it became increasingly problematic on newer operating systems

What was considered outdated technology in 2010 had become almost unusable by 2020. In my view, the company did not place enough emphasis on the continuous development and modernization of its product, which ultimately put it behind its competitors.

Interesting Developments in 2024

August 2024: Unexpected Contact

It has been 4 years since I stopped using Kulcs-Soft software and I haven't implemented any of their products in the Hungarian market in recent years. Interestingly, in August 2024, I received an email from a Kulcs-Soft Sales Manager stating: "There was a time when we weren't the best alternative for you." This is a positive sign that Kulcs-Soft has recognized the need for new, more modern, and up-to-date solutions.

However, the email was quite "dry" - consisting of only 4 lines, lacking any personalization or detailed information. It also didn't include a privacy notice, which is a basic expectation nowadays. Since I hadn't subscribed to Kulcs-Soft's newsletter, the legal basis for the email was questionable. I responded via Teams (as I've been using Microsoft 365 for 14 years), but received no reply.

Unfortunately, the email wasn't compelling enough - it lacked a presentation of their TOP 5 products and TOP 5 features that might have captured my interest. I spent 3 minutes browsing their website but couldn't find the information that would help me determine which of their solutions would be suitable for an ongoing ERP implementation or a simple invoicing program.

October 2024: Further Contact

In October 2024, one of Kulcs-Soft's partners approached me asking if I would create the company's project portfolio. It wasn't clear whether they were looking for someone to assemble a client or internal project portfolio. Despite currently leading another IT Transformation Portfolio, I created a detailed vision of what should be implemented and how.

Months passed after I completed the material, but I received no feedback - unfortunately, this is typical of many Hungarian businesses (with some exceptions). I don't know if they even looked at the material I spent several hours preparing, or if they merely copied the idea and began implementation with someone else. I've encountered this practice several times before - but I'll share more about that in a separate story.

Lessons for Developers and Businesses

This experience spanning more than a decade provides several important lessons for both software developers and businesses:

For Developers:

• Technical debt has real business consequences
• Regular updates to the user experience are not a luxury but a necessity
• Platform independence is an increasingly important competitive advantage
• Even loyal users can only be retained through innovation
• Regaining former clients requires a well-thought-out, personalized strategy

For Businesses:

• It's worth regularly reviewing the software being used
• The limitations of seemingly working solutions can result in significant hidden costs in the long run
• The short-term inconvenience of migrating to new technologies can bring long-term benefits
• Nurturing client relationships and respectfully handling professional networks is a fundamental business value

Closing Thoughts

The story of the Kulcs-Soft billing program exemplifies that in software development, it's not enough to create a good basic product; continuous innovation and following user needs are essential for long-term success. More than a decade is a long time in the technology industry, and those who cannot keep pace with development inevitably fall behind.

Although the Kulcs-Soft program reliably served my business for ten years, it was ultimately not the program's functionality but its obsolescence that prompted me to switch. This can be a cautionary tale for all software companies: the lack of innovation leads imperceptibly but surely to the loss of market position, even for a once-successful product.

The developments in 2024 indicate that the company may have recognized this problem and is trying to change, but their customer management and communication methods still need improvement. Regaining lost customers requires much more effort than retaining existing ones - this requires not only technological innovation but also a well-thought-out communication and customer relations strategy.

Based on the experiences of recent years, I am cautiously optimistic: I trust that Hungarian software development companies, including Kulcs-Soft, are capable of learning from past mistakes and offering solutions that meet not only present but also future needs. For Hungarian businesses to be internationally competitive, it is essential that the supporting technological background also be of world-class quality.