Tailoring software for PC, phone or tablet: which should you choose?

People search for tailoring software for PC because that is what the office has. It is a reasonable place to start. But think about where the work happens. The owner checks numbers at a desk. The sales person stands at a rack. The cutter has chalk on their hands and no desk at all. Before you pick software, picture those three people and what each would hold.

The three kinds of software

Desktop programs

These are installed on one Windows computer. They are often older, and many are sold as a one-off licence. Big screens suit long reports and typing. The weakness is reach: the program is on that computer, in that room. Ask where the data is kept, and what happens if the hard drive fails.

Phone apps from an app store

These are quick to find and easy to learn, and a tailor can measure a customer with the phone in hand. Many are built for one person. A small screen is fine for looking up a measurement, and tiring for reviewing a week of production. Check whether there is a version for your phone: some apps are on Android and not on iPhone, or the other way round.

Installable web apps

The technical term is PWA, or progressive web app. It is a website that can be installed like an app. Once installed, it gets its own icon and opens in its own window, without the browser's tabs on a computer. The same software then runs on a phone, tablet or laptop, with the layout adjusting to the screen.

For a mixed shop, this is usually the strongest choice. You do not have to choose one type of device, and you can use the ones you already own. There are limits too, and we come to those below.

Match the screen to the job

A cheap tablet is often enough at the bench. Fit it in a stand, keep it away from steam and lint, and give it a charging point. Our post on digital job cards looks at how that screen replaces the paper ticket.

How to install a web app on each device

Steps vary a little by version. These come from the web.dev installation guide and MDN.

• iPhone and iPad: open the site, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen, confirm the name and tap Add. There is no install pop-up on these devices, so you have to know the steps.
• Android: Chrome on most phones installs it as a regular app with a launcher icon. Other browsers may add a shortcut with the browser's badge on it instead. If you can, use Chrome.
• Windows: in Chrome or Edge, click the install icon in the address bar, or use the browser menu. The app then appears in the Start menu.
• Mac: Chrome and Edge work the same way as on Windows. In Safari on macOS Sonoma or later, use File, then Add to Dock.

Firefox on a computer does not install apps from a manifest, so use another browser there. Do this once on a staff device, and write the steps on a card for the next person.

Questions to ask, whichever kind you choose

The word "app" tells you little. These answers tell you more.

Is it one shared shop or separate copies?

Software on three devices is of little use unless all three show the same job. A vendor should explain how that works and show you. Test it: change a job on the laptop and look at the tablet.

What happens without a connection?

Set your expectations with care. Installing an app does not mean it works without internet. An installed app may open from saved files and still be unable to read or save your data. Reviewers raise this as a real worry: one wrote that a tailoring system "Needs good internet connection".

So switch off the Wi-Fi in your trial and try to take a deposit, then see what was saved. Keep a paper fallback if your connection is unreliable.

What will it need from your device?

Ask about the oldest phone or tablet it supports, and try it on your slowest device. Camera use for photos, printing job tickets from a phone, and scanner use all vary by device. Test each one you rely on.

What about updates and your data?

Ask how new versions reach you, and whether your data can be exported. With any software, the plan for when it fails matters more than the plan for when it works.

So which should you choose?

One person working alone and mainly measuring: a good phone app may be all you need. A shop tied to one office computer with a good system already: leave it alone until it causes real trouble. A shop with a workshop and a counter: look at installable web apps first, because they fit people who stand, sit and move around. For a wider set of questions, see how to choose tailoring software.

Tailoq is built as an installable web app, so it works on the phone, tablet or computer you own, on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows and Mac. It does not work without a connection yet, so plan for that if your signal is poor.