Be Inspired, Never Imitate

In the software game, borrowing ideas is common practice. There's an awful lot of code out there, and some of it is seriously impressive. We’ve certainly made use of some widely available tools, but we’ve done so with a purpose - to assemble something uniquely ours, unmistakably Boxly. One of our guiding principles? Be original, always.

Developing Boxly wasn't about rehashing what was already out there. We aimed to solve a unique problem we encountered, not ride on the coattails of others. Even when you admire other software out there, they’re built to solve different sets of challenges. Boxly had to be a custom fit, made to serve our customers and address their unique needs.

The gap Boxly fills? It was one we lived. As operators of a family-owned golf club, we saw the need for a tool that simply wasn't available for businesses like ours. Even the world’s greatest receptionist can’t work 24/7. We needed digital assistance. Boxly is our answer to that problem.

From its inception to where it stands today, Boxly has been shaped and refined by the voices of those it serves. Our software gets sharper and more intuitive by the day and every update has been a response to our customer's needs - that’s a feat you just can’t achieve if you’re trailing someone else’s vision.

While we've charted our own course, we think it’s important to nod in respect to those who've inspired the way we do business. The team at 37signals, for instance, have a way of running their show that we find pretty admirable.

They remain fiercely independent, doing things in their own, completely original way. They are genuine leaders in their field and remain very close to their market. They run a relatively small remote team of highly talented people. They hate bullshit and aren’t afraid to speak their mind.  And crucially, they run their business sustainably, being profitable from the word go.

We’ve never met the 37signals team, but we've long respected their stance and their willingness to share their journey openly. They remind us of the importance of staying true to your principles, both in ethics and in your code.

In an era where technology can tempt you to copy and paste your way to a solution, it’s all the more critical to credit those sparks of inspiration that guide you to create something unique.

Ultimately, though, Oscar Wilde put it best, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” We’re not here to flatter greatness - we aim to define it. And at Boxly, we don’t speak mediocrity. We’re here to create a world-class product that’s as unique as the customers we serve.

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