Castle Soft began in the late 1980s with a piece of paper, a pencil, and a vision to create accounting software that is reliable, cost-effective, accurate and customized to the needs of each customer.

What cofounders Majdi Abu Daff and Adham Shurrab came up with is Al-Aseal, their flagship Arabic-language accounting software which today is one of the most widely-used accounting software suites in countries including Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Abu Daff told Wamda that five lessons shaped Castle Soft’s products and services over 17 years, lessons he believed could benefit entrepreneurs anywhere.

The Castle Soft team gets together for a portrait (Images via Castle Soft)

1. Look for opportunities

In 1986 Castle Soft’s would-be cofounders wanted an alternative to MS-DOS accounting programs that tailored data and reports to customers’ needs - and worked in Arabic.

The market entry point came with the global shift to graphic user interface operating systems like Microsoft Windows.

“Computer accounting software solutions were sold at a price point between $1,250 and $1,000 back then, and we went for the lowest price for our offering,” Abu Daff said.

They studied the accounting software available in Palestine and Egypt (namely Alsihri and Almezaan), and in 1998 were able to launch Al-Aseal, a more affordable version with features to help users migrate data from old MS-DOS programs.

Today the software is a customized desktop application that offers functions such as analytics, reporting, budgeting all in English and Arabic. HR software offers staff management functions.

2. Keep developing your product and service

Every one to two years, Castle Soft releases a new version of their software according to customer feedback and needs.

The company’s core team in Gaza and their resellers around the MENA region provide customer support around the clock and during holidays.

“Each version contains major and minor fixes, updates and new features according to customer feedback,” said Abu Daff. He hinted that they were now working on a mobile app.

A screenshot of Castle Soft's proprietary Al-Aseal accounting software.

3. Differentiate

There is plenty of accounting software out there (such as Almeezaan, another Arabic-language accounting software), so Castle Soft had to differentiate themselves, focusing on six facets:

They are first a foremost a service-oriented company: “If the customer does not call in during the first month of purchasing the product, we will call them asking about their experience with the software and if they need any assistance” Abu Daff said.

They offer an easy-to-understand manual with its software; maintain a competitive price point; consistently build on customer feedback; give hardware advice to ensure the software runs smoothly; and offer tailored reports by customizing reports and adding new templates for free.

4. Don’t blame circumstances for your difficulties

With the blockade forced on the Gaza strip in 2007, all aspects of life and business inside Gaza have been affected, and Castle Soft is no exception.

“We have seen many difficulties but we managed to carry on. We started from home without receiving any investment or support from other organizations or funds, rented a small place and launched Al-Aseal,” Abu Daff (right) said.

“With the blockade we had to invest in power alternative to keep our staff online, but we have managed to sustain our customer base.”

Limits on residents’ movement has negatively impacted on staffs' ability to meet customers, and daily 12-16 hour electricity cuts in Gaza forced Castle Soft to invest heavily in solar power and backup generators to stay online.