System vs. Solution: What’s the Difference?

A solution is an answer to a problem

All images by the author

We love our buzzwords, and solution is certainly one of them. What does it mean? Is solution a system or a tool? Is data pipeline a solution? Or a new sales dashboard? Is machine learning a solution? What about an API or a data lake?

With the proliferation of new software products and sales pitches of companies selling them, the confusion between the terms system and solution is especially dangerous.

System and solution and not interchangeable terms. Why? Let’s break it down.

A system is a set of parts working together in a connected way.

When we say system in the context of information technology, we usually mean a software application or a combination of software and hardware that performs a specific function. For example, an order management system, or a building monitoring system.

What is a solution then?

A solution is an answer to a problem.

We build solutions to change something, make something better, or be able to do something we were not able to do before.

Recycling is a solution to the problem of limited resources.