Starting a business is easy. But keeping it going is not.
As your business starts scaling up, chaos and confusion takes over. Unless, of course, you decide to deal with increased complexities in the overall business processes.
In today’s age, technology offers solutions to most of our day-to-day problems. Try availing its benefits for your business operations.
A business management software ensures that complicated and repetitive business processes are handled in an efficient manner, thus reducing labor dependency and time wastage.
Since repetitive tasks are taken off the table, you can now focus on serving your customers and growing your business.
To know more about business management tools, continue reading further as we explain their benefits and how to choose the one that’ll meet your business requirements.
6 Tips to choose the best management tools for your business
A powerful, multi-faceted business management software can streamline your business operations, increase productivity and reduce costs.
Besides managing critical aspects of your company, such robust, well-designed softwares allows you to run the entire business from one place.
Most companies use a number of different tools to execute different operations including project management, CRM, payroll, cloud migration, and so on.
Certain task management softwares are quite popular among tech-savvy employers who use these tools to assign tasks to employees and track their progress.
There’s no end to what all you can achieve with the right business management software. But how to choose the “right one”?
Here are a few tips that’ll help you zero in on the best business management software.
1. Define what you want and at what cost
You need to understand and assess your business requirements before analyzing what software would be right for your business. A clear understanding of the company’s goals ensures your chosen software meets all of your expectations.
Do you want to invest in a business management software that takes care of CRM, invoicing, email marketing? Or, maybe it’s the accounting software that should be at the top of your priority list.
Once you’re aware of what your project requirements are, it’s time to consider the budget set out for the project. You ought to adhere to it.
Certain apps come with hidden costs as well. You need to study their pricing thoroughly to avoid unpleasant surprises.
We often equate price with quality, as if paying more would get us superior quality products.
It’s a myth, especially when you consider business management softwares. Go for a software that provides the best value for the money you put in.
2. Perform a compatibility check
When choosing a software solution, consider its compatibility across a wide spectrum of platforms.
Some applications work on both Mac and PC platforms while some others may be designed to work on one or the other.
What’s more, your chosen software should be compatible with your machine’s operating system. Otherwise, what’s the point?
It would be prudent to select a software that runs on different kinds of platforms, operating systems and devices.
Certain apps which are specific to a laptop or desktop tend to crash if installed in an iPad or mobile device. Buying them would certainly be an unwise decision.
Moreover, you need to take into account the type of hardware used in your office. Will you be able to run the software with the available memory and processor speed or will they need to be upgraded?
Read and analyze the system requirements and test out a demo or trial version to get a fair idea of the compatibility constraints.
Once you feel assured that the system is platform-independent and won’t require extreme adjustments from your end, it’s time to waive the green flag at least in terms of compatibility.
3. Create a simple interface
The last thing you expect as an employer is dedicating those precious work hours to navigate your way through the web app and its complex functionalities.
Sure, a well-built software does a lot.
But if it requires more time and effort to grapple with the intricacies of the application than to work on assigned tasks, it proves to be counterproductive and a complete waste of time.
That’s why, a clean, clutter-free and easily understandable user interface makes a big difference here. It plays a significant role in arranging the software’s features and functionalities.
Even though most interfaces are endowed with key features, buttons, tabs and interlinked functionalities, the user-friendly UX Designs simplify the process. They don’t confuse or overwhelm you.
This allows you to navigate your way with basic technical skills. Ideally, you should be able to start working on the software right away without seeking help from Google or going through a user manual.
Try to opt for a fairly intuitive UI that lets you manage your project without much ho-hum. Moreover, ensure the chances of employees using this application the wrong way is minimized. Otherwise you may just have to incur heavy losses.
4. Compare features of different systems
Different businesses require different sets of features. While some prioritize supply chain management, others focus on integration software.
Several product-based companies offer high-end features such as AI-powered chatbots , time-tracking, customer relationship management, accounting functions, and inventory control.
Compare different systems to find out which one is offering the best feature at a cost-effective rate. After all, buying a new software with features that you’ll hardly ever use makes for a wrong business move.
The thumb rule here is most of the features should be relevant to your business.
Companies prefer apps with inbuilt tracking features that give an in-depth idea about the progress of your project and the current bottlenecks.
When you compare products with similar features that are owned by different service providers, you get to evaluate the system on a host of parameters.
Each system’s forecasting and reporting abilities as well as their built-in stability and sustainability need to be assessed by your company’s team of experts.
Are you aware of the Software Asset Management (SAM) practices? These guidelines, if followed diligently, can help you make a well-informed decision as far as business management softwares are concerned.
Try out Zluri’s list of SAM tools. The list has been developed after examining critical factors such as company size, ease of integration, pricing, licensing, infrastructure complexity and many others.
5. Never compromise on data Security
“Data really powers everything that we do.” – Jeff Weiner
Since your business management software is expected to handle tons of data related to company and clients, data security is of paramount importance here. You cannot afford to invest in software that could put your data at risk.
Opt for a well-built app that protects your data and keeps hackers at bay.
Before purchasing the software, check if it’s accompanied by strict safety protocols. Simple processes like email login verification and multi-level authentication go a long way in securing your business data.
Interestingly, the softwares need to adhere to the data protection laws implemented by several countries around the world.
Countries in the European Union abide by General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) while the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) strengthens the data protection framework for many parts of the US.
6. Choose products keeping scalability in mind
In a rapidly developing industry, you need to choose products keeping in mind your company’s growth and long-term vision.
In short, they should be able to adapt to the changing dynamics of the industry. Choose a software that is most likely to stay relevant even years from now.
Software scalability contributes to your company’s longevity. If your business aligns with the software’s scalability, then go for it.
Here’s an example. A business management app with the most basic features may be good enough for your small retail store business.
However, if your goal is to expand into the e-commerce domain, the current app is bound to become obsolete.
Select an app with extensive functionality that allows customers to make online purchases.
Moreover, a scalable app weathers all storms, smoothly adapting to version upgrades, resource reduction and other such changes without losing stability at any point of time.
Conclusion
If you’re feeling too overwhelmed with the process of choosing the most appropriate business management software, let us assure you, the process isn’t as demanding and time-consuming as it appears to be.
All you need is to create a well-defined road map. It can be developed after conducting extensive brainstorming sessions with some of the most formidable technical minds in your office.
Once you’ve mapped down your business needs, budget estimates, training sessions, now it’s time to narrow down your choices.
Select a couple of softwares that align with your technical and economical requirements. The one with the most impressive performance wins.
A standardized software that ticks all the boxes is nothing short of a long-term asset for your company. It’s worth all the effort you’ve put in.
