Modern Business Software: What’s it For?

If you’re a small or medium sized business owner, then there’s a very good chance that every day you’re bombarded with marketing emails about the very latest piece of software that’s here to help you become more successful. In fact, many companies already work with companies, such as nearshore software development, and software development in other areas, that help them keep their technology and programs up to speed with the latest software. After all, in a world that is heavily based on technology, it is an important element of a business to have efficient software installed for your employees to use. The question is, are any of them actually worth the expense, and should you consider implementing them? Moreover, what does half of it even do?

You probably already use various kinds of software within your business, and it’s mostly going to be part of the Microsoft Office suite of products. Whether it’s simple word processing, spreadsheets, or an application to manage emails and a calendar, we’re all quite used to using them. Business software however is generally more specialised, and it’s not the kind of thing you’re ever likely to find at home on your own laptop or PC.

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Spreadsheets for instance, are great for managing information, and an expert can do just about anything with one. Chances are that you use them to manage things like orders, stock, employees etc. However, they’re not always that simple to use, and don’t always have the full functionality that you might want, which is where most business software attempts to fill a niche.

Scenario 1

If you manage a hair salon for instance, then managing appointments and all of your clients is probably a big job, and there might be a number of ways you’re doing it. A dedicated piece of software that’s designed with you in mind could actually be a much better solution, and that’s the aim of most pieces software these days. It will make the process of managing information much quicker and easier. In the case of cloud software, things should also be accessible anywhere and everywhere that you need them. You can actually view a case study of how business software helped out a small salon over at www.phorest.com.

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Scenario 2

In another scenario, you might be developing a new product, and there are lots of people involved in the project, but they all need a central way of compiling ideas and progress. You could record everything in a trail of emails, text documents and spreadsheets, but this just makes things complicated. Collaboration tools (or ‘groupware‘) are some of the most popular forms of business software that you’ll find on the market, and really can help bring employees and teams together.

Scenario 3
Software made to streamline an important aspect of your business could be beneficial. Say that you are a law office looking to reduce time spent on sending legal documents, printing, and maintaining records of items sent. If you search specifically with this in mind, you will find software like Sendzen which addresses this issue specifically. Software made as a “solution” to a “problem”, is beneficial to many different kinds of businesses and is increasingly appearing on the software market.

As to picking software to use, the only way is through sound research. You need to identify areas of the business that might benefit, and then properly investigate the products that are on offer. Make a business case for using them, but don’t dismiss the power of new, functional software in your organisation.

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