Some of the Best Business Software and Tools Businesses Should Employ
It is often said that small businesses run themselves nowadays. How is that possible? Yes, it is true that running a business has become extremely easy these days and a great deal of this has happened due to an army of software applications, tools and web services that are widely available. From maintaining and managing your books and keeping on top of your email to creating and storing documents to getting teams to work together, a lot of code is required to run the business well. But there is also a downside; there are lots of similar software applications, which can often make it difficult to choose.
The process can be made easier once you know the kind of software and tools you need to get. Not all software work for every business as their offerings and their operations can vary. Before choosing the right software, you have to know the kind of tools you need. The top business software tools and services you need to get are:
Accounting Software
It is all about numbers. After all, you are running the business for making a profit, which means accounting is an essential part of your business. Intuit Quickbooks Pro is a good choice as its flow-chart based accounting is easy to understand and manage, even for those who don’t have a background in the field. Whether it is billing a client or cutting a check, it takes only a few clicks for you to get it done.
Collaboration
Having remote employees has become the norm as you can now gain access to talent in different parts of the world and work with them, thanks to collaboration tools like Vyew. This is a web conferencing platform that basically offers you a whiteboard for uploading documents for discussions, creating designs from scratch or even sharing your desktop with people in real time. You are also offered VoIP and audio services if you register with it.
Backup and Recovery
Since the time of filing cabinets is gone, all your data is stored on the computer, which means it is necessary for you to have backup in case of a power failure or other similar issue. Yes, there are lots of options, but Mozy is a good choice, particularly for small businesses as it regularly backs up files to a network-attached storage (NAS) or hard drive, as per your preference. It can archive everything automatically and will also note the changes made in files. Even if your office goes up in smoke, your files and data will be safe and sound.
CRM
Customer relationship management is not just something Fortune 500 companies have to worry about. In fact, it is even more important for small businesses because they are going up against giant competitors who have other major advantages. Therefore, you need to have a CRM software for tracking leads, managing your sales process and conducting follow-ups and Salesforce.com is the top choice. It has excellent affordable pricing options and an exhaustive feature set that can be a blessing for every business for managing its customer base.
Ecommerce Service
We live in a digital world today, which means that almost anything can be done online or through mobile devices. Even the basic services like hairdressers now offer ecommerce services for the convenience of their clientele. Businesses like clubs and gyms will find a software solution like Amilia as a great choice because it helps them in going digital in the best way. It is a great gymnastics software for gym clubs. You can now collect online payments with ease, eliminate the need to hire customer agents and facilitate the online registration of your teams and programs. Gyms and similar clubs can collect all the data they need through online forms and get payment instantly with Amilia.
Project Management
Projects are a part of every business and they can be carried out efficiently with a software solution like Basecamp. You can make to-do lists, build complicated timelines, share files and even make message boards all through one tool. It is a great program for keeping your employees on task and also enables all team members to check what every individual is up to. In fact, it can also come in handy for tracking the project time for every member, which can make it easier for billing and reports.
Social Networking
It is not possible to run a business nowadays and not have presence on different social media networks. While businesses need to focus on several social networking platforms, the most important is LinkedIn for finding service providers, employees, contractors and even outsourcing partners. Expanding your network also gets exposure for the business as it is recommended in various circles and becomes recognized by the bigwigs as well.
Get these essential business software and tools and be on the road to success.
