Choosing the right business software can be a daunting task for various reasons. One is receiving collective buy-in from your entire organization to make a unanimous buying decision.
Also, making an unsuitable choice can result in an enormous waste of time, money, and resources. That’s why you’ll need to take a strategic approach to business software selection to avoid these outcomes.
This guide will help explain a wide range of business software selection tips to follow to make the software acquisition process simpler.
1. Assess your company’s needs first
The first phase of the business software selection process is figuring out why you need new technology in the first place. It’s easy to misdiagnose a need for new software.
Buying new software when you don’t have to is likely just as disastrous as choosing the wrong software. For this reason, you’ll need to assess your company’s needs before beginning the journey.
Here are some great ways to learn when it’s time to invest in new software:
- Collaborate with your team from the top down. Gain insights from project managers, developers, marketers, and all key decision-makers. Where are their bottlenecks?
- Observe your pain points. What’s your biggest reason for purchasing new software? What are you most hesitant about?
- Document the entire process. This step is useful in sharing your thoughts with key decision-makers who have the final say in the business software selection process.
Following these steps is essential in assessing your company’s actual need for new software before you move any further. For instance, if you already have customer relationship management software, maybe you should look for project management software. Fill in any gaps.
2. Look for one-stop-shop solutions
Once you confirm and determine your company’s need for new software, the next phase is gathering preliminary research. This step involves finding the best software on the market for your particular problem.
Luckily, you no longer have to rely solely on traditional (tedious) methods to do this. Instead, you can leverage various tools and platforms like FinancesOnline to streamline the process. And you can unlock a treasure trove of business software that offers one-stop-shop solutions.
A remarkable example to cite here is SoFi, a company that redefined the financial industry by providing an innovative, one-stop solution for personal finance.
For businesses, the takeaway from SoFi’s success is the value of integration and user-centric design. So when you’re selecting your next business software, prioritize these factors to ensure you choose a platform that’ll effectively serve your needs (without needing multiple software plans to get the job done).
Just as SoFi has simplified financial management by providing everything from private loans for college to investments and credit cards on a single platform, try to find a similar software solution that includes multiple functionalities.
Also, just like SoFi pays close attention to the user experience, you should opt for business software that’s user-friendly. The easier the software is to use, the more likely employees will embrace it. The result? A smoother transition and happier employees.
3. Find a way to make business processes more efficient
After preliminary research, you’ll need to identify core ways to make your company more efficient with business software. Otherwise, what’s the reason for purchasing new software in the first place?
For example, to make your business more efficient, you should use employee scheduling software to stay organized and save time. You can easily create and deploy schedules to all employees, increasing internal communication.
With advanced time tracking and time management features, your team will never miss a deadline again. This will avoid internal conflicts and keep your team up-to-date on employee availability at any given moment. Business software is meant to make running your business more efficient by automation, which is what an employee schedule app will do.
Of course, this is just one example of thousands that can help streamline your operations. So circle back to the first step (where you assess your needs) and rinse and repeat until you tackle all the bottlenecks within your organization.
Shane Barker once summarized the essence of business evolution by saying: “In the relentless pursuit of growth, always seek paths that refine and streamline. To truly thrive, find a way to make business processes more efficient.”
4. Consider calling on the help of experts
It’s impossible to know all the nuances of the business software selection process. For this reason, you should consider calling on experts to help guide your judgment and introduce you to new perspectives.
Take, for instance, the crucial aspect of human capital management (HCM). With numerous options available, it can be overwhelming for you to select the perfect fit. Plus, it’s a tremendous drain on your precious time. And that’s where expert opinions play a vital role.
Let’s say you’re considering Workday as your HCM solution. Hiring reliable Workday HCM consulting experts can prove invaluable.
They can guide you through the selection process, guaranteeing that your investment of time, money, and effort leads to optimal results. But it doesn’t stop there after triggering the purchase.
These experts work with you to ensure your team is maximizing everything the software offers. They’ll show you how to set up payroll and ensure your onboarding process is as smooth as silk.
What does that mean for you? More time to spend elsewhere. Increased transparency of key performance indicators (KPIs). And a better bottom line.
Of course, this option doesn’t only apply to human resources experts. From marketing automation and task management to financial reports and accounting software, there are experts that cover it all.
5. Leverage industry publications for expert insights
As a business owner, choosing the right software for your business doesn’t have to be a complex maze. In fact, there’s a simple shortcut to finding the perfect fit: industry publications.
Imagine stumbling across a technology blog that’s done all the hard work for you. They’ve analyzed, compared, and listed the best workflow management software. No more sifting through endless reviews or getting lost in technical jargon. You have an expert guide right at your fingertips.
Using these expert insights can help build trust within your decision-making team. The recommendations come from reputable sources that understand the ins and outs of different software.
The team doesn’t have to lift a finger. You have all the necessary information to make an informed purchase decision.
Imagine your team’s conversation:
“What about this software that Pipefy recommended?”
“Looks perfect for us to enhance collaboration, and it comes with Pipefy’s approval, so we know it’s a solid choice.”
These conversations aren’t just casual chats. They represent shared confidence in making the right software decision. So, when facing business software selection, don’t forget to consult industry publications. They can turn a complex process into a simple, engaging journey.
In short, industry publications cut through the confusion and build confidence. Use them to simplify your decision-making process and choose with clarity and trust.
6. You can depend on AI and other modern technologies
When starting a new business, selecting the right business software is a critical step that can significantly impact your company’s success.
So when making these important business decisions, it’s best to avoid gut feelings and educated guesses and lean into data-backed decisions. Thankfully, we now have powerful allies in artificial intelligence (AI) and modern technologies, ready to revolutionize the way we make decisions.
Instead of spending endless hours reviewing options, you can use AI-driven tools that analyze your specific needs and preferences.
For example, after answering a few simple questions Matchr’s proprietary software match tool will narrow down your options, rank them according to relevance, and even predict how well each software might integrate with your existing systems.
It’s like having a personal tech expert who knows your business inside and out. Sounds idyllic right? You’ll choose the right software. Every. Time.
7. Prioritize software that helps you avoid compliance issues
Navigating the intricate web of regulations and legal requirements can feel like a full-time job. But what if your software could take care of it for you? By prioritizing software that not only meets compliance standards but actively helps you maintain them, you’re setting your business up for success. And, of course, better peace of mind.
Think about it: compliance is more than a task. It’s not something you can check off your to-do list once. It’s an ongoing responsibility. New regulations can appear without warning. And failure to comply can lead to legal complications and fines. Yikes.
But armed with the right software (that acts like a vigilant watchdog), you’re constantly monitoring, and adapting to keep your business on the right side of the law.
And if you’re dealing with medical or financial software, you have even more regulations to keep track of. It’s a headache, to say the least. Thankfully, software exists to help you mitigate these pain points.
For example, if you’re trying to make sure your company is meeting state and federal employee mandates, you can use a remote employee cost calculator.
Remote’s employee cost calculator stands out as one of the best in the market, empowering hiring managers to comprehensively understand the Total Cost of Employment (TCE) for employees across various countries.
This user-friendly calculator showcases the complete employee cost, encompassing the salary and all mandatory government program contributions. These contributions include taxes for healthcare, retirement, unemployment, and other country-specific programs, providing a comprehensive view of hiring costs in different locations worldwide.
Knowing that compliance sits at the heart of your software, you can focus on your core mission, innovate, and grow without constantly looking over your shoulder.
8. Consider scalability and future-proofing
When evaluating software solutions, it’s crucial to consider scalability and future-proofing. As your business grows, your software needs may change. Look for software that can scale your business and accommodate future growth.
Consider factors such as the ability to invite additional users, support additional features, and integrate with other systems like marketing software or project management tools. Investing in scalable software will save you the hassle of having to switch to a new solution as your business expands.
After all, the whole point of investing in business software is to work smarter, not harder. If you don’t think about your future needs, you’ll have to rinse and repeat this process more times than you hoped. So measure and cut once.
Final words
Overall, finding the best business management software solution takes a holistic approach. Following the steps we covered today will aid in your process of making this process easier and more efficient.
Also, doing so will put you in the right position to choose a software solution that’ll benefit your company for years to come.And if you need more help along the way, join the 2.5 million users that use FinancesOnline to find the best B2B solutions for their needs.
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