Ways to maximize the value of your business software
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
The latest report by OpenUK reveals that an overwhelming 97% of small and large businesses across all sectors in the UK use open source software, according to The Register. The technology landscape has been changing rapidly in the last decade, with offices, particularly those in the finance and accounting departments, relying more on software than ever before. That’s because software eases business processes to the point it’s difficult to imagine how people used to manage workflows, payroll, and other tasks without the help of technology.
However, software can make work more difficult, if you don’t know how to use it correctly. With this in mind, invest time to familiarize yourself with various business software and how to maximize them regardless of whether you’re starting your food business, website development agency, or tech startup. Read on to learn a few ways you can maximize the value of business software.
Select business software wisely
The first step to maximizing the value of software in any business setting is making the right choice. Therefore, research your software options carefully and pick solutions that your business needs to succeed. The benefits of selecting the right business software range from improved productivity to enhanced customer relations, successful follow up on sales lead, and product process efficiency. For example, investing in a catalog management system enables suppliers and customers to create catalogs easily and quickly, without specialized programming.
Optimize software functionality
Too often, business owners invest a vast amount of application and focus on the basic functionalities only. However, you can make the most of business tech tools by utilizing all the functionalities they offer. First, ensure your software is up to date with the latest version. Also, familiarize yourself with the latest software updates by reading press releases and product briefs of new versions of the software.
Other ways you can leverage software functionalities include adopting existing and new features, setting clear improvement goals, and creating continuous process improvement strategies. When it comes to adopting new software features, understand how each feature functions and the benefit it offers. For instance, let’s say you’re using Microsoft Word Online to create and edit documents. Don’t dwell on the basics of typing, deleting, and re-entering text. You should learn how to uncapitalize text in Word Online without deleting and rewriting words. Uncapitalizing unwanted upper cases on Word Online documents is easy. You only need to select the text you want to edit. Go to the home tab, on the top ribbon on the app. Next, click the three dots to extend the menu and click on the change case section to select the lower case option.
Hire a software expert
Hiring a software professional is another excellent way to get more value from your business intelligence solutions. You can designate the role of software management to your in-house IT team, outsource a software expert on a contract basis, or choose a worker over at the company you decide to purchase your business apps from. Employees from software companies are more than willing to offer personalized support to ensure your tools perform efficiently.
There’s no doubt that software simplifies business processes and improves employee productivity. It also reduces operational costs and increases sales. However, to enjoy the benefits of software, you need to choose your options wisely, optimize the functionalities of software, and hire a professional to manage your business apps and tools.