6 Tips on How to Choose the Right Software for Your Small Business

From accounting to customer support, many processes can be streamlined with business software and modern business owners are beginning to understand that refusing to embrace the digital revolution can greatly limit your possibilities.

Using dedicated software from the very beginning can save you a lot of trouble and help you maximize resources, but once you decide that you want to invest in this area, another important decision awaits: which software should you buy? There are so many reliable developers nowadays and so many great options on the market that reviews don’t always seem to help. When you have to choose between several similar options, it all comes down to knowing your needs and refining your selection criteria.

These tips will help you narrow down your search and find out what you’re looking for.

1. Local vs. remote access

These days, you can get a lot of things done no matter the location. Whether you’re in an office building, at home, or in a coffee shop, you can be equally productive because modern business software can be accessed either remotely or on-site.

Software that offers remote access tends to be more costly, but the question is: is it worth it? Well, if you or your employees want to work from different locations, then yes, it is. For example, if you spend a lot of time on the road or meet with customers, then local access will not be enough. As more and more business processes are moving into the cloud, local software could soon become a thing of the past, but there are some areas where on-premise software is recommended, such as when you want to have more control or have advanced security requirements.

2. Balancing price and value

Financial limitations are very common for small businesses and it’s normal to want to get your money’s worth. When looking for the best software solution for your small business is to write down all your requirements on paper and then use that list to analyze the price-value ratio of each product.

The best software for your business may not always be the one that tech blogs rave about. It may not even be in the top 5 best business software, but, as long as that option offers you the functionality you need, then you shouldn’t hesitate to try it.

The market for business software is very competitive, and developers try to stay ahead of the game by adding more and more features to their products in an effort to impress clients. However, if you never use all those features, the product will not offer you value for money. To avoid overspending, choose a product that has all the features you need now and you can upgrade or change providers later.

3. Should you let employees choose their own software?

Since your employees will be the one using the software, it’s normal to ask for their input and take their point of view into account. This is especially true for businesses where the CEO isn’t familiar with the specifics of each process that requires software.

As for the degree to which you should let employees choose their own software, remember to apply common sense. Not all staff members are experts in using small business software or they might not prefer something in particular, and in this case, you don’t want to leave major decisions to them. To make the best decision, it’s wiser to talk to a software consultant company and follow their recommendations. Consultants are familiar with the needs of small businesses and can suggest the features that offer the best value and can drive business growth.

4. Out-of-the-box vs. custom-made

Out of the box software includes a series of predetermined features that you purchase and start using on the same day. You can’t make any changes to these features and if you need support using them, you’ll have to wait until someone from customer service is available. If your small business doesn’t have advanced needs and you find all the features you’re looking for in an out-of-the-box product, then this can be a great way to save money.

However, if you do have advanced needs and your ideal software would be a combination of features from several products, plus several features that are unique to your business, then you should definitely go for a custom-made solution. Although this type of software takes longer to develop, it’s the best way to ensure that all your needs are met and that you receive prompt customer support when something goes wrong.

5. Customer support

And speaking of customer support, this is an important factor to consider when choosing small business software. To maximize productivity levels, you want a product that can be used right away, with a learning curve as short as possible. Besides, if there are any bugs or issues with using the software, your employees shouldn’t waste the entire day looking for answers and solutions on forums. No matter the time zone, the software provider should be able to reply quickly and solve your problem as soon as possible. In general, the quality of the customer support team is easy to check, because you can read reviews online.

6. Integration with existing systems

Your business may be small, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to use more than one business software. In most cases, businesses need several products, for processes such as accounting, payroll, employee tracking, supply-chain management, customer support, marketing, and so on. All these systems and services need to be linked and function together like well-oiled cogs in a machine. When you add new software, you have to make sure that it can be integrated with existing systems, so that your team can collaborate and not have to do the job twice.

Wrapping up

When choosing small business software, several pillars can help you filter the best options, but the bottom line is that you should first and foremost understand your needs. Talking to a consultant can help you get insights into your core processes and the software features that can help you streamline them.