THREE TIPS WHEN GETTING THE RIGHT SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Software is supposed to make it easier to run your business, but too often it is a source of frustration and expense. The proper program will help you manage cash flow, analyse sales and improve efficiency while the wrong program can throw your financial records into a tailspin that will cost you both productivity and money to recover from.

With the thousands of options to choose from, it pays to weigh your options, and to really determine which one is a right match for your type of business.

Here are 3 tips on how to choose the proper one.

Make a list of what you need and what you want

Here are mankind’s two most basic instincts: wants and (versus?) needs. “Wants” are the stuff your dreams are made of – envisioning yourself just flicking keys on a keyboard and instantly whipping out commands which will make running your business a breeze. A lot of things you want are unnecessary – mostly whims which may not be practical in the long run. Needs, on the other hand, are basic software which you know will make processes around the business run smoothly. Maybe these are the most basic, the least expensive, but they are vital to running your business – things you simply cannot survive without. To make the right decision, learn to prioritise your software “needs” over your “wants.” When things are running smoothly and you can afford it, maybe that’s when you can consider getting more of those on your “wants” list.

Determine your budget.

Calculate how much you can afford to spend, including any new hardware needed as well as first-year implementation and support. The cost of the software is important, but it is equally crucial to know what your recurring costs will be. Will you need someone to set up new hardware? Can you use a general accounting application or will you need extensive customisation? Database consulting and customisation is is in the area of the low hundreds per hour depending on the platform and the experience of the consultant. The further down your list of Wants you go, the more expensive the software implementation will be.

Get the opinion from future users (READ: your employees)

Why not, when they will be the ones who will use this software on a daily basis? The people who will use the software are often your best resource in making decisions. Ask your order entry specialist about the limitations of your current system; does invoicing take too long resulting in decreased productivity? What other features would your internal users like to have? How would they save time and increase profitability? This will quickly point to any inefficiencies in your current package and alert you to the features you should look for in potential packages. Additionally, this has the added benefit of speeding internal buy-in when you do begin implementing your new software. Employees will be much more receptive to a package that improves their workflow.