Software for All Types of Businesses

In these challenging economic times, what can be done to boost the performance of small businesses? The evidence shows that small and medium businesses (SMBs) are the economy’s lifeblood. According to the SBA Office of Advocacy, small businesses make up over 99.7% of businesses, employ half the total workforce, and account for the vast majority of new jobs created in the past decade. What if we could boost the productivity of the estimated 65 million small businesses worldwide?

Think of your own business: imagine if you could speed up time-consuming or repetitive tasks, get better insights into your business, bring new products to market faster, and help your sales force reach your target customers more effectively.

Well, the good news is you can! By finding the right software, your business can achieve a dramatic improvement in its performance. And that’s good for everyone…

The role of business software

The best way to think about software is in terms of your business objectives. Business must lead IT, not the other way around.  Ask yourself, what are the most important activities in your business? What are the challenges and frustrations you face in these areas? Where are the opportunities to improve your speed, cost, and quality? 

Once you have your business needs clearly in mind, it’s time to think about the role of technology in enabling better performance. As you look at your options, it becomes clear that software is one of the most important and powerful types of business technology available. 

The right software helps your business by improving the quality and flow of information, which in turn boosts both efficiency and effectiveness.  Software can give you a better picture of where your money is going, who your customers are, how much time is being spent where, which activities are giving the best results, and many other such insights. And it helps this information flow quickly to where it is needed: for example, it can help frontline staff provide better customer service, enable people in the field to respond to situations, help factory workers optimise a process, and give managers the insights needed for effective decisions.

Types of business software

There are many different types of business software available, ranging from generic solutions that apply across almost any business through to so-called ‘vertical market’ solutions that are designed for a particular industry or function.  It can also be useful to distinguish standalone or separate software (more often used by small business) from solutions that integrate a range of modules into a combined software package. 

Popular types of business software include:
  • Accounting and recordkeeping software
  • Customer relationship management (CRM) software
  • E-commerce and email marketing software
  • Document management software
  • Enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business management software
  • Office productivity software
  • Project management software
  • Security and database management software
  • Supply chain management (SCM) software
  • Timesheet and expense management software
  • …and many others

When vertical market solutions are considered, the range of available software expands even more to include such applications as livestock recordkeeping for cattle farmers, computer-aided-design (CAD) for structural engineers, press release management software for PR professionals, case management software for lawyers, and many hundreds of other specialist software applications.

How to find software that suits your business

Regardless of your industry, size, or specific situation there is almost certainly a product out there that’s right for you. The challenge is finding that ideal choice amongst the tens of thousands of software packages on the market.

That’s where Software Shortlist comes in. We aim to help you find the right software for your business.

1. Review packs: Purchase independent reviews of popular software types, including accounting, timesheets, livestock management, and email marketing.

2. Directory: Browse our extensive software directory for free and explore your options

3. Online comparisons: Take a free, online assessment of your needs and be automatically matched with relevant solutions

4. Get A Shortlist: Free referral service that matches you with a shortlist of relevant providers. Simply submit your requirements and then, after a short telephone call to clarify any details, we use our extensive knowledge and networks to connect you with quality solutions that meet your requirements.
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