How often do you wake up and look forward to having an average to below-average day? When you’re seeking out an electrician for your new family home or looking for a mechanic for your car do you say, “Meh, good enough?”
No, you seek out the best person for the job to avoid your home and car catching fire. If you don’t take that lackadaisical attitude with your daily life, why would you do it with your small business software solutions?
In the same way, you deserve the best, and so does your business. Make sure you’re not shorting your business when it comes to the solution software you’re using.
I understand that sometimes you just need basic tools to fix an immediate issue and time to browse isn’t on your side, but settling can still cost you in the long run.
Take the time to examine your options to ensure you’re making the best move for your business instead of settling.
Only 27% of small businesses report finding their “great match” when searching for software.
—Capterra
Uncertain of what sets good software apart from great software? Here are four things to take note of during your search.
Great Software Solutions Picks Up the Slack
Your time is valuable and, when you’re running your business, your time is also scarce. The need to cut ties with redundant and complex steps is actually what drives companies to seek out software solution for their business.
Choosing to streamline operations enhances productivity and profits while reducing errors and costs. Ask yourself:
- What’s my objective? Are you looking to market your business without manually emailing? Would you like to better manage accounts receivable? There are tools to automate everything so be sure you’re going with software that checks off your needs.
- Will this integrate with my current systems? Cohesiveness is vital when choosing software. If you find the answer is no, check for third-party, back-end systems to help make that integration possible.
- How easy is it to use? While you should expect a learning curve, a tool that’s too difficult can cause a lack of buy-in from your team and cost you time. Seek out software that is intuitive and offers free support.
Great Software Grows as the Business Grows
While good software gets the job done for the moment, great software plans to get the job done for the long term. It’s easy to fall into the idea that out-of-the-box software will work for your business, but the truth is that when making that purchase you can end up throwing away money.
When you’re starting out, there may be features that go unused due to your business just not being at that level yet, such as paid ads or payroll. If you’re paying for services you’re not using, those unused features are dollars down the drain.
On the opposite end, if you’re a business that’s experiencing rapid growth, you may find the out-of-the-box software you chose is running you dry with costly add-ons to accommodate your business. Those could include adding more users or sending more than the allotted number of emails.
You may find that opting for a cloud-based software solution offers the space to easily flex the features you need as you scale your business. The goal is to ensure there are little to no growing pains.
Great Software Creates a Secure Environment
Would you leave the doors of your business unlocked at the end of the day? Choosing software at random can be just as dangerous for your company. While business owners recognize they want to avoid security breaches, they aren’t always vigilant.
They assume that because they’re a small business, cybercriminals won’t find them — and they’re wrong.
Whether it’s documents, personal data or financial information, cybercriminals are working overtime to identify your company’s vulnerabilities and breach your data every day.
And while good software will provide password protection, great software will go beyond that and:
- Meet cloud software security standards
- Follow HIPAA requirements
- Ensure the support team follows compliant privacy standards
In order to protect yourself and your customers from cybercrime, it is crucial to do your due diligence when assessing vendors.
During the discovery call with the new company (yes, you should hop on a recorded call to get real answers) ask the representative:
- Is there a dedicated software security team?
- How often are the standard of security assessed?
- What measures are taken to protect data?
- What protocols are in place in the event of an attack?
Great Software Supports Your Business
I’ll let you in on a secret — what sets a good software solution from a great one is not always the technology behind the software. Consider the support you’ll receive.
When there is a glitch in the system, has support sent out an email to alert you? Or have they posted a banner onto the system as a notice?
If you’re struggling with a feature, is someone available to support you, or are you stuck waiting until the next business day?
Partnering with a business that supports you is important because even a short amount of downtime can cost your business big time. A resource like G2 is a great way to see what users say about the software you’re considering.
Choosing a small business software solution offers a way to simplify, streamline and systematize critical business processes. Taking the time to select the right solution for your business ensures you get the most out of your investment.
