(Newswire.net — January 2, 2021) — There are many reasons business owners choose not to upgrade their business software or services on a regular basis. Chief among them are fears concerning service stoppage, meaning that businesses first and foremost are concerned with gaps in meeting client needs. And gaps in meeting client needs means less money lining company pockets.
Popular perception of technological transitions suggests that the public is not confident that technology transfers ever go smoothly. So, rather than risk alienating staff or annoying clients, business owners choose to stick with the same, outdated solutions that they have always turned to. Sure, they may be clunky and inefficient, but they are a better alternative than to plunging into the unknown.
All in all, the theory is: if it’s not broken, why fix it? (Even if it’s just barely not broken.)
However, the landscape of business is changing. Your enterprise cannot afford to fall behind in the times. Something as simple as long processing times can make the difference between losing a sale and cultivating a loyal customer.
Successful implementation of new processes in an existing business requires technological know-how, great organization, and a tight-knit team ready to buckle down so that the transition goes smoothly. Plus, you will want to make sure you are transitioning to reliable and long-term software solutions like Microsoft Business Software that can adapt with your business’ evolving needs.
After all, you do not want all of your stress to be in vain, so making sure your software is not a dud beforehand is a no brainer.
Here are 4 tips for implementing new business software into the infrastructure of a growing business.
Choosing an Enterprise Software
When it comes to choosing your next business software, the pressure is on. For good reason, too! Your decision as to which business management software company you work with will impact the success of your business in the long term, so choose carefully.
Business software is a term which encompasses a wide variety of different products. These include applications, software, and other technology that helps a business perform daily operations or executive business strategies.
For example, an automated marketing campaign and electronic medical records software are both considered enterprise software. However, they are clearly products with two entirely different markets. So you can see why there are so many options to be considered when you start exploring available business software options.
If you are not the most technologically savvy person but are still tasked with researching software solutions for your enterprise, you can always turn to professional software consulting services like the Admiral Consulting Group.
A professional software consultant can help you pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of existing software. Then, they will pull from their vast knowledge of the business software industry to find a program that meets your enterprise’s needs.
Having an unattached third party audit your company’s software needs is a great asset to tap into. The insight you glean from them can serve your business well for years to come, so a professional software consultation is well worth the initial investment.
Make it a Team Effort
While you may have tapped seasoned professionals to vet your business software candidates, you still need to ensure that your colleagues are on board with the transition.
If you are a small business owner, then you cannot rely on vast marketing teams or information technology departments the size of entire companies. Your main indicator of performance will be by surveying your employees in their day-to-day interactions with the new software.
You should be working with your team to choose a software that meets their individualized needs as best as it can without bloating the software. Certain departments will have different problems with a business software that other departments might never experience, due to differing job responsibilities. For example, what a billing department in a medical office needs is very different from what the vaccine coordinator needs from their shared electronic medical records program.
Ideally the chosen software will meet the needs of all your varying departments, but you as a leader should be prepared for the inevitability that not everyone will be satisfied with the choice. The best way to keep your team on board is to enlist them at every stage of the transition, even if that enlistment is as simple as asking for their opinion.
Business Basics
When you are vetting potential candidates for your enterprise’s next business software, there are some things you should look out for. After all, business software integrates itself intimately with the day-to-day operations of your business. When a custom piece of technology touches all aspects of your company’s existence—from bookkeeping to invoicing to client contact information—you will want to make sure it is backed up by a company you can rely on.
That means you should test the robustness of your chosen software company’s customer service long before you write the first check. We can’t all be tech professionals, and even if you use a software consultant initially you will eventually need to call customer service. When that happens, you want to know that your time won’t be wasted with a 40 minute hold time and no answers.
Similarly, you do opt to see a software consultant firm, ask about their deployment strategy and their follow up policy. Will they ensure successful deployment months after release? How often (if ever) will they be available to answer questions and provide additional support to your enterprise?
Another question to ask your point of contacts regarding your potential software is scalability. Does it have the potential to grow with your business?