With the rise of the internet, more and more business is taking place online. Computers are no longer optional for even the smallest companies. Nowadays, it’s important for every business to have a website and online way to interact with customers. It’s just as important that the company has an internal network and infrastructure to facilitate inter-office communications.
Enterprise software is also vital to the modern business world. Whether it’s an online shopping cart and payment system or a program designed to automate much of the paperwork associated with business, specially designed software is a staple in every modern company. Part of your job as a business owner or manager is finding the right tools that can help your business. Enterprise software can improve your company’s efficiency and functionality as long as it is chosen and implemented correctly.
Figuring Out Your Software Needs
The first part of selecting the correct enterprise software is determining what kind of capabilities your business requires. If your company sells products, you may need an online shopping setup, including a storefront, product listings, virtual shopping cart, and payment processing software. You may also need a customer relationship management program. This helps analyze your company’s interactions with customers to find ways to improve retention and increase sales.
Another branch of enterprise software relates to internal human resources. This can encompass everything from recruitment initiatives to designing benefits packages to training. Promotions and career advancement are other important areas. There are many different options for enterprise software designed to make human resources management easier and more streamlined.
Some examples of enterprise software are useful beyond a single company. Software designed to automate forms, such as DocuSign, is far ranging in the business world. With this type of enterprise software, users come from within the company, the customer base, other businesses in the same industry, and even non-business organizations such as educational institutions. Forms are part of every business as are legal transactions and a broad-ranging software that automates some of the processes is useful in every sector of the economy.
It’s important to remember that while enterprise software is extremely useful for businesses, no one software can meet all of your business’ requirements. You’ll most likely have to choose several different software packages to provide unique capabilities. When you are structuring your software requirements, it’s vital to work with experts to know what reasonable expectations are for certain software and how many different types of software you might need for your company.
Choosing the Right Software
Once you have a complete set of requirements that is well-defined and thoroughly explained, it’s time to shop for the right enterprise software. Usually, this involves talking with several different vendors, listening to their pitches, and determining which one is right for your business. One important thing to remember during this step is to retain control of the vendors and their pitches, as a good sales pitch can distract from the capabilities your business truly needs. It’s vital to balance your company’s requirements with the price.
It may be beneficial to hire a consultant to help with this process. If your business has personnel familiar with the enterprise software market and able to help during the decision that is great. However, many companies don’t have such expertise in house. The software market can be complex and confusing, and having an expert on your side can be extremely beneficial during the process. Choosing to hire a consultant can help streamline the decision process and also protect you from overspending on unnecessary capabilities or choosing a less-than-reliable vendor.
Keep Up With the Current News
Another part of successfully managing your company’s enterprise software is keeping a close eye on the software market and related news. For example, when the ESIGN (Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce) Act was signed, it was very important to understand the impact. The law required that digital signatures be accepted as valid, and companies that recognized the significance of this early on were ready to adapt to this new environment.
A more recent example was explained in the keynote speech given by CEO Keith Krach about DocuSign’s partnership with several large international corporations. This news is important not only as an indication of DocuSign’s success but as an example of how large companies are incorporating digital signatures. Keeping up with the current business environment and major policy changes is important for any business owner so he doesn’t risk his company being left behind.
Enterprise software is an important addition for companies in any economic sector. This specialized type of software is specifically designed to meet an organization’s needs rather than just those of the individual user. By adopting the right enterprise software, your business can increase capability and drastically improve efficiency.
It’s easier to choose the right software when you have a well-researched and documented list of your company’s requirements. You can research vendors and their options and choose the best one for your business. Another aspect is keeping up-to-date on new changes and advancements in the enterprise software market so you are ready to incorporate the latest technology.
