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A business doesn’t run itself, but with the right software, it can seem like it does.

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Jonathan Choi
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The best business software should help increase productivity, efficiency and profit, without costing an arm and a leg. In general, there are three types of business software: Productivity software, security software and communication software. Whether you own a small company or run a large enterprise, the right software could help take your business to the next level.

However, no one software fits the bill for every company. For example, while most businesses could benefit from accounting software, some software programs are designed to solve particular problems within an industry. What works for another company might not work for yours.

We’ve put together a guide, to help you figure out what software could best support your business. Read on to find out more.

What is business software?

Business software is essentially any software that is used for business purposes, and this differs significantly from business to business. An international enterprise might use an instant messaging program to help employees communicate, while that software could be entirely irrelevant for a two-person company.

The right software can help your business do the following:

  • Manage and organise teams
  • Streamline communication
  • Save time and money
  • Keep track of documents and data
  • Increase production
  • Store and back up data and files securely
  • Hire employees and freelancers efficiently
  • Market content
  • Train staff
  • Improve your website
  • Prevent mistakes

What to look for when choosing business software

The type of software that is best for you depends on the size of your business; the needs of your organisation and the specific problems your company needs to solve or automate. A excellent place to start is to ask yourself what solutions your business currently needs. For example, if you need a quicker way to optimise images for your website, spending a small amount of money on a tool that automates that process could save big dollars in the long run, as your design team can focus on creating top-quality marketing material. Many businesses require a VPN program to allow employees to access its servers securely.

Like many business decisions, the number one consideration when choosing software is the return on investment. If you can, look for software that offers either a free trial period or a free plan tier that gives you access to the core of the software before you have to pay for more. That way, you can try before you buy and make sure the program offers the solution you need.

Types of business software

Business software is a crucial aspect of making businesses run as efficiently, effectively and safely as possible. Most business software can be sorted into one of three categories: Productivity, security or communication.

Custom software vs “off-the-shelf” software

If you feel packaged or “off-the-shelf” software isn’t meeting your business’s needs, you may be interested in creating custom-built or bespoke software. Custom software might be the best solution to your problems, but it comes at a much higher cost. You need additional resources to build and maintain any custom software solution.

Type of softwareProsCons
Custom
  • Built to suit your specific needs
  • Can be modified as your business grows and changes
  • Expensive
  • Time-intensive to build
  • May require a specialist to maintain
Packaged or “off-the-shelf”
  • Low-cost options and free trials
  • Easy to use
  • Often comes with customer support
  • Might not meet your needs
  • Can have limited functionality
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Bottom line

Whether you want to produce video content for your website, create an online customer chat feature or keep track of company finances, you can find a business software solution to suit your needs. If you’re interested in increasing your business’ success, start browsing business software today.

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