Technology has changed the way businesses work e.g. the way businesses reach customers, potential clients and the rest in their target market, and the way workers get through their daily business activities. On the downside, it has also made the world of competition more accessible; disregarding technology’s importance may only make the keeping-up harder.
Nowadays, we have Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linked In among others that enable us to communicate and engage in our target market easier. And like these applications, there are also other kinds of software that are actually worth investing to address and improve the operational aspect of every company.
Below are kinds of software or tools your company should consider investing in:
1. Point Of Sale (POS) Software
A POS system basically automates and monitors the buying and selling transaction between the client and the company. It is run in a network consisting of computer/s and terminals, and is supported by hardware features like card payment terminals, barcode scanners, and receipt printers.
Over the years, POS systems have benefited a lot of businesses in terms of error reduction and efficiency like in the automation of many major tasks. These essentially saved them time and money in the long run. Those who have gone for advanced POS solutions were even able to track staff performance, sales volume and inventory from any location in real time. Along with these amazing features, a POS system can also produce accurate reports to assist in managerial decisions, thereby providing an easier inventory management approach and an easier tracking of revenue and profit.
It is important, however, that not all POS systems are the same. They vary in features and functionalities depending on the client’s needs because generally, in system development, software providers design their products based on the client’s business profile. Hence, if it is a retail business or a grocery store you own, more often than not, the right POS system for you is not what a restaurant or hotel technically needs.
Google will most likely give you a lot of options as you look for a good POS system. For you to make sure you get the best value of your investment, you have to know which one is right for your business.
2. Bookkeeping and Accounting Software
The potential income is the main driving force of every operating business. Thus, it is necessary that every cent spent is being properly accounted for. Unfortunately, a lot of small businesses settle for less. Many are only depending on free firmware like Excel to compute and record their cash inflows and outflows. What they failed to realize is that freeware like Excel have limited features and do not guarantee the security and integrity of their financial data. Moreover, these do not have automated backup features. That is to say that if one file incidentally gets corrupted, all the records in it are also eradicated just that easily. To prevent data loss and to ensure accuracy in financial data, do not be afraid of investing in a good accounting or bookkeeping software. The good news is a lot of financial software nowadays are made user-friendly and affordable like Wave, QuickBooks, and a lot more!
3. Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Software
For industries and other businesses whose processes are mostly done on field or are done with high risk, the use of an Environment, Health, and Safety or EHS Software to better comply with Occupational Safety and Health, and Environmental standards is highly advisable.
A lot of industries, plants, and macro businesses of today use EHS software with an aim of implementing a firmer safety and health program not only for employees but also for company visitors. The aim of every Health and Safety program is to minimize, if not completely eradicate, work-related risks and accidents especially associated with environmental standards. It is also an important step every company is required to take to improve safety in ever workplace. A good EHS software supports and strengthens the implementation of this program. For companies, small and large, to effectively operate in accordance to such standards, the EHS software stores all regulatory compliance conditions which may also cover Occupational Safety and Health. It can also assist companies in going even beyond compliance by providing a better monitoring facility for areas like performance analysis and incident management. If integrated with other business systems, the entire business process can achieve, maintain, and reap benefits from, accuracy and efficiency.
Other reasons why you should invest in an EHS software are the following:
- Identification of potential risks within the workplace is made easier.
- Standards in terms of global sustainability are upheld and practiced.
- Incident reporting and other EHS metrics are automatically generated.
- A more streamlined process is achieved, thereby making auditing procedures more reliable.
- Lastly, with an EHS software, every company is assisted and supported towards its goal of having a healthy and safety workplace.
4. Payroll System
Workers in every company are there primarily because of their salary compensation. For businesses or companies with 10 employees or up, a payroll system is already considered a must not only to protect the reputation of the company by complying with various legislations but also to boost the employees’ morale. More than the security that a payroll system can provide to the management, a payroll system makes employees feel more secured and assured that they can be paid on a timely and consistent basis, something that manual payroll likely fails to comply. An absence of such software might compromise the climate in the workplace, which may result to underperformance.
5. Customer Relationship Management System
Customers are what keeps every business running. They are every business’s lifeblood. Hence, every growth and every step that a company takes should take the customers’ interests into consideration. A good customer relationship management software makes sure customers are valued as they deserve to be. It stores and processes customer data from contact details, transaction history and accounts, up to connections which can turn into potential leads and opportunities. Depending on the CRM’s feature, it can also assist in marketing campaigns like email newsletters and a lot more.
By investing in these programs, not only you can prevent risks and significantly lessen loss of sales, you can also maximize your business’s opportunities to grow.