The Importance of Software for your Business
Before we look at how software can benefit your business, we need to define exactly what software is.
What is a Software?
It is perhaps easier to think of software in the context of hardware. Whereas hardware is the physical entity, which makes up the computer or laptop etc. Software refers to programs or applications, which enable the computer or laptop to run properly. And allows the user to perform the tasks they want to perform. Imagine a computer without Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari. You wouldn’t be able to surf the web. Or trying to work without Word, or Excel. It would make life very difficult. And render your laptop or computer completely useless!
Examples
Examples of software you use in your daily life include:
- Email, such as Outlook or Gmail
- Excel, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint
- Internet browsers, for example Safari, Google Chrome
- Operating systems, namely Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux Operating System
- Communication programs such as Skype and Zoom
- Database programs, including IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server
- Games we play on our laptops, for example Solitaire, Runescape
- Movie Player Software, such as Windows Media Player, iTunes
- Antivirus software, for instance Norton Utility, Solomon anti-virus
- Music software, for example Spotify
These a just a few examples, but there are many more. Software has become an integral part of our working and daily lives.
Software Categories
This generally falls into 2 categories. Application software and system software.
Application software is basically a program that performs a specific function. It differs from system software in that it helps the computer’s hardware to function. And provides a platform for the application software to run on.
Word, Excel and Safari are examples of application software. Windows and Android OS are examples of system software.
Which Software for your Business?
Deciding which software your business needs, is an important decision. Implementing the right software will ensure that your business runs as efficiently as possible. In this blog post we will help you to understand what options are available to you.
There are various routes you can go down, when considering, which software to choose. It is possible that what you want to do is relatively simple. There may be a customised program out there already, which will perform the whole task for you. Or, what you want to do may be simple, but you need to integrate other existing programs, such as a database or email program into it. This is another option. Alternatively, you might need an amount of customisation. In this case, you could use existing software, which with a small amount of code and adaptation, will perform the tasks you need it to. The final option is to build something from scratch, which is bespoke to your business.
Ultimately, if you get it right, then software can help your business to run more efficiently. By automating your processes and saving time. At Veksa, we are very much focused on growth and we concentrate, on anything which will facilitate growth in your business. Therefore we are big advocates of software.
How Software can Benefit your Business
Software can cut down the time it takes staff to perform a task. This in turn will cut costs as it will reduce the time staff need to spend on routine jobs and free them up. Also, it doesn’t just cut time, it allows deep analysis of your business. This helps you to concentrate on the most profitable endeavours. Digitising and automating tasks also allows for productivity and efficiency to be measured. Being able to run a report and to analyse statistics is extremely important for any business. This is usually a function built into business software. Digitising your business also cuts down on paper usage, which is not only better for the environment, but also reduces costs. Software can also be used to facilitate communication between customers and suppliers.
Where to Start
As with all campaigns, processes etc, the best place to start is with research. Feedback from both employees and departments as well as customers and partners is extremely useful. What problem/task are you looking to solve? Anyone who will be impacted by the software should be consulted. Everyone will have their own perspective and issues they need to resolve. All will provide valuable insight for the functionality needed of the software.
The next thing to consider is the cost. What’s your budget? What kind of support will be needed and how will you roll out application? Really think through the process before you begin to speak to developers or decide to buy a new product.
Working Examples
Marketing Automation and CRM Software
Sales drive every business. You can use software to ease your sales process. If you are marketing to a database, then chances are you will use marketing automation software, such as Mailchimp or Pardot. This type of software will help you to create HTML emails. As well as manage large lists of potential and existing clients. A marketing automation system will let you analyse campaigns and see, which ones are working and which ones aren’t. You can also A/B test campaigns, to really fine tune your messaging and campaigning. Marketing and sales can work together more efficiently if their systems are communicating with each other. Integrating marketing automation software with CRM software will make sure that nothing is lost in translation.
Therefore CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software is another great example of how application software can really benefit your business. There are numerous CRM options, such as Zoho, Salesforce and Microsoft 365’s CRM system. All offer slightly different functionalities and you should choose one which fits your business needs best.
If a marketing automation system and a CRM system are integrated then the sales team should be able to see, which campaigns have been opened by which clients or prospects. This gives the sales team an edge, when speaking to a client or potential customer.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and marketing automation software can be integrated to run consolidated reports also. At Veksa we are completely data driven and we cannot overstate the importance of data. It should be constantly monitored and tested and acted upon. A small tweak can make a big difference to your bottom line.
E-commerce Website & Payment Gateway Systems
If you have an e-commerce website, chances are you will need some sort of payment software integrated into your website too. There are various payment systems available. Such as Worldpay, Paypal, Amazon Pay and Shopify Payments. A payment gateway system allows you to process credit card payments, without having to store credit card details and avoids a lot of GDPR issues. This completely facilitates the smooth running of your business.
You can have various software systems working alongside each other, creating the perfect environment for your business. Your website may also need to capture email addresses for people who sign up to your mail list. A marketing automation system will capture them for you. Send them a welcome email and categorise them into the right list. Saving you time and nurturing them as potential future customers. You will then also be able to market to them and to send them offers and new product launches etc. With links to your website.
Once a customer arrives on your website, you will need an e-commerce platform with a shopping cart and stock system. This will need to integrate with your payment gateway system. If you do your own bookkeeping, then this may need to work in conjunction with your e-commerce platform.
Clearly, software is completely fundamental to the correct functioning of the scenario above. The fact that it can all work seamlessly together is also very helpful for the smooth running of the business.
Low Code Platforms
The examples above are pretty standard examples of how software could be used to help a business to function efficiently and ultimately to grow. However, your business may need a much more tailor-made solution. There is an option in-between an off the shelf software solution and a totally bespoke solution. This is known as a low-code platform. A low code platform uses out of the box functionality such as auditing and security, which can then be adapted and built on to provide a more tailor-made solution. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is Veksa’s choice of a low code platform, which can be adapted and extended to meet the needs of a specific business.
In fact, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Power Platform is entering a world known as low-code, no-code. This means that when the initial code has been initiated, then your employees can adapt the platform, using drag and drop. This allows for a totally bespoke product, which fits in with your business. To help your business run as efficiently and productively as possible.
The low code solution has many advantages over a completely bespoke solution. We have outlined them on the software page of the Veksa website. To summarise, a low code solution is quicker to develop than a totally bespoke solution. There are also less risk of errors, however it may require a bit more training to get to grips with. As we have already mentioned above, some minor adjustments are able to be done without the need for the IT provider to get involved. It generally costs less to maintain as well, as some changes can be made without outside assistance.
Your Software Journey
Veksa is here to help you on your software journey. No matter where you are in your business cycle. You can guarantee you will need software every step of the way. We can advise you and help you to implement it as well.
A start up is likely to need a basic accounting package, such as Quickbooks or Xero. If you are really strapped for cash, then there are even free packages you can use to get you started.
Marketing software is also an absolute must. Again, marketing automation solutions such as Mailchimp offer a free solution to get you started, so you can set up your account. You can then scale this, once you have started to grow your mail list.
You may want to integrate online appointment software such as Calendly, so you don’t miss any all important meetings. Again, there are free versions available, which you can start off with and then start to pay as your business grows.
No matter how small or large your budget is when you start up your business, there is software out there to help you.
Make sure it’s all Scalable
It is always worth bearing in mind your ambitions though and to make sure that what you are doing is scalable. You don’t want to have to repeat all your hard work. Lists and contacts should be able to be moved from one place to another. Or ensure that the software platforms you have built are scalable and adaptable. So they can grow along with your business.
You may start out with a minimum viable product (MVP). But have a very clear vision of where you want to take it in the future.
It also makes sense to start off your business with all the processes running smoothly. It may seem like you’re too busy to record a conversation from a particular prospect, when you are starting out. You never know though, where they may be in a year or so’s time. They may have grown their business significantly and be in a position to buy your products or services. Make sure you can facilitate a conversation by recording your previous contact with that customer.
We are fortunate to be running businesses at a time when there is so much software available to facilitate all our business processes. There is software out there for every level of business or start up. From the most basic free version of Mailchimp. To a low code platform, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, which has been adapted to suit your individual business. Or even a totally bespoke, all singing all dancing software platform, which has been totally adapted to suit your business.
Make an appointment with Veksa now, to discuss how software can help your business to streamline its processes and run more efficiently and smoothly.
Veksa also has other excellent alternatives for all the software examples listed above.
