Time to Get Techy: Types of Software and Programs Your Business Can Benefit From

Technology moves quickly, and as a business, it's crucial that you keep up. Even multi-billion dollar companies have come to a sticky end after they failed to move with the times- take Blockbuster for example who became obsolete after streaming services like Netflix became popular. One of the ways you can keep your business with the times is ditching tedious, time-consuming manual methods of going about things and embracing business software. This saves you time, hassle and money (since you're not necessarily paying a human worker for additional hours). It also helps you to automate things and make you more efficient. Here are some examples of the types of software and technology available to you as a business.
CRM Software
Giving people a personal experience when they use your business is a great way to impress them and keep them happy. Customer relationship management software can help you to do this, and it gives the impression that you know your customer more personally which can make them feel valued. This software keeps their information together, meaning you can target marketing materials based on their past purchases and things they have clicked on. Even simple things like sending out a voucher on their birthday can be a nice touch and something that's so easily done with this kind of software.
Cloud Online Backup Software
Backing up to discs or computers can be very risky. A fire, flood or theft will not only wipe out your original computers, but your backups too. Online backup cloud- based software is useful as it protects the information on your network by encrypting data and sending it to secure servers. That way whatever happens to your computers or original copies, you have a safe version. If you have employees that work remotely, it also means they can access any information safely from any computer they use.
Human Relations Software
Human relations in business covers everything from hiring to firing, bullying and harassment, sick pay and everything to do with your employees. To assist the human relations team, software which includes everything from absence management to employee records. Shift and rota planning software like WhenToWork amongst other things can make your team much more efficient. There's no need for huge files of information to be kept as everything is all stored in one place. HR software can even advise on employment law, and much more. You'll still need human workers, but this kind of technology can make their job much more effective.
Legal Software
Legal advice is always going to be expensive, whether it's personal or business as you're paying an individual who is highly skilled and educated. This means that seeking legal advice can be problematic for smaller businesses due to the costs. However, you can keep these down with the use of legal software. You don't have to meet with to a lawyer every time you need legally binding documents creating, instead, the software instead will allow you to use e-signatures and it can provide legal advice too. In some cases, you will still need to hire a lawyer, but this can be great for the day to day runnings of your business.
Accounting Software
For the daily runnings of your business, accounting software can be incredibly useful. This allows you to keep track of all of your finances- what goes in, what goes out, invoicing and much more. This means that when you do need to use an accountant, for example, to do your tax return for you, everything will be quicker, therefore, cheaper for you since you’ll be paying them to work for less hours. Software is accurate meaning that you’re far less likely to end up with errors- if you underestimate the tax you need to pay you could end up with a fine or penalty, or even a prison sentence if the tax office believes it was done intentionally. It pays to be extra cautious here, and you can do that by using the right accounting software.
A Live Chat Feature
Live chat is becoming more and more widespread, and it's something that customers love. If customers or clients have questions when browsing your website, they wouldn't necessarily pick up the phone and instead could go and shop with your competitor instead. But with this they can get an immediate answer, speak to a real person without having to pick up the phone and it could be enough to sway them into making an order.
A Blogging Platform
Blogging helps you to drive more traffic to your site, plus signing up to a blogging platform is free and easy. With the help of a blog designer and hiring some freelance writers to create you engaging, dynamic content you can build a blog that shows you're legitimate and knowledgeable. It can improve the page rank of your blog in search engines, and most blogging platforms integrate nicely with most websites. Blogger and WordPress are both great blogging sites to use as a business.
Security Software
As a company owner, keeping your business safe and secure will be on the forefront of your mind. Just one case of fraud or theft could mean you're left out of pocket and your reputation is damaged- especially if things like customer's details are taken. Things like verification software exist which allow you to know the true identity of your customers. If you're the kind of business that lending money, hires out equipment or anything else, you can see exactly who will be borrowing these things, and they won't simply go missing. On top of this, business internet security software helps to make sure that you’re not being hijacked or targeted online, a
Utilise Social Media
One of the best ways to ensure the success of your business is to be smart with social media. One of the best benefits of social media is that it acts as a free source of advertising. Customers reviewing or talking about you and your products really get you name out there to others. When potential customers can see genuine and honest recommendations of others, who they can clearly see is a real person, they're much more likely to trust the company. Social media like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter are easy ways for the word to spread about your business, and they don't even require any effort or money from you to do so. Be visible on social media and your customers will do the rest.