Right now, we’re in the middle of a wave of business technology apps that are set to transform our companies. But, as with most technologies, there’s a learning curve. Some companies adopt new apps right away and start putting them to use. But others take a little while longer to make the transition.
But with all the benefits that software offers, there really isn’t any point in businesses waiting. In fact, for small businesses, it’s likely that there’s even more of an imperative to be an early adopter. After all, software use is usually the only way that smaller firms can compete with the bigger players.
So what cool software tools are out there? And how should you focus on integrating them into your business?
Human Resources
Scaling up your business is one of the most expensive things that you have to do as you grow. It seems strange, but to grow, you often have to plow enormous amounts of money into human resources management. However, there are now tools on the market that can take away many of the traditional costs of hiring and maintaining staff.
Zenefits is a good example. The is an all-in-one piece of software that allows you to manage all aspects of employee data. You can use it to process payroll, organize holidays, set benefits and so on. What’s more, Zenefits has a high degree of customizable automation. That means that you can plug in instructions, and it will then crank out the necessary tasks. As a result, you don’t have to spend ages entering all the information you need manually.
Other apps, like BambooHR, also have their benefits. BambooHR, for instance, is renowned for its simplicity and usefulness in small business applications. Fortunately, training on both these HR apps is minimal, and you should be able to include them immediately in your business model.
Design
Many small businesses need to make beautifully produced brochures, leaflets, newsletters, and flyers. And right now, there are many great programs out there to help you do just that. Adobe, for instance, has a whole suite of programs designed to help firms create new and professional content. InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro and After Effects are all powerful applications.
Unfortunately, they’re also difficult to pick up by yourself. But fortunately, businesses can get helpful resources online. For instance, you can now Adobe resources from Training connection.
Scheduling
Many small businesses have to deal with the problem of scheduling on a daily basis. Finding a good scheduling program that actually meets your needs is tough because companies are so different.
One cool scheduling package is called Schedulista. This is an app that you can use as a standalone or embed into your corporate website. Customers can log onto your site, and see when you’ve got free slots. They can then book appointments with you, or one of your staff. Where Schedulista really shines is its ability to factor in breaks in the schedule. If a particular product takes “clean up” time, you can build this into the program.