4 Things Every Business Software Platform Needs

In an age of high tech business, where everything seems to be moving at a lightning fast pace, software has taken over the corporate world. The SaaS (Software as a Service) industry encompasses all types of software functionality, from live chat and help desk software to customer relationship management software. If you're looking to implement a few software platforms at your business to keep pace with competitors or stay ahead of the curve, here are a few things that every business's software needs.

Tracking and Reporting Data

The functionality of software you use for your business is more than the standard service that the software advertises. Typically, business software will provide tracking and reporting data, such as broadcast compliance logging, that will help you track your performance and the value that the software is providing for you. In order to keep tabs on the progress of your business and your success in using the software, this data can be a huge boost to your overall productivity and performance. When looking for a particular type or function of software, make sure that tracking and reporting data is included as a key function of that software.

Functionality Across Teams

Software is like a language. In order for it to be useful, multiple people from multiple perspectives have to be able to communicate through it. This is why it's imperative that the software you use for your business is able to be used across different teams within your company. Business software is where so much important work is done. In order for that work to be understood by others and become collaborative, it needs to be done on a platform that can easily be transferred across teams and understood by everyone working on that particular project. Good software is able to be used by multiple types of employees and is collaborative when projects demand multiple teams work on the same tasks. Make sure the software you use for your business has this functionality.

Transparency

Another key aspect of business software is, like other parts of a business, it's need for being transparent. This means that your employees are aware of who is working on what and at what stage each project is currently progressing. In order for everyone in your company to be on the same page and moving in the same direction, it's important that everyone is looped in on the work of fellow employees and teams. When your software is not understandable by other teams or is hard to decipher in terms of who is working on what, this creates confusion and otherwise avoidable issues that could have been solved with more transparent systems.

Ease of Use

Finally, you want software that you roll out to your employees to be relatively easy for them to pick up and use. This does not mean that the software cannot be complex. Sometimes, you need the most complex software you can get to perform essential functions for your business. It does mean, however, that your employees should be able to grasp how to use the software so that they can perform to the best of their abilities. The last thing you want when putting a new software platform to use in your business is it taking away from the skills and capabilities of your employees. When you employ the use of a new business software, you want it to help your employees get their work done efficiently and effectively. Make sure the software you choose for your business does just this instead of unnecessarily complicating things.

Tracking and reporting data, functionality across teams, transparency and ease of use are four things that every business software platform needs in order to be effective. When looking to purchase and implement a new form of business software, take the time to do your research and see if these four things are parts of that software. You and your employees will be thankful you did.