As a business owner, you want to find software solutions that work overtime for your business, streamline processes, and are cost-effective and efficient. However, finding such software requires a little research and a lot of trial and error. This five-step guide will help you scour the marketplace for a software solution that is tailored for your business.
Get Your Team Together
Every business has stakeholders or people who will have a say in the software you choose. Examples of stakeholders include managers, the security team, the tech team, and the sales team. Get everyone together and decide what is important to them, what you need to account for, and what kind of tools and features would work for them. It’s also a good idea to discuss how new software will impact your customers. They may not be in the meeting with you but they’re stakeholders in their own right. You need to find a solution that works for everyone.
Evaluate Your Needs
Identify weak points in the software you’re currently using or in your operations in general. This is a good way of determining what features you want from your new software solution and will make the process of finding one a lot easier.
Start the Hunt
There are a variety of platforms you can use to find the software solution you want. Popular search engines like Google and Bing are a good place to start but you should also check out software comparison sites, buyers guides, and software and tech publications. Keep an eye out for customer reviews and feedback. This will end up guiding your purchase. You could also talk to peers and companies in the same space as you, to find out what works for them.
Try the Demo Before Buying
After you contact the vendors you are interested in, try the demo version of the software. This will alert you to kinks you might not have considered before. Feel free to try multiple demos and trial versions and pace them out so that you can evaluate them better. Create a feedback loop with your team and stakeholders and maintain a record of what worked and what didn’t.
