Making the right decision on what software you need for your business can be stressful at times, especially with the many software programs there are today. Here are a few tips to take into consideration the next time you go software hunting.
Recognize Needs vs. Wants
Avoid purchasing something your company doesn’t really need. You must analyze what needs your business currently has that needs to be taken care of. You also have to make not of the software programs you currently have and see what their strengths and weaknesses are.
Do Research
Once you have figured out what needs have to be taken care of, start doing research on potential software. There are many to choose from so, doing research on those that target the needs your business has makes it much easier to narrow down to what you want. Make sure to also research their security options, history and review. Keeping your data secure is top security.
Research the Vendor
Once you’ve done research on what the software can do, you want to do the same with the vendors. Find out how long they have been in business, how big their company is, what their visions and views are, and what their credentials are overall. This information is important in order to make sure they’re a good match for your business and will be around for a while.
Ask Questions
You want to ask vendors questions before you commit to software. Ask about provisions that will increase hidden fees throughout the contract, or of any that will help get you out of the contract. Most importantly, you want to ask them information on how to get your data back after if you were to leave the contract. A payment for your data is usually requested but it should not break the bank.
Do a Trial Run
Get a trial for software before making the final decision. This will help you make sure that the software really does contain everything your business needs. It may even help you figure out what functions your business does not need or use.
For more help on purchasing the right software, contact M&H for more information.
Categorised in: Computer Support, software