To own and run any form of business in 2023, you’ll need a host of different software for all your business needs. The most challenging part is to identify what suits your needs best while keeping costs in mind in an incredibly competitive software market.
What’s vital is to ensure that all areas of the business are in mind and this article will break down all areas you’ll want to keep in mind to grant the business with the best fighting chance at success.
For any tech-centric business, performing adequate research for software applications and competitors is a vital point, due to the sheer competition in the sector these days. It’s important to get ahead of the curve and not be left behind. There are many lessons to be learnt from the well-known ventures in cryptocurrencies, whether it’s safeguarding your investments, looking out for new innovations, or taking safety measures to protect your data. In digital spaces like tech and crypto, things can move especially fast, and if you’re not prepared, it may be a recipe for disaster.
Communications and collaborative applications
Slack
Slack has exploded in popularity over the last couple of years and this is undoubtedly aided by the pandemic, with many employees now working remotely and a seamless collaborative experience is essential to the success of the business. Slack provides a great platform not only for communication but also offers a wide range of app integrations which includes Gmail, Outlook, Jira, and more.
Microsoft teams
Microsoft Teams is almost ideal as the perfect all-around package and provides many elements that boost its appeal for businesses of any size and works well in the favor of both users and supervisors. Due to Microsoft Office being a part of many businesses, this integration allows for a more all-in-one collaborative app.
Zoom
Zoom had one of the quickest and sharpest rises to the top seen in any industry and this is undoubtedly due to the pandemic and the work-from-home trend set off in response. While Zoom offers a fantastic video conferencing platform, it doesn’t necessarily provide more in terms of features than Slack or Teams. The platform is more suited to start-ups and businesses that don’t rely heavily on content collaboration.
Project Management Software
Trello
Trello is a flexible and aesthetically pleasing project management tool that encourages communication and transparency. Teams of different sizes and sectors can use it thanks to its connectors and ease of access and use. However, due to its simplicity, it might not be suitable for usage in more complicated projects, and mastering sophisticated features might take more effort.
Jira
Jira is a potent project management application praised for its thorough issue tracking, agile project management abilities, and customization possibilities. Through its network of apps, it offers flexibility, integration potential, and extensibility. Before using Jira for project management, however, non-technical users may need to go through a learning curve, and the administration and cost issues should be taken into account.
Monday
Monday.com provides a visually appealing and customizable platform for project management and collaboration. The customization for workflows, automation capabilities, and integration options make it optimal for various teams and industries. However, there may be a learning curve for advanced features, and the pricing structure and resource management capabilities should be considered when evaluating Monday.com as a project management solution.
Security software
Using antivirus software for a business offers essential benefits such as malware protection, real-time threat detection, improved system performance, and enhanced data security. However, companies should be aware of potential problems like false positives, resource usage, compatibility concerns, the changing threat landscape, and the requirement for a thorough security strategy beyond antivirus software.
The market leaders in this sector have been the same for a long time and using Norton, McAfee, Sophos, and Kaspersky all provide ample protection from harmful data.
Aside from AntiVirus software, there are increased measures and tools to ensure your company is keeping as safe as possible. Using 2-factor authentication should be a given, especially knowing that most software support this and only requires a simple app on your phone to confirm your login to any system.
VPN
Using a VPN has become very common and with various options like NordVPN and even the VPN system located on McAfee and other AntiVirus software such as Avast, there’s no reason to not take advantage of this. Knowing that many of these types of software companies offer business packages that drastically reduce the price per head, the benefits far outweigh the reasons for not having this for each employee.
Password Managers
One of the most common ways user systems are hacked is through the passwords people use, due to the simple fact that despite awareness of this, people continue using generic passwords and passwords that are used across various websites. Data leaks are rife and using a password manager such as LastPass promotes using randomised passwords that are safe and accessible should you ever forget.
CRM tools
When choosing a CRM software tool, consider factors such as a clean and easy-to-navigate user interface, scalability, integration capabilities, pricing, and customer support. Additionally, align the features and functionality of the CRM tool with your business needs and goals to select the best CRM software that fits your organization. Some standout options are SalesForce, HubSpot, and Zoho.
