This post is provided by Jacob Robinson.
Apps can be an excellent way for businesses to improve their workflows, increase productivity and boost employee motivation. It can be hard to narrow down the countless app options available for the business world, but it is critical to find the right fit. You should avoid investing in too many apps, as this can overwhelm your team with choices and potentially lead to missed communications between employees who prefer one app to another.
You’ll need to factor in a range of things to help you make the right decision. It can also help to test out a few apps, particularly if they offer free trials, to help you make the final choice. If you can’t find the right app, you could consider getting a bespoke option made instead.
Know What Your Business Needs
The first step toward finding the right apps for your business is understanding your business needs. You’ll also need to consider the things your company already has and does well so that you can integrate the app successfully. You have to consider your branding and perhaps the help of a Ucaas reseller to get you where you need to be. Understanding your business is an absolute must because a lack of understanding is going to put you in the wrong position when you are in front of others.
You could start by considering the business as a whole and then work your way department by department to understand the more niche requirements. Having a structure in mind can help when selecting apps, as you may need one overarching option that is supplemented by smaller and more specialized apps.
Prioritize Quality Over Cost
There are plenty of excellent free and low-cost business apps to choose from, but if you find that the option that best suits your needs is also one of the priciest, it is important to choose quality over cost. That is, unless the price is prohibitively high, though this should not be the case for most business-oriented apps. What is important is that you choose the app that will help your business become efficient and cost-effective.
Use Customizable Apps
Not all businesses are the same, and any quality business app will give users the option to customize their app to best suit their business needs. You should look for apps with customization options and use the free trial period to experiment with this function to ensure it will provide all the customization that your business needs.
Get Recommendations From Other Business Owners
Recommendations are always a great option to help you find the right choice for your business. As a business leader, you should always have a network of other leaders you can call on for advice and recommendations, and vice versa. Talk to others with similar operational needs as your business and find out which apps they find the most helpful and which to avoid.
Ask Staff For Recommendations
Your team will know what they need most to help them work most efficiently and productively. While you’re in charge of the bigger picture, individual employees will be able to give insight into the finer details of what your business needs to run effectively. Staff may also have recommendations of apps that worked well in previous jobs.
Consider Security Features And Processes
Any app you use will need to have the very best in security to ensure that your business and customer data is kept securely. There are many things to look out for that can inform your understanding of an app’s security features. One of the best things to look for is DevSecOps, which is a method of prioritizing security throughout the lifecycle of an application. Find out more about what makes a successful DevSecOps program from the experts at ForAllSecure.
Look For Apps With Free Training
One of the trickier parts of implementing any new technology or process is ensuring that everyone is confident in its use. Training is critical to ensure your whole team makes the most of the app and your business sees the benefits. Most quality business apps offer free training in the form of video tutorials to help your employees understand the benefits and capabilities of the app.
Get Feedback From Your Team
Once an app has been implemented and training has been provided, it is vital to understand how your team feel about the experience of working with the app. You could consider sending around a survey asking for opinions on the app’s functionality, useability and benefits employees have experienced. You should also ask for any criticisms they may have of the app. You could send out a request for feedback after the first day, week and month of use.
Ensure The App Integrates With Existing Tech
Like most businesses, you’ll likely already rely on various software and technology to help run the day-to-day of your business. When choosing any new technology to use, it is vital to ensure that it will integrate well with existing tools. You should read through the app description and features to ensure that it can be combined with the current systems and other apps you use. Otherwise, you might find that the app reduces productivity instead of increasing it.
Consider Developing Your Own App
If you can’t find the right app, your best solution may be to develop your own. This can be particularly beneficial for very niche or specialized businesses that need very specific functions. Building an app can be costly, but it can also be very worthwhile in terms of efficiency and productivity. It will give you complete control over what other tools to integrate and ensure that the app matches your processes perfectly.
Ask For Resources And Help
Any app developer worth their salt will provide plenty of help and information to businesses interested in their apps. The best place to start is usually on a business’s website, where many will have free resources like video tutorials on the various functions of their app. If you can’t find what you need, most businesses will also be responsive to queries and happy to help resolve any issues you might have.
Make Sure People Use It
The best app in the world is useless unless your employees actually use it. You’ll need to make sure your team knows that implementing the app is essential and encourage them to find ways to use it in their daily work. As mentioned above, training is critical to ensure employees use and get the most out of the apps you choose.
