Computer software for business

If you are thinking about investing in software, it's important to consider these key steps that can help you choose the right solution for your business.

Assess current and future needs

You should not only review your current business requirements, but also keep in mind what your business will need in the future. Consider how software can help your business adapt and grow.

Before making a purchase, it’s wise to carry out a technology needs assessment. Developing an IT strategy can also guide your decisions regarding new business software.

Document your business processes

Use diagrams to document your business processes. For example, use boxes to represent processes and arrows to show how documents, like invoices, move between them. This will help you:

• identify areas where new software could improve processes
• explain your business needs to potential software suppliers

Shortlist software solutions

Compare your requirements against available software options. Eliminate any that don’t meet your essential requirements. From the rest, choose the one that offers the most beneficial features within your budget.

Consider additional costs

Beyond the software price, you should also factor in costs for support, future upgrades, and any necessary hardware upgrades to ensure optimal performance.

Future suitability

Ensure the software can grow with your business. For example, it should be able to handle increased workloads as your customer base expands.

Licensing

MAlways buy licensed software and keep proof of ownership, such as original CDs or a certificate of authenticity. Read more about different types of software licences for business.

Get help with assessing your software requirements

When selecting software, consider these sources of advice and support:

• professional and trade associations
• software or business consultants
• software vendors (but keep in mind they may be biased)
• tech magazines like Computer Weekly and Computing for valuable insights

For expert ICT advice in Northern Ireland, you can contact Invest NI's ICT advisers on Tel 0800 181 4422 or read about their ICT support for businesses.