Reno, Nevada-based Nancy has decided to give web collaboration software a try for her online pottery store. Having several contacts outside the state who resell her pottery products, she feels that a web collaboration software will significantly help her small business, maximize the revenues of her micro enterprise, and improve output from her staff. That said, she doesn’t know much on how to pick a web collaboration software solution, much less know what is the best collaboration software programs for her business.
“Hello! I have been reading reviews and checked several comparison articles to get an inkling on web collaboration software. To be honest, I have a slight idea but I am not that confident to invest in a collaboration product with what I know. Can you tell me how do experts choose their web collaboration software platforms? What do they look for? What is their secret in making their choice? Your insight in this matter will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!”
Hi Nancy! I would start off by saying that there is no fixed formula in picking the best web collaboration software for your business. Each business endeavor may have common needs when it comes to business applications and cloud hosted software, but enterprises have varying differences from each others in terms of goals. My take is that you list down the goals of your small business and build your system from there.
That said, I have gathered several tips from from someone who knows web collaboration software operations like the back of their hands and here are three of the best recommendations I have gathered.
#1 Figure out which web collaboration software apps work best for your business.
When it comes to choosing a web collaboration software package, you got tons of options. One way of cutting down potential choices is to determine the business scenarios that require collaboration. Laura S. Quinn of IdealWare.org writes that comparing options is one of the quickest way to filter down your list. Do you prefer a solution that allows for presentation and informal communication? Would you go for a software program that boosts information and content sharing? Know what your business needs and build a system around those needs.
#2 Determine whether your setup is a short-term or a long-term arrangement.
Quinn states that you should also include the duration of the project in picking a web collaboration software solution. Some software solutions are great for the short run but for business endeavors that could go for months to years, a more sophisticated setup may be ideal. Quinn says that such systems have more features and bring that “more structured functionality to help team members work together effectively.”
#3 Ease of setup and ease of use should be paramount.
You want things to be easy for you and your team, which is why you should go for a software collaboration package that boasts a user-friendliness as a main trait. Quinn says that even the most advanced setup should present an easy learning experience for participants. Some systems may require training but it should not be a harrowing activity, rather a speedy process to help them acquaint with the product’s features and functionalities.
Quinn has provided lots of interesting tips on how to pick a web collaboration software and they are worth checking out. Reading several articles that review and compare top software solutions and vendors will also give you great insight on picking the best platform for your business. Happy hunting!
P.S. For further reading on collaboration software, I recommend the following helpful guides: 3 highly recommended collaboration software for small business; good cloud based collaboration software; and using enterprise collaboration software.
Why is FinancesOnline free?
Leave a comment!