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Jobber
Jobber
Jobber is a cloud-based field service management software solution that allows small and midsize service businesses to manage field staff, provide customer support, and expand business operations either through a mobile app or a d...Read more about Jobber
NetSuite
NetSuite
FrontRunners 2023
With an integrated system that includes ERP, financials, commerce, inventory management, HR, PSA, supply chain management, CRM and more – NetSuite enables fast-growing businesses across all industries to work more effectively by a...Read more about NetSuite
Striven
Striven
FrontRunners 2023
Striven is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution suitable for many industries and organizations of all sizes. It offers features for accounting, inventory management, human resources, customer relationship mana...Read more about Striven
Practice
Practice
Streamline your entire coaching business using Practice: Get paid your way • Create products and packages • Send invoices easily • Manage subscriptions Connect multiple calendars • Integrate multiple google calendars. • Availab...Read more about Practice
Odoo
Odoo
FrontRunners 2023
Odoo is the #1 open-source integrated business apps suite. Main apps include Website Builder, eCommerce, CRM, Accounting, Project Management, Warehouse Management, Manufacturing, Human Resources, and Marketing. There is an app for...Read more about Odoo
Trello
Trello
Trello is a visual collaboration tool for planning tasks and projects. While commonly used by agile software development teams, the solution is also used in other departments such as marketing, sales, support and HR. The web-based...Read more about Trello
HoneyBook
HoneyBook
HoneyBook is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) solution designed for small businesses. The solution helps users manage business processes from inquiry through to invoicing. HoneyBook lets users manage projects, ...Read more about HoneyBook
Bitrix24
Bitrix24
FrontRunners 2023
Bitrix24 is an online workspace for small, medium, and large businesses. It features over 35 cross-integrated tools, including CRM, tasks, Kanban board, Gantt chart, messenger, video calls, file storage, workflow automation, and m...Read more about Bitrix24
Flat Glass Software
Flat Glass Software
Flat Glass Software includes Glas-Avenue, which offers dimensional and itemized pricing and helps businesses manage profitability. It includes parts that are customizable and can be grouped with other parts to complete the job. ...Read more about Flat Glass Software
Scoro
Scoro
FrontRunners 2023
Scoro is a comprehensive work management software specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of service businesses that have grown weary of dealing with disjointed systems, unpredictable workloads, and shrinking profit ma...Read more about Scoro
Jolt
Jolt
Jolt is a comprehensive digital operations platform that is available on smartphones and tablets. Jolt helps restaurants, retail, hospitality, and other businesses create accountability, enhance food safety compliance, and boost ...Read more about Jolt
Ravetree
Ravetree
Ravetree is a cloud-based project management solution with integrated resource planning, customer relationship management and time and expense tracking capabilities. The solution helps users manage project workflows, task assignme...Read more about Ravetree
Exercise.com
Exercise.com
Exercise.com is an all-in-one platform powering the next generation of fitness businesses. The Exercise.com platform includes everything you need to manage your fitness studio, gym, personal training business, or wellness center t...Read more about Exercise.com
EQUP
EQUP
EQUP is designed is to bridge the gap between the currently available solutions and the requirements of small business owners. Things that no one else offers - Inventory pooling - Free version has no feature restrictions - De...Read more about EQUP
Zuitte
Zuitte
Say goodbye to the hassle of juggling multiple apps and managing your business from various platforms. With Zuitte, you can manage over 50 powerful tools from one app and at one low monthly price. Zuitte it's a social media mana...Read more about Zuitte
Status Hero
Status Hero
Status Hero is a work communication tool that turns async check-ins and project management data into concise, insightful reports. Status Hero works with project management tools like GitHub, Jira, and Asana, and messaging...Read more about Status Hero
Cool Life CRM
Cool Life CRM
Cool Life CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) solution designed for businesses across various industries such as textiles, investment banking, food and beverages, health and wellness and more. Key features ...Read more about Cool Life CRM
Accountri
Accountri
Accountri is a cloud-based business management solution, which helps small to large organizations manage employees and contracts, track goals and monitor expenses. Key features include workflow automation, taxation, employee recog...Read more about Accountri
ProWorkflow
ProWorkflow
FrontRunners 2023
Founded in 2002 and acquired by ProActive Software Ltd in 2003, ProWorkflow is a cloud-based project management and time tracking software that caters to companies of all sizes. ProWorkflow includes all the features of a trad...Read more about ProWorkflow
Wellyx
Wellyx
Wellyx is a cloud-based business management solution designed to help gyms and fitness centers manage processes related to memberships, staff, payments, communications, leads, access control and more. The solution comes with a sch...Read more about Wellyx
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Buyers Guide
Last Updated: November 07, 2023What do you need to run a business? In the digital age, a “good business sense” no longer guarantees success. To remain competitive, many small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are adopting software to streamline operations.
There are several business management systems to choose from, designed to serve every type of user need, including specialized tools, industry specific software and products that verge on robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) suites.
We created this buyer’s guide to help you better understand how to select the right business management software for your organization.
Whether you’re looking to invest in business management software for the first time or looking to upgrade your current system, this guide can help you make a more informed purchase decision.
Here’s what we'll cover:
What Is Business Management Software?
Common Capabilities of Business Management Software
What Is Business Management Software?
Business management systems help automate the administrative, day-to-day business functions that keep your company running smoothly, such as:
Billing and invoicing
Client contact management
Employee management
Ordering and inventory management
Task and time tracking
Typically, “business management software” refers to an integrated suite that includes several separate, but related applications within one solution. However, other systems will center around specific business area, such as customer relationship management (CRM) or accounting.
If the latter is the type of business management software you’re interested in, inquire about the integration capabilities with the vendor. It’s important that any stand-alone applications or other software currently in use at your company will integrate with your business management platform. This way, you can ensure seamless data transfer between systems, offering you greater oversight and control over operations.
Common Capabilities of Business Management Software
As noted above, business management software is designed to automate the majority of day-to-day business operations. Business needs will differ by industry and the exact features of these tools can vary as well, so it’s important for prospective buyers to ensure the system they choose aligns with their organizational requirements.
For example, the needs of a retailer will differ from those of a manufacturer. As such, the retailer may need a business management system with point of sale, while the manufacturer will likely need material requirements planning (MRP).
The following are examples of common business functions that you should look for as you evaluate different systems:
Manage core financial data for general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable and bank reconciliation. Likely includes billing and invoicing and financial reports such as profit and loss, cash flow statement and balance sheet. Connect with modules for purchase orders, inventory etc. May also include additional, industry-specific features, such as fund accounting (for nonprofits). | |
Upload, store, share and back up business documents and files. Manage everything from purchase orders to client contact information to employee W-2s and performance records. | |
CRM encompasses functions including client contact management, customer service and support, help desk, field service management and more. This application is often at the center of these systems, especially for service and sales industries. | |
Manage core HR functions including benefits administration, personnel tracking and payroll. Includes workforce management capabilities such as employee scheduling and time and attendance. May also include strategic HR functions such as applicant tracking, performance review, talent management and learning management. | |
Automate processes for ordering, storing and tracking inventory. Monitor on-hand inventory balances, track raw materials and stocked items and manage lots. Features include product categorization, sales and purchase orders, electronic scanning and automatic ordering. | |
Attract new customers and visitors, build your brand, deliver promotional materials and nurture leads through the sales funnel. Features include marketing automation, lead generation and management, email marketing and social media management, resource management and analytics. | |
Track key performance indicators (KPIs) and optimize performance across all business functions. Get actionable insights, flag issues and operations that can be improved. Features include dashboards, data visualization tools, scorecarding and report writers. | |
Create and maintain employee schedules, assign workers to shifts, track attendance, manage customer service delivery and dispatch schedules for field service workers. Features include calendar management, automatic reminders and time-clock management. | |
Define, control and automate business workflows. Features include task and time tracking, automatic notifications, graphical process modeling, role-based access and reporting. |
Key Purchase Considerations
Depending on your business and industry needs, you may require additional capabilities not listed above. As such, when evaluating business management software, keep the following criteria in mind:
Deployment options. Business management software is available for both on-premise and cloud-based deployment. On-premise software is hosted in-house on the user’s servers. The business is responsible for installation and setup as well as performing ongoing maintenance and purchasing subsequent software updates.
Conversely, cloud-based software is hosted remotely, on the vendor’s servers. This means the vendor is responsible for managing maintenance, delivery and software updates. As a result, there are typically lower upfront costs associated with cloud-based software, although costs for each deployment option tend to equal out over time.
Integration requirements. While many business management systems are designed to handle the entirety of a business’s operations, you may need or want to supplement your business management software with a stand-alone application. For example, a construction firm might need estimating and takeoff software that integrates with their business management suite.
It’s always a good idea to verify integration capabilities with vendors prior to purchasing a new software. However, as your business management software will be the central system used to house all your company data, and you likely won’t replace this system nearly as often as you would other tools, it is imperative that you carefully evaluate your integration requirements during the software selection process and review these requirements with vendors.
Industry needs. There are several industry-specific business management solutions that might be a better fit for your needs than nonspecialized, off-the-shelf software. For example, NetSuite is a vendor that offers several prebuilt solutions for a variety of industries, such as wholesale distribution, retail, health care and financial services.
Retail business dashboard, in NetSuite
Professional services firms, such as a marketing agency or software development firm, are going to have more project-centered needs that other industries. These organizations will likely need project accounting modules, resource management applications and project portfolio management governance as well.
What Type of Buyer Are You?
Small businesses. Most small businesses will be well-served by a standard business management software, such as BizAutomation, that helps them manage the everyday tasks and operations to make their business more efficient. Alternatively, they can choose a solution focused on one critical area of their business, such as scheduling or marketing and sales, and integrate with standalone applications for less critical operations.
Niche industries, such as a martial arts studio or salon, might consider an industry-specific solution that caters to their unique needs, for example, managing members or appointments. Examples of these types of software include The Studio Director and MINDBODY.
Midsize and growing businesses. Midsize and growing businesses can also use most standard business management suites, such as SAP Business One, to conduct their operations.
However, as businesses grow, they’ll likely need to implement more controls over their business processes and better alignment between information and operational technologies. At this stage, they should consider investing in business process management software to help them standardize processes and workflows for multiple departments and improve operational performance. (Not to be confused with general "business managment" software, "business process management" software carries a more specific definition and set of technical requirements. Follow the link above to read our buyer's guide and learn more.)
As they continue to grow, they’ll require more than automation of day-to-day tasks and business processes and require long-term planning as well. At this stage, they might consider investing in an ERP system to help them manage their business goals.