Whether you're looking for an office tool for point cloud processing, productive field-to-finish solution, or another software tool, more solutions exist right now than ever before. But how do you determine the best software for your business? Follow these four easy steps:
Put together a plan
Review your current processes and find areas for potential improvement. Address any limitations you find necessary. Speak to professionals in your field and find out what software packages they use. Read articles and attend trade shows to get an idea of the ever-changing market and the guidelines you need to take to prepare for the future. Then, create a simple plan addressing the following:
- The person who will devote time to this evaluation
- Your budget
- Your timeline
- The person who will make the final decision
Focus on your needs
Unfortunately, when it comes to software, there is no one solution that'll meet all your requirements. Every software solution has trade-offs, and sometimes, you may need multiple solutions from different developers to suit your needs. It is important to prioritize your business needs and determine which features you can't compromise on.
Shortlist a few software vendors
Research and draw up a list of vendors that can provide the services you need. Send them your requirements and ensure that they completely understand what you need. Ask for a demo and see how their solution addresses all your requirements. Once this is done, you should have two or three vendors and compare their software packages. Ask for references of customers who have similar requirements. You can also test the product in your company and environment and conduct a full evaluation testing.
Take a decision
Once you've found the software solution that best suits your requirements, decide what you exactly need, including the maintenance contracts, training, number of copies of the software, and ask for a quote. Negotiate the price if you'd like to, but be professional about it. Also, make sure that you're buying the software product because it provides solutions and not because the salesperson has made you promises.
Using the right software can help you unlock your true potential. Spend some time to get it right, and your investment will pay dividends in higher productivity and expanded capabilities.
