5 Tools Your Small Business Should Be Using

Starting your own business is among the most challenging things that anyone can do, and you’ll need all the help you can get. Of course, getting your business running is just the first step. You also need to maintain it, and roughly 65% of businesses fail within their first 10 years. This is likely an intimidating number, but don’t let it scare you away from pursuing your business ideas.

Now is actually a great time to become an entrepreneur, thanks to all of the software available to assist with running your business. Whether you’re just starting out, or are in the midst of a digital transformation, here are some excellent tools your business should use.

Wave

A lack of capital is one of the most common reasons for businesses to fail, so it’s hard to overstate the importance of having a reliable accounting department to keep track of your money. Of course, if you’re a new startup, you might not have the money to hire accountants or even purchase premium software. Fortunately, Wave Apps is a free solution that can help you track expenses, create invoices, run payroll, manage payment solutions, and more.

 

Configure One

If your business sells configurable products, (meaning complex products with customization options,) then you need ConfigureOne. This CPQ software lets your customers customize products and see visualizations of their chosen options in real-time. Administrators can easily set configuration rules for each option in the product configurator. Automated pricing is updated for every possible version of your customizable products, and you can set up multi-currency pricing for worldwide sales. You can even speed up the quoting process by creating the necessary documents, with your brand and corporate identity, in seconds.

Best of all, Configure One’s CPQ solution can easily integrate with whatever software you’re already running, including your CRM system.

 

Bright Pattern

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Speaking of CRM, you’ll need a powerful solution to provide the best customer support possible. Visit www.brightpattern.com to see their cloud contact center solution with true omnichannel capabilities. While many call center solutions these days let customers contact agents through multiple digital channels (email, text, SMS, etc.) separately, true omnichannel conversations grant the ability for customers to seamlessly switch between communication channels, all while staying in contact with the same agent. This saves everyone time and makes for a unique and memorable customer experience.

The simplicity of the platform also boosts agent productivity thanks to a convenient unified agent desktop, that lets your agents easily keep track of all conversations across all channels.

 

Slack

Communication is key for a business of any size, and you can bring your teams together conveniently and securely with Slack channels. If you’re a small team, you may want everyone in the same channel, but as you expand to a midsize, or even enterprise, business, you’ll still be able to easily connect with your marketing team, accountants, customer service representatives, and all your other team members after organizing them into their own respective channels. Everyone in the same channel sees all the messages as they’re sent, so it’s a great way for everyone to stay updated. Like all the best tools, Slack also integrates easily with other apps.

 

BambooHR

No business runs without employees, and you’ll need reliable professional services to find the best. With the BambooHR applicant track system, you can find the most qualified candidates for your job postings, then move them through the hiring process efficiently, and at a fraction of the time it would usually take— all whilst offering a great candidate experience. E-signatures help save time and resources, and you can automatically set up welcome materials for your new employees. With the mobile app, you’ll have full access to all functions and information, anywhere, and at any time.

Running a business is never easy, but equipping yourself with the right tools gives you the best chance at success.

Further reading for business owners:
– Learn how social media marketing can benefit your business
– Check you have the necessary insurance cover in place
– Outsourcing tips for small businesses


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