5 Reasons You Need to Unify Your Company’s Software
We’ve all heard about the tech billionaire who got their start in their garage- or sometimes, their grandparent’s garage! It seems like some of the biggest companies in the world got their start this way, including Apple. Although the garage might be a fine place to hatch an idea or begin a fledgling company, the one thing in common with all of these future successes is that they eventually outgrow their humble beginnings.
Company software is often the same way. Basic, off the shelf office software is enough to get a simple job done at the beginning of a company’s lifecycle, but eventually most companies outgrow it- some of them don’t even realise it until they take a hit to their bottom line. Whether a company is taking on more responsibility, has more employees, or simply needs to become more efficient, software unification could be the answer.
1. Reduce the effects of human error
One of the biggest problems with using multiple different traditional software platforms is the increase in human error. The average data entry human error rate is 6.5%. This rate will only increase when employees are working to migrate data manually across different platforms- whether it is from an email, a printout, or a spreadsheet.
By utilizing an integrated software system, there will be far fewer chances to make these mistakes because there will be less data manually input into different programs. Instead, everything is input once into the right system, where it is accessible to all staff.
2. Big data and forecasting
Big data has become an industry of its own, and for good reason. It has the potential to transform the way companies do business in a number of different industries. You don’t need some kind of specialized big data software to get your own data, either. In fact, simply having a unified software solution is enough to provide your company with big data ready to be analyzed and put to good use.
According to CIO Insight, 65% of global executives and senior decision-makers surveyed believed that their companies would be in danger of becoming irrelevant or falling behind the competition if they didn’t utilize big data properly. In order to stay ahead of the competition, your company needs to be utilizing the data created by having a centralized system.
Think of it this way: if your company is using a multitude of different software platforms and options, it will be much more difficult to develop a cohesive picture of what is going on. If all data is entered through one program, however, it is possible to actually automate the analysis of this data with a few clicks. This will make current and future projections much easier to develop.
3. Better accountability
One of the biggest advantages of having a unified system is the complete real-time visibility that it offers project managers. Rather than having to track down some spreadsheets in a hidden folder on an employee’s desktop, projects get updated in a centralized location. If there are mistakes or projects are not getting done, you can find out immediately instead of waiting for a deadline to go missed. This goes for all members of a team- not just the managers. It’s the best way to make sure everyone is doing their part.
An integrated system isn’t just good for making sure people aren’t slacking, either. In fact, it’s a great method of rewarding those who deserve it instead of those who don’t. According to Dresser Associates, only 5% of organizations report having the managerial capability to grow people in their jobs. An integrated system can make it much easier to see the people who are doing their job well and who aren’t.
4. Greater employee collaboration
Many employees that don’t have a corporate software solution have to rely on the old standby of email, edit, email, wait, repeat. It’s an inefficient system of working together that results in more errors and less productivity.
Collaboration tools included in an integrated system, however have the power to cut email volume by 30% and make it 33% faster for teams drafting documents- just by switching. According to a study, 97% of businesses using similar software believed they could service more clients.
5. Complete scalability
Jay M. Desai, a co-founder of Knightsbridge Solutions LLC, claims that “scalability and performance can’t be done as an afterthought.” He goes on to claim that scalability needs to be focused on from the beginning of the building of a system. With off-the-shelf solutions, scalability is rarely at the forefront of their advantages.
With an integrated custom software solution, though, scalability is one of the greatest assets. Connection to the cloud allows for less physical computing power on site- this way, businesses can pay for power when they need it and cut it when they don’t.
Integrated software is designed to make your business more efficient and more effective, no matter what your industry is. After these advantages are installed, your company is sure to grow.