![]() ![]() ![]() #SOFTWARE SELECTION DECISION MATRIX SOFTWARE#Try software comparison sites instead as a way of listing all the contenders. Remember though that Google’s ranking is not an indication of how good the software is! Just because the company’s marketers are good at their jobs – and can get their website at the top of Google’s results page - doesn’t mean the system will be a good fit for you! Of course, you could search Google for the type of system you need. At this point though, don’t waste time evaluating the systems, just list them all out. It’s best to put them into a spreadsheet, ready for comparing later. Start searching for relevant applicationsĪt this point, you want to create a long list of all possible software packages. Unfortunately, it is unlikely you’ll find an off-the-shelf package that hits every one of your criteria, so think now about which ones you’d be happy to compromise over. Now go through the requirements and rank them on a scale from “Fundamental” to “Nice to have”. Perhaps this includes the vendor’s roadmap for future development, current user volumes, years in business, or support response times. Record any requirements of the supplier themselves. What volumes do you currently experience? Do you expect these volumes to rise over the next 2 to 5 years? Will you need reports from the system? If so, what needs to be included? Should these be emailed to you, or presented as dashboards? provide you with a Return on Investment (ROI)? What can you afford to pay, and what is the system worth to your business? At what price would the system actually save you money – i.e. Using the work we did in step 1, now set a budget. #SOFTWARE SELECTION DECISION MATRIX WINDOWS#Do you want a cloud-based system or on-premises? Windows or Mac? Should the data be housed in a SQL Server instance, or Oracle? You get the idea. Are they going to be comfortable using a command-line tool, are they used to navigating using keyboard shortcuts, or are they mousers? These criteria are difficult to articulate, but don’t lose track of them! Think carefully and honestly about the skillset of your own team. It is easy to take things for granted at this stage, so take your time and list everything. Functional requirements – what do you need the software to do.If you find discussions getting off track, focus on the purpose of the system that you set in step 1. With your champions, you’ll want to put together a comprehensive list of requirements for the new system. These “champions” should be regular system users, be well liked and assertive enough to speak up in group discussions. Ask for a few volunteers to help you define the system requirements. It is important that everyone has a voice, but trying to involve every individual is not manageable. If you have a large team, it may be worth involving just a few “champions” for this stage. Having established why you need the software, it is time to get a bit more specific. The best way to calm those fears is to ensure that their needs make it into the requirements list. They’ll also need reassuring that the new system will actually be better than the current way of working. They will know better than anyone the problems associated with the current way of working. Bring in anyone who will be dealing with the system at this point. It is import to involve your team early on. What would a solution be worth? Can you quantify the strategic benefits of the new system, or the costs savings, or the time savings? What problems must the new solution solve? We can often break this down into three areas: You cannot be successful in your software search unless you know what you are looking for! This first step in choosing the right software tools for your business is knowing what you want the software to do. Know your objective (or “What’s the point?”) We know you can’t afford to make a mistake, in small businesses we just don’t have resources to spare, so it’s important to get it right first time.įollowing these 7 steps to software selection will help you make a good decision when choosing software for your small business! 1. Many small business owners and managers know they need a new system but are put off by the number of competing products, the amount of time needed to evaluate each one, or a fear of choosing the wrong solution. Choosing software is not a quick or easy process. ![]()
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