Before jumping onto your search engine and typing in “best sales software,” it’s crucial to take a few steps to gain a clear understanding of what type of software will suit your business needs.
There’s an application or software system that can meet all of your needs, but there may be some that are better suited to your business, depending on your size and the products or services you sell. The size of your sales team is also something to consider when purchasing new software.
If you’re finding your everyday business activities to be inefficient, you’re already taking a step in the right direction by investing in sales software. Let’s get into some of the features and considerations you should be aware of before investing in any software.
Key Sales Software Features for Your Business
To see your business thrive, upgrading or replacing your old software and using top-of-the-line customer-relationship management (CRM) software will be your best bet. Many companies are digitizing rapidly, and if you want to maintain a competitive edge, you’ll have to consider adopting new technologies.
Below you will see five key features your sales software should have. It’s essential to consider your type of business and what kind of software will best suit your business model. No two companies are alike — a consultant may require support for third-party plugins, for example, while a retailer could benefit from a different or larger feature set.
Taking these considerations into account will better prepare you when the time comes to invest in sales software.
1. Software should seamlessly integrate with your existing systems.
If you’re looking to boost productivity and manage your sales team more effectively, it’s crucial that your new software can be easily integrated into your current digital systems. Switching between applications and software can decrease productivity and present obstacles to your sales team.
It’s distracting to toggle between multiple platforms and forces employees to adapt. Training new and existing employees on software can be time- and resource-consuming. If your new software works well with current systems, the process will be much smoother for you and your employees.
2. Software should be scalable.
Because your business needs are ever-changing, you want to invest in software that can evolve with you over time. If you’re only reaching a certain number of customers today, specific software will help you manage that. But what if you experience rapid growth? Will your software be capable of handling more?
Assess your current needs and do your best to anticipate the direction in which your business will grow. It’s best to find software that’s able to help you manage your future business needs.
3. Software should have an easy-to-use interface.
There’s a plethora of software and digital applications available to you, depending on your industry. Most businesses favor using software with a simple, clean, and minimalistic interface for their employees.
If you’re a small or medium-sized business, it’s likely that your employees will respond better to an easy-to-use interface compared to a more complex system. Simple functionality working in tandem with various features will increase productivity and the likelihood of employee adoption.
4. Software should offer data analytics.
Being able to analyze your key performance indicators is a surefire way to boost your sales productivity. Data shows what is and isn’t working for your organization.
Once you’re aware of what products aren’t selling, you’re able to make data-driven decisions to adjust and experiment with new sales strategies. Data always plays a significant role in sales, and research shows organizations that review their analytics grow more rapidly than their competitors.
5. Software should be reasonably priced.
Investing in quality sales software shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. Some software companies feel the need to charge unreasonable fees to use their services. While there are many considerations to make before purchasing software, price shouldn’t be the only deciding factor.
When looking at sales software prices and fees, you must consider the software’s value to your business. If one type of software has key features you feel are necessary to help your business thrive, then you’ll know if the price is justified. Because there’s no set price to follow, be sure you spend within your budget and make sure you’re choosing the right software to suit your needs.
These are only a few of the considerations to make before selecting sales software to improve your business processes. Ensure you and your employees are on the same page regarding new software training and explain to them how new software will open up more opportunities for them in the future.
Investing in Sales Software
Making the leap to implement sales software into your business model will certainly make your
job quite a bit easier and more manageable. However, you want to take some time to research and weigh your options before diving into the expansive world of enterprise software.
BY TECHIE MAMMA