Software Selection for Your Business

How to Choose the Right
Software for Your Business
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE
SOFTWARE SELECTION FOR SMEs
ONLINE WEBINAR: August 2010

What to expect from today’s webinar…

1. Why you need the right software for your business

2. Common problems in software selection

3. Our 5 step methodology for choosing software

4. Practical examples and case studies

5. Next steps

Online Webinar: How to Choose the Right Software for Your Business

www.softwareshortlist.com

Why do you need the right software for your business?

Increase sales
Improve customer service
Streamline processes
Engage your workforce
Make better decisions
Share knowledge
Reduce costs


Common problems with SMB software selection

All too hard. Keep using Defer or postpone. Good
inefficient manual processes, intentions but never quite get
work-arounds & legacy systems around to making a decision.

Leap of faith. No systematic Reinvent the wheel. Build a
approach, rely on referral, google custom solution despite 100+
search, or prior experience alternatives on the market.



Typical concerns people face when choosing software

 Risk of getting it wrong
 Unsure where to start or how to go about it
 Overwhelming number of options
 Unfamiliar IT or software jargon
 Don’t know how to evaluate properly
 Worried about process of recommending to boss
 Possibility of missing out on the best option



The software selection balancing act…

Simplistic & shallow Complex & unwieldy
Very easy to follow but Very thorough methods
ignores critical steps and but too time consuming &
may lead to poor decisions require specialist IT skills

Practical & effective
Helps SMBs consider the
key issues and make an
informed & timely decision



Our approach to software selection for SMBs
1
UNDERSTAND Software must deliver real business outcomes. Start by
NEEDS understanding which outcomes you are looking for.

2
DEFINE Translate your business needs identified above into specific
REQUIREMENTS software requirements.

3
IDENTIFY Identify all available software options that are relevant to your
SOFTWARE requirements and should be considered

4
SHORTLIST Filter the list of available options down to a manageable shortlist
OPTIONS to consider in more detail

5
EVALUATE & Investigate your shortlisted options in detail – including a trial or
DECIDE demo – and evaluate & compare to arrive at a final decision



Step 1: Understand your business needs
Common mistakes:
 IT as a solution looking for a problem
 Solving the wrong problem
 Unclear what success looks like

Can you answer the following?
 What is the business need and why does it matter?
 How will software help address this need?
 What other changes (e.g. people or process) will be required?
 What is your budget and timeframe?
 Are there any historical, cultural or other issues to consider?



Step 2: Define your software requirements
• Weiger’s 10 criteria for software requirements
Complete Necessary Verifiable Traceable
Correct Prioritized Consistent
Feasible Unambiguous Modifiable

• Some things we suggest thinking about:
– Scope: stand-alone system or integrated
– Platform: in-house vs hosted
– Features: what is must have vs nice to have?
– Benefits: e.g. ease of use vs scalability, etc
– Process: how it ties into business processes



Step 3: Identify available software



Step 4: Shortlist the best options

PRODUCT PRODUCT PRODUCT
X Y Z

 
Integrates with MYOB

 
Exports CSV files

  
Online access

 
<$1000

 
Multi-user



Step 5: Evaluate and decide



Example #1: Online database system for consulting firm
Good control over user
Unlimited applications (e.g. Define tabs for each Publish own custom access and
Mark et Insights, etc) element of company help guides permissions
framework

Re-brand app
(including
logo in
header) Customise
quick link s
and page
layout
Generates a
lik ely reports Add modules
automatically to “section
home pages”,
including rich
Add and save text, common
own reports reports, etc

Useful “help tips” relevant to
the specific page or context



Example #2: Website CMS for psychology test company



Example #3: Scanning solution for steel manufacturer
Automatic
steel slitting Slit coils bound
lines and labeled

Work Order
Completions Updates
done on back -end
terminals on ERP system
shop floor in real time Barcode
labels printed
automatically



Summary and next steps…
• Some key lessons to remember:
o Your business drives your software choices (not vice versa)
o Relax. There are plenty of good options out there.
o Robust approach = relevant software = better results

• Now apply the framework to your business:
1. What are your business needs?
2. How can software help address these needs?
3. What solutions are available off-the-shelf?
4. Which products are worth having on your shortlist?
5. How do you evaluate and make your final decision?



Thanks for taking part in this webinar

• How Software Shortlist can help
– Learn more about this methodology with
our free ebook
– See what’s available on our extensive
software directory
– Use our patent-pending online software
comparison tool
– Speed up your evaluation process with
independent software reviews
– Register with our “Get a Shortlist”
service and we’ll connect you with
relevant vendors and service providers
– Enquire about our independent
Software selection consulting



Software Selection for Your Business

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