For small business, knowing how to leverage the latest technology is a must in order to survive, and thrive, in an ever-increasingly demanding business environment. However, adopting the latest business technology need to have to take the expensive route. There are literally hundred of thousands of apps out there and many offer features and services that can give small businesses owners a competitive edge.
image courtesy of bizengine.com
Apps can range from collaboration tools, project management, and client communications, to even task-management, office tools, and invoicing. Here are three (3) of the best business and office apps that are must-haves for every small businesses.
Podio : One team, one dream
Podio is an excellent management tool to help you keep on top of your projects at all times. The key is that, essentially, your whole team can communicate with each other and with your clients, so that everyone gets real-time updates regarding tasks and projects. There is also a free Employee Network that gives your company access to shared email addresses. Podio operates like a professional social media network with hip features such as comments, likes and status updates - so you can give your company a hint of American-style team management. Remember there is no “I” in team.
Download: iPhone / iPad / Android
Zoho Invoice : An accounting app you can count on
Genuinely one of the sharpest tools in your business app box. Bringing collaboration, business and productivity applications under one umbrella, Zoho gives organisations the ability to easily run business processes, cutting the amount of time I spent on invoicing by about 20%. There was also a discernible pick up on how quickly my clients paid their bills. Zoho offer a number of features designed to make your invoices look more professional and, most crucially, easy to keep track of and for your client to pay off.
The ready to use invoice templates are very respectable looking and need no real adjustment. Zoho helps you accept online payments from customers both domestically and internationally, and in multiple currencies, as well as assisting you in keeping track of invoices and reimbursable expenses.
HyperOffice : The swiss army knife of office apps
There are probably more tools in this app than you will know what to do with. Although not technically free, the free 30-day trial is so easy to set up that it is worth experimenting with, if only to find out whether you could save yourself the expense of purchasing multiple Microsoft Office licenses. This app is perhaps more suitable to the tentative start-up business due to the ease of the initial set-up and extremely low purchasing cost. There is a fully-integrated suite of online communication and collaboration tools with business email and contact documents, as well as reasonably comprehensive project management tools.
Other usual suspects include calendaring, online and offline workspaces, instant messaging and one of my personal favourites, the forum feature. You will be surprised how animated the discussions here are - even though general office banter is fairly common every now and then, it’s always a nice surprise when employees come up with a great solution a long-term problem whilst they seem to be just idly chatting. If you have a reasonably laissez-faire style of management, this feature can also be good for office morale and for you to ensure that banter does not encroach on harassment or bullying.
About The Author:
Jimmy Wentz is a budding freelance tech writer, gadget and gaming enthusiast, and social media junkie. He writes regularly about O2 and the latest news in the tech, gaming, and social media world.
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