What you should know BEFORE you start looking for new business software
Deciding on the best software for your business can be a complex and potentially business crippling process. Likewise, deciding on the wrong solution can greatly limit your business.
But it's not all doom and gloom - getting the decision right can help your business thrive and take you to the next level.
Here we'll look at some of the common misunderstandings businesses have, and with this knowledge better prepare you to make the best decision – in the shortest time frame.
Should we buy the 
"most expensive" software we can?
No! - You should have the right software for your business, regardless of price. Simply buying on price or what others use in their business is often buying the wrong software to work in your business – each business is unique – even when they are in the same industry.
When purchasing a home security system it is said that the answer to "what is the best system for my needs?" is simply "the one you will use". The point being, that there is no value in installing the best system in the world, if you find it so challenging, that you stop using it.
We have seen customers invest in solutions "above" and more expensive than they need, only then to have to employ additional staff to manage it, and then even revert back to using a lesser package - because the package they invested in was simply too complex, or not suited to their needs.
Should we only buy a business software package if it does everything we want?
No! - You should invest in software that meets all of your "needs", and has the capacity to grow with your business. Simply put, it's Pareto's Principle - to obtain software that meets "all" of your requirements will normally cost 4 times the price as buying software which meets all of your "needs".
The importance here is to be very clear about what are "needs" and what are "like to haves" - it's the "like to haves" that normally end up costing the extra money, and essentially are often not really required.
Should we purchase software that keeps our staff happy, or software that is right for our business?
This will depend - on whether your business is growing or stable - to some extent. Often when businesses change software as they grow, some staff will change anyway.
If your business is relatively stable, and you simply need better software, then buying to suit the abilities of your team may be the correct strategy. However, if your business is growing, chances are you will be employing new staff anyway, so best to buy software what's right for your business, as this will support your growth plans, and help your business grow.
If you're ready to start the search for new business software you might find this video helpful!
This is a guest post by Matthew Colliver from The Support House Pty Ltd. For more useful information from TSH visit their website http://www.tsh.net.au/