Productivity software has one job: to help you maximize your productivity and do it while minimizing the time you spend on the work. It seems as if that’s pretty simple, especially since there are so many companies out there that create products that claim to do just that. Today, we thought we would unpack what you need out of your productivity software and take a look at some of the variables you should weigh when searching for a certain productivity app.

Enhancing Productivity

The whole role of productivity software is to help you be more productive. What you come to find out over time is that most productivity applications are similar to other productivity applications designed to do that same thing. This is the reason why Data Net and another MSP might sell you different products that promise to do the same thing. We thoroughly vet the products we sell and stand behind them, but truth be told, a word processor is similar to another. 

Good productivity software makes it easier for you to control every facet of your business. It won’t do it for you, but if you have chosen a productivity software that works for you, you can pretty much guarantee that it is going to continue to work for you. Since most productivity apps use the same type of file management structure to organize your files, it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference on that end.

What does make a difference is the innovation of the app developer. Just like anywhere else in business, you typically get what you pay for in productivity apps. The solutions you pay more for will provide you with more functionality, better integrations, and more features. The one thing all those bells and whistles can’t guarantee you is that you are going to have a better user experience. 

What to Look For

There are a few variables that you should consider when purchasing technology for your business. For productivity software, there are basically four things that need to be in there. They are:

Reliability 

Number one, you need your software to do what you bought it for. Some apps will promise enhanced productivity or revolutionary efficiency, but it takes months to learn, and even then it doesn’t make the job easier. In software, you need reliability. You need to know that you are using it for sensitive company information and that there aren’t shocking vulnerabilities that will turn into exploits even if you routinely patch it. You can’t compromise on reliability. It is the most important feature of any productivity app.

Interoperability

Another major point of emphasis is that if you are using a productivity app for business, not every person is going to be using the same computer or even the same operating system. You have to know that any productivity application will work on the standard devices that your business and its staff use. If you buy software for your business that doesn’t support a type of device that a large portion of your workforce uses every day, it is not going to work for your business for long. 

Accessibility

This is a huge issue today as there are so many people working remotely or in some type of hybrid work system: productivity apps need to be accessible from wherever. Whether you set this up or you get a cloud-based productivity tool, your staff need access to applications from the places they work most. This isn’t always at their workstation in the office. 

Collaboration Features

More than ever, companies are looking to do more with less. This means that projects are more likely to be team-based events. To make this work, the productivity tools you choose need to have collaboration features and integrations tied right into the software. This will allow teams to work in the same files at the same time and increase productivity. Integrated project management software can also be a great way to oversee the projects your team is working on in real-time. 

Productivity is the name of the game, and the productivity tools you choose will define your business’ ability to sustain that productivity. If you would like some advice about which productivity tools can work for your business, give our knowledgeable technicians a call today at (760) 466-1200.