Software
Software is a huge industry, with numerous sub-markets and areas of focus that work to support business processes for companies worldwide. This article seeks to highlight the main types of software used by businesses globally with the aim of highlighting the unique differences between various types of software, including its implications on software development life cycle (SDLC), business strategy, organizational structure, and decision-making, as well as offering an overview of each type, which will enable you understand the importance of using different types of software to maximize competitive advantage.
Types of Software in Businesses
This blog covers the major types of software. In this section, we shall present key concepts including their general characteristics, advantages, limitations, applications, benefits, threats, and market share. These categories will be discussed in terms of their specific application and use cases and with the help of real world examples, you will learn why you should choose certain types of software over others, which will give you an insight into how they can boost your business productivity and profitability. To facilitate our discussion of these topics, we shall cover such fields as data science, big data analytics, IT governance, cloud computing, software security, and more. We will also provide some quick introductions to the main technologies involved in implementing software. The information provided will be brief and precise. If you face any confusion or need help understanding the concepts mentioned in this section, please click here to get in touch with us.
Types of Software
The major types of computerized software currently available include web-based services for sales automation, customer relationships management, marketing operations, logistics and supply chain management, enterprise resource planning, risk and compliance management, payroll and human resource administration, financial reporting and controls, marketing intelligence platform, content management and enterprise publishing, social media marketing/social networking platforms, and email marketing management systems. Each type of software is described below. There are other types of software such as SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Professional As A Service), IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) and others. To learn about the latest trends in the field of software development & the best practices to leverage business opportunities, visit https://www.softwareadvancement.com/.
Web Based Services
A web-based service is software that runs either within the browser or other operating system through HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTTPS (Secure Socket Level). Most commonly, web-based mobile apps run on the Apple App Store in macOS, the Google Play Store in Android, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) in AWS. Web-based services have several features like instant messaging, online games, e-bookreading, voice recognition, search engine optimization, social media integration features, document processing, website creation, multi-user access, and much more. Such websites have been adopted by almost all industries across the globe and many enterprises are adopting them to enhance product and service offerings and customer experience. They enable users to connect with customers and suppliers easily with just a few clicks via email, SMS, WhatsApp, text messaging and Facebook Messenger.
The most notable applications of a web-based service include Salesforce, Microsoft’s Teams, Oracle’s Zoho, Cisco’s NetSuite, and IBM PowerCasts. Of course, there are other applications like YouTube vue, Shopify, Dropbox, Slack, etc. In this section, we will discuss some of the biggest players in the marketplace. You can read articles written on the subject of web-based service providers here.
Salesforce
Salesforce is an artificial intelligence (AI) business-to-business (B2B) platform that uses sophisticated algorithms and cognitive capabilities and machine learning to transform the way organizations do things. It is the only fully integrated enterprise suite of tools designed specifically for sales professionals that includes a drag-and-drop interface that enables them to create a visual flow and automate processes. It offers deep integrations and allows clients to integrate their own data sources through flexible connectors and API modules. With its robust tool set, it provides sales teams and sales enablement teams the opportunity to build and deploy advanced campaigns, generate leads, and convert prospects across every stage of the sales funnel. With one easy-to-use user interface, it helps organizations not just sell more products but to deliver better experiences at every touchpoint; from creating high-quality customer satisfaction to increasing customer loyalty.
Zoom
Zoom is another popular B2B solution deployed by large firms and small companies like Blue Apron, Airbnb, PayPal, Dell, Uber, eBay, Lyft, and more. Zoom has emerged as the preferred communication tool for both B2B and B2S customer experience experts. Zoom offers a full range of video conferencing services like group calling, messaging, audio, screen sharing, collaboration, calls, calendar, file transfer, chat and messaging, web-conferencing, remote assistance, and more. Its modern user interface has made it extremely easy for employees to collaborate through the common tasks using their smartphones like smartphones. Customers on Zoom can have access to live streaming, streaming video, image transfer, team chats, and other features while working remotely. At the same time, Zoom offers powerful APIs and embedded smart devices called Smart Meetings that can offer unlimited meetings in minutes, seconds, and minutes (to give you maximum convenience).
Slack
Slack is the global communications platform that combines multiple functions such as text, image, videos, voice, location, files, and even GIFs to create “one network and multiple experiences” for its customers. Leveraging cutting edge technology and innovation, slack offers a variety of options including basic features, such as group calls, messaging and more, and also has built-in app-like applications such as recording, editing video files, messaging, virtual meetings, screen sharing, callers, and more. Several top brands including Tesla, Instagram, SAP, and Samsung are among those who use slack to improve their customer service to increase engagement and customer satisfaction. Along with that, slack has become increasingly important in helping businesses reach a wide array of new customers and bring in more revenues. Some of the prominent companies who leverage slack in their organization are LinkedIn, Airbnb, Spotify, Twitter, VTech, Tango, Pinterest, Red Bull, and many others. Apart from making your work easier, slack has strengthened the relationship between employees and the people they have hired. More companies are leveraging slack to help their employees spend more quality time together.
Flexible Work Models
Businesses with complex ecosystems now require a wide range of software solutions. Flexible models are such kind of software that allow developers to design the software based on specific needs and budget constraints. Focusing on two core pillars — flexibility and simplification, flexibility allows organizations to adapt their software solutions in line with changing operational requirements and simplify them by reducing resources required. Moreover, modularity enables developers to customize a project according to organizational dynamics and budget and reduces complexity by keeping the core functionalities of the software intact. Many organizations are shifting towards innovative approaches to building new software solutions. For instance, in the banking sector, banks are looking to unify business applications and reduce the amount of manual labor by applying open source technologies such as NodeJS and ExpressScript. Another area where flexible models are being applied is in manufacturing and retailing. Companies leveraging flexibility models are able to streamline production lines and reduce costs. Among the major players in flexible model application development is Deliveroo and GetApp, which use Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) to manage order fulfillment.
Businesses using agile methods often use lean software development methodologies, which leverage agile thinking and agile processes. Lean software development focuses on providing quick iterations throughout the entire development process (early development, coding, testing, deployment, monitoring, and maintenance) to deliver the desired results quickly, reliably and efficiently. Other applications of lean software development include Agile Manifesto, Extreme Programming (XP), DevOps, Continuous Integration, Test Automation, Scrum, Product Management, Design Thinking, and Iterative prototyping. All of the aforementioned application techniques are gaining momentum, helping business organizations evolve to embrace agile growth strategies by improving productivity, enhancing agility, improving quality and reducing costs. Through this approach, they are empowering their workforce in developing innovative ideas and business models to drive profitable growth and business success.
Decision-Making Process
Decisions made in organizations affect not just the outcome of business activities, but also the processes that fuel it. Organizational decisions may involve changes and modifications to an organizational structure, product and services, as well as other elements of business strategy to optimize performance. On the contrary, organizational decisions may result in actions taken in response to events beyond organizations’ control, including natural disasters and political unrest. Both internal and external pressures such as pressure by customers, supplier demands, regulatory policies, competitors, and vendors, legal regulations, competition, and government legislation, may affect the decisions organizations make. Thus, making decisions in business organizations must take into account, but be conscious that they must consider all factors and be mindful of all organizational stakeholders. Organizations making decisions that positively impact their bottom-line are likely to do so. Decision-making in organizations may be complicated by issues of trust, culture, politics, ethics, culture, and gender roles.
Decision Making Process (Figure):
It involves gathering relevant facts about the existing situation, reviewing the existing information and taking future actions based on new information. Then it follows conducting analysis of the current state in the light of the new information (or analysis as part of a pre-planned process). After the analysis, and if necessary, making a recommendation about what to do about the current action. Finally, the concerned entity implements the recommended course of action as per its values and goals and evaluates whether it agrees with previous expectations in terms of values and purpose. The following steps are followed to evaluate whether the proposed course of action fits the company’s
♥️
ReplyDelete