Management software is computer software that allows organizations to simplify complex projects and tasks by enabling easy collaboration among team members and automated reporting. There are some advanced management software solutions available that also work in other areas like employee management, task assignment, schedule coordination, budgeting, risk analysis, time management, and more.

Types of management software

Management software may be financial management software, customer relationship management software, network management software, inventory management software, or asset management software, depending on your field of work and your requirements. There are different software companies that provide these services. An organization may choose to hire a resource to manage the software, although the employees already a part of the workforce can also be trained for the same.

Let us have a look at some of the most popular business management software solutions.

• ProofHub
  This is one of the most powerful business management software available that will surely cover most of your requirements. You can efficiently streamline all processes, store files and share them with relevant teams, and share feedback as well. Also, the software can be used on mobile and is available for download on both Android and iOS devices. Some of the primary features of ProofHub include the efficient task and project management capabilities, availability of dynamic reports, Gantt charts to ensure that all projects are on track, and time tracking capability to ensure all tasks are being completed in a timely manner.
• Todu.vu
  This one is perfect for individuals and organizations, whether it is a freelancer, consultant, or a small agency. Simply put, this is a basic business management software that can get things done. It is more suited for smaller agencies and companies than corporates as its capabilities might not be suitable for big-size companies. The interface is very simple and easy to understand. Customer management and project management are brought together and can be taken care of with this software. Some of the best features of this software include the intuitive user interface, built-in billing and time tracking, ability to sync tasks with different calendars, real-time updates, and clear communication.
• StudioCloud
  This is one of the most reliable options for business management software and has gained a lot of popularity in very little time. Using this software, you can easily manage your business from anywhere, anytime. This will largely solve the problems for people who have a lot on their hands and require simplification of affairs. One of the biggest benefits of StudioCloud over other software systems is that it can manage clients, vendors, and partners, all in one place. One can also easily create and send invoices to all clients using the software. Other advantages of using StudioCloud include sending automated text and email reminders, getting client reviews, and signing contracts online. Furthermore, you can change the overall look and feel of the software as per your liking.
• Zoho One
  Zoho is a popular company for business solutions, and the business management software is one of the primary offerings of the brand. There are as many as 40 apps that you can use to run your business efficiently. Different apps allow different teams to work together in tandem with each other. The most significant benefit of having Zoho One management software is that you can handle almost all aspects of the business at a single place. There is also easy document storage and sharing so that any collaboration is done seamlessly. Personalized business workflows can also be automated using this software, thereby making it suit different people’s needs.
• Scoro
  Project, sales, and report teams are brought together through this software, which does it all. Work can be managed effortlessly, and all aspects of work can be taken care of efficiently using Scoro. You can add unlimited projects so that everything can be handled using the same software. Apart from this, Scoro also allows you to manage quotes, invoices, and contracts without any hassles. It additionally helps keep a track of the time spent on every task and manages the bills for the same. All in all, you can manage the complete cycle with a simple software solution.
• iBE.net
  This software system is perfect for mid-sized companies as there are multiple solutions like expense tracking, CRM support, invoice reports, and the like. Project details can be easily incorporated in this software, which can be used extensively for consulting, management, marketing, and several technical industries. In a nutshell, iBE.net is your entire business needs in a very simple software. You have the option to customize your dashboard. In addition, invoices can be made very quickly, and report formats are also available. You also get various insights with the help of which you can visualize and analyze data.
• Odoo
  This is best-suited for enterprises as it has a host of services that are perfect for large organizations. Odoo can take care of project management, CRM, accounting, inventory, sales, and eCommerce needs. This software might require additional training to get used to it as there are many technicalities that have to be understood. However, once a resource can understand them well, it makes the job very easy. You can have a quick look at your business with a dedicated dashboard. In addition, better collaboration is facilitated with real-time communication.

How to select the right management software?

Every project is different and the expectations from a management software thus tend to vary. Therefore, there are some key steps that you can keep in mind in order to understand how the right options can be selected.

Step 1: Understand your requirements

Before anything else, you need to understand what you need from a management software and how it can help you grow and save time. Here, you need to consider the following.

• Analysis of the current scenario: If you have no management software at the moment, understand the areas where the maximum lag is being faced and most time is being used. Ensure that you have differentiated between processes which have to be manual and processed that can be automated. If you already have a project management software, understand where it is falling short on your requirements and what additional tasks you want it to carry out. The software needs to improve efficiency, but at the same time, it should be simple to understand and easy to manage.
• Compatibility with your system: The new system cannot bring about a major change in the way things work in your organization. An extremely complicated software will make the employees confused and cause further lags. Also, you must understand who is going to use the new tool. It should not be too difficult for the person who is going to operate the system. Whether it is a person or different teams that will have access to the management software, everyone should get used to the new system very easily.

Step 2: Explore the market

Once you’ve clearly defined what you need from a management software, you have to explore your options. Do not just settle for one or two when you’re out searching for the right option. Instead, check and understand as many as there are available, and start eliminating on the basis of your requirements. The crucial requirements are to be considered first, down to the least important. The more you search for the right software, the higher are the chances that you will not miss out on the perfect tool that will work for your organization. One more factor that should definitely be on your list should be the price. Do not think about the current price, but think about what it will cost your company several years down the line. After all, you don’t want to go software-hunting again after some time once you have finalized the option as per your needs.

Step 3: Try out the software selected

You can select one or a few software solutions and then try it out to understand how easy or difficult it is to use. Also, you need to know whether it is compatible with the methodologies of the company. Often, you might feel that you have read all about it and that you do not need to test it. However, this is a wrong notion. You should certainly try it out and also have the person who will be working on the software try it out too. In most cases, you will get a free trial on the software, and this is something that you should definitely make use of. Once you’ve used the software solutions you initially like, you should rank them based on different points. This will enable you to narrow your options further.

Step 4: Compare costs

After the second step, you again have to consider the costs, and this should be the final step to understand which software solution to subscribe to. Of course, the cost is one of the most important factors and you do not want to spend too much on something that is giving you less returns in comparison to the fee. You should also note whether the payment plan works out best for you, once you’ve finalized which one to go with. Don’t always go for a long-term or a short-term plan as a rule of thumb. Always understand which plan fits in the current financials of the organization and subscribe accordingly.

Step 5: Implementation

This is actually not a step to select the right one, but is also very important in finalizing a new management software. Always make sure that you are completing the whole process and the inductions are carried out accurately in order for it to function properly. If you’re a project manager, make sure that you understand the software properly first, before you ask the team to get accustomed to it. If you have questions, ask the representatives of the software company, and later on, if the team has any questions, make sure to answer them in detail so that no problems are faced in the usage of the software.

Benefits of using a project management software
One of the most popular types of management software solutions is project management software. Let us understand the different benefits of having one.

• Easy collaboration
  If you’re not using a project management software, work will be scattered and people will be responsible for manually making sure that all persons in the team have access to all files and more. However, with a software, collaboration becomes like a breeze and you can simply complete your part and upload on the Cloud and let others do their part of the job. You can also easily get updates on how much work is done and what is left, based on which you can make further plans and also commit accordingly.
• Better for scheduling
  When you’re working on a project, schedules are very difficult to make. More importantly, deadlines are difficult to keep, especially for project managers. A software, however, allows you to keep a check on the portion of the project that is complete and tells you how much is left in terms of percentage. Thus, you can be clear about how much time you have to give to the project and, thereby, adhere to the deadlines as per the progress.
• Easy delegation of tasks
  Once you have a project management software installed and your team members are also using it, you will be able to delegate tasks in a more seamless manner. You can easily define the role of each person in the team and also check the progress of every individual. In case the information is classified, each person can be given access to only that information which is pertaining to them and the rest can be kept hidden. Even after team meetings, if a team member is unsure about the duties that he or she has to carry out, they just have to check the software to get a recap of what was initially discussed and assigned to them.