According to Harvard Business Professor Marco Iansit, business operations “is and always has been what gives an organization the power to act: to create value for its customers; to capture value for its shareholders; and to share value with its ecosystem.”
With the recent explosion of software-as-a-service solutions, the ability to run your business with speed, agility, and team collaboration has never been easier. Or more necessary.
Check out our five best software tools you can use to enhance your operational efficiency, collaboration, and performance.
1. Basecamp
Basecamp is an industry-leading project management software company. The platform keeps teams on track and boosts operational efficiency with seamless project communication.
With Basecamp, team members can easily collaborate on project tasks, milestones, and broader updates without scheduling a meeting. Plus, your project managers will love you for using it.
Basecamp’s leaders are also writing rock stars with five published books focused on professional development and running your own business.
2. FreshBooks
FreshBooks is like QuickBooks, except easier to use. It’s the best option for small-business owners looking to manage their finances with minimal effort.
With FreshBooks, you can take your operations to the next level by:
- Tracking expenses
- Sending invoices
- Managing time
- Accepting faster payments
- Reviewing detailed reports for continuous improvements
- Keeping your books organized as if you had hired your own accounting firm
3. Zendesk
With over 170,000 customers, including Uber, Siemens, and Tesco, Zendesk is hands down the best help desk software for business. Zendesk provides easy-to-use software that enables customized customer interactions across messaging, phone, chat, email, and social media channels.
From an operational efficiency standpoint, it doesn’t get much better. Zendesk ensures your customers can get the information and help that they need, when they need it.
4. Google Workspace
From Docs to Hangouts to Calendars, pretty much everyone uses Google Workspace apps during the course of their workday.
With Google Workspace apps, businesses can:
- Increase employee productivity
- Foster collaboration in the workplace
- Reach all employees with desktop and mobile use
With a product suite so ubiquitous, it’s hard to argue against Google’s tried and true tools for your business.
5. Beekeeper
Beekeeper is the mobile collaboration platform for frontline workers that centralizes workplace communications and tools into one place.
With Beekeeper, frontline managers and employees can optimize their communications and processes by using key features like:
- 1:1 and group messages
- Automated workflows
- Digitize operation documents
- Inline translations
- News streams
- Push notifications
- Surveys
With operational collaboration platforms, like Beekeeper, businesses of all sizes are providing better support to their workforces. As a result, employees can:
- Communicate more effectively with each other
- Become more engaged with other segments of your company
- Operate more efficiently to drive business performance
As the famed venture capitalist, Marc Andreessen pronounced, “Software is eating the world.” By taking advantage of the new software that is making old analog operational tasks digital, you can ensure your company can stay agile and fast in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
