When starting a business, gone are the days of required brick and mortar offices, actual vaults for money-keeping, and tedious paper trails that take a whole entire department to sort. Now, you only need a computer and all the features that software development and the internet can offer to launch a successful new enterprise.
However, if you think starting a business is easy with all the technological advancements at your fingertips, then you are mistaken. In fact, the democratization of business solutions just made enterprising more competitive. In fact, you need all the help you can get for an efficient business operation. Here are some of the tools you absolutely need as a startup:
1. Productivity System
A good productivity system will save you time and money when it comes to setting a startup. It’s going to be your best friend and almost feel like your business partner, especially if you’re starting a venture all by yourself. Some things to keep in mind though: a good productivity software should be able to list down all the things you need to do, make it as organized as possible so you won’t get lost in a sea of deliverables, and take note important dates (especially client meetings).
2. ERP System
An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system like JD Edwards Software is an upgrade from your normal productivity system and to-do list applications. The main difference is that in an ERP system, the focus is less on mundane, day-to-day tasks and more on your overarching business operations and activities like risk management, inventory management, accounting, and even supply chain operations. Having an operational and trustworthy ERP system translates to automated systems that will allow you to skip having to hire several operations managers for every aspect of your business.
3. Communications Software
While an ERP system works best to stay on top of your business operations, a good communications software will help you stay on top of your team. These days, most businesses are either operating under a skeleton workforce or have no choice but to do remote work. So a good communications software can help you deal with this better than email or even a personal social media account. The good thing is, some productivity systems are easily integrated with communications platforms like Slack and Notion so your workflow can be much, much easier.
4. Antivirus Software
ERP systems can also give some form of protection but one protection is never enough when it comes to external factors that can affect your systems. The importance of having a reliable antivirus software can never be understated. It can help ease your worries when it comes to dealings online and can ensure that your software and your actual processors won’t be damaged by unwanted digital viruses.
5. Cloud Storage
We all know how important cloud storage can be as they are a means to keep all your files safe and not tied down to just any computer. Having a business cloud storage for more private files could work best to supplement the storage provided by your ERP system. This can store more sensitive information that should not fall into the wrong hands.
6. Website Builder / Web Design App
Now more than ever, potential clients and customers have become more discriminating when it comes to business websites. The quality and usefulness of your website will be a big factor in getting people to trust your brand especially now that you’re just starting and have yet to collect valuable feedback from your dealings in the past.
Your site has to be a reflection of how legitimate your business is. Make sure it’s operational, loads fast, and contains information that visitors will find relevant and value-adding. Finally, it has to look good and on-brand. A website builder or web design app can help you with that.
7. Marketing Tools
You can’t run a successful startup without the right marketing tools, especially in the digital age where ‘stumbling on a business’ means seeing their ads online or receiving promotional emails from them. There are all sorts of tools out there that can help you make good online presentations and craft email blasts that people will want to read instead of sending them directly to the spam folder.
Remember that your business is only as good as people think it is, so make sure your marketing department is always equipped with the latest tools to help them bring your brand to the top of people’s minds.
While it’s true that the success of any business finds heavy reliance in its people, you can’t simply hire managers and send them to war without ammunition. The tools mentioned in this article will help them become more competitive, thus in turn giving your startup a better chances at succeeding.
8. PowerPoint Templates to boost your Presentation Productivity
Given that you are just starting with your business, the chances are that you must be working on numerous pitch decks, business proposals, company capabilities, and business overview presentations. It is imperative that you understand the impact a perfect presentation can have on your business.
To ace your next big business pitch or client meeting, you must stop and think about presentation choices. As in such scenarios, the first impression can really be your last impression. If your presentation fails to grab your audience’s attention or doesn’t look professional enough, you may be treading the wrong path.
You can save hours through predesigned and customizable PowerPoint templates and build winning presentations. SlideUpLift offers an extensive collection of presentation templates specifically designed for startups ranging from – pitch decks to sales presentations to Project Management related presentations.
