Running a business today is much more challenging than it has ever been. While the opportunities are definitely bigger in today’s modern era, managing to successfully keep all things in place is not easy.
In the past, static native management systems were enough to tackle all the aspect of your work. But now, we’ve all become more flexible and our jobs are not set only in the office. Especially if you are a business owner, you know that work often comes home with you. Customers are more demanding and the tasks are more complicated.
Cross-platform management software or cloud-based software have become popular recently due to the accessibility they offer. Depending on the nature of your business, your management software can help you sort different aspects of your job all from one place.
If you were thinking about introducing one such software to your business, here’s what you should know about cross-platform systems and why they can be beneficial to your business.
1. Access Information from Everywhere
The most evident advantage of cross-platform management software is the fact that you can literally access the information you need from anywhere in the world. The software is compatible with different devices i.e. laptop, PC, mobile phone or tablet. They also work on different operating systems, meaning that you will have no trouble using them regardless if you use Windows, Android or iOS.
The mobile era is dictating a need to be able to carry out work even on our phones, so being able to send a quick invoice off to a customer while you are on the bus can be a real game-changer.
2. Schedule Work Easily
We have gone past the days where organizing the work diaries was a laborious process. Work schedules can change, customers might cancel or an urgent job might come in the last moment. You need to be able to quickly re-adjust so you can get the most out of the working day.
By using cross-platform management software, you will be able to do the needed changes quickly and let the software inform the employee of the change of plan. This is especially beneficial if you are operating in the service area. If the service desk gets a call about an urgent job, they can add that to the diary from their computer in the office and the employee who is on the road will be able to see that on their phone or tablet.
3. Do More With One Platform
Cross-platform management software doesn’t only give you access to information whenever and wherever, but it can also help you maximize productivity by enabling you to do different tasks.
For example, if your employee is providing a service to a client and they need to give a quote before they carry the out the work, that can easily be done on one such platform. By adding the details and the items needed, the system can pick the pre-programmed costs up and give your client an accurate estimate. On the other hand, people in the office can also see that since it will be stored on the cloud.
And when the work is done, you don’t have to wait for days to gather the costs so you can send an invoice off. The employee who went out to the job will add details about the visit and you can send the invoices off even if you are at home drinking tea and watching TV in the evening.
4. Keep on Top of Payments
You are already busy enough as it is, so chasing payment is probably not the most enjoyable thing to do. By using a cross-platform managing software, you can keep track of all of the invoices you have sent off and see if they have been paid. Depending on the system you are using, it is likely that it would be possible to enable to system to send automatic reminders about an overdue invoice so you won’t have to do that manually.
5. Cost-Efficient Solution
In comparison to native software, cross-platform software is much more cost efficient. Since they are normally built to be able to accommodate the needs of businesses in different areas, customization options that will specifically fit your needs are usually available. Since you are not building the system from scratch but actually adding features to an existing platform, the costs are obviously going to be lower.
For business owners, it is especially important to be able to keep on top of whatever challenge the business world throws at them. By employing a cross-platform management software, you will be able to manage your company from everywhere, know what your employees are up to for the day and make sure you are being paid even if you are away on a business trip or on holiday. The flexibility of the cross-platform systems can be a big boost towards easy management, leaving you more time for other activities.
