Technology exists in business today for a single purpose: to increase efficiency.
 Mike Vetter
Then there’s Web software. This new software delivery model allows businesses to take advantage of productivity tools that can be customized, integrated and are accessible anywhere. The days of shrink-wrapped software are numbered, and delivering flexible, customizable Web software is finding a lot of traction.
Web software can grow and change with a business. It also is secure. It’s stored in a secure data center and accessed with a Web browser by taking advantage of the same encryption used for online banking. If your firm uses Web software and your laptop is stolen, you don’t lose any confidential information.
One of the most popular new Web productivity tools is mobile collaboration. It allows the user to synchronize his or her calendar, contacts and e-mail between a mobile device, Outlook and any Web browser. It also allows users to view other workers’ calendars, schedule meetings and share contacts.
Another popular tool is CRM, or customer relationship management. This tool allows sales professionals to track leads, project sales pipelines and manage communication.
These tools are just a few examples of what can be done with Web software. Almost any business application today will be accessible from the Web in the future, and many already are.
This software is viewed through a Web browser, allowing it to be accessed from anywhere. These applications also can be accessed on mobile devices such as Treo, Blackberry and Windows Mobile devices. This is a great benefit for individuals who need to work from home or on the road. Studies have shown that mobile information access can add another hour of productivity to the workday of the average professional.
Another advantage of Web software is integration. These tools can be connected to each other so information doesn’t have to be entered multiple times. Although this also is possible in traditional software, it is generally more flexible in Web software.
For instance, a professional might enter contact information into his or her Treo device. This information is automatically sent to Outlook and entered into CRM software. Another example is tracking client information for quoting, billing and inventory management from a single location.
Web software also can be purchased as a service. Rather than purchasing a server, buying the software and deploying the solution, smaller companies can buy access to the software. This decreases their overall cost from, for example, an upfront cost of $10,000 to a $100-a-month subscription.
These tools help busy people do more in less time. Flexible software helps keep businesses organized and knowledgeable, and gives them a distinct competitive advantage.
Vetter is president of DataSync
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