Tips for choosing the best practice management software

Many business practices may benefit from the introduction of automated management systems. In this day and age, though, for even the reasonably technology-savvy individuals, the choice between the many different solutions available may prove difficult.

The choice is likely to involve a significant investment of time and money, whilst getting it right might also be critical to the success of your business.

Here are some tips that may help you make the most appropriate choice for your practice management software.

Your needs

Any software is only as good as the purpose it serves. In other words, the best practice management software is the solution that serves your own particular needs and requirements.

It might seem like a statement of the blindingly obvious, but you are unlikely to get past first base unless you know precisely what issues and problems you want any particular solution to resolve. Leaving the question up to the provider of the management software might saddle you with many bells and whistles you really do not need.

This exercise might usefully involve input from key personnel in your office. What tasks currently take longer than they might need? What tasks are less than productive? What tasks do they feel may benefit from automation?

Your service

The choice of service is effectively between:

• software that is installed on your own office PC, PCs and other hardware devices; or

• a solution that is web-based (or “Cloud-based” as you might also see it described).

Your budget

Following on from your identification of what needs to be done, you may then be able to set an appropriate budget.

The price range of such software is considerable – stretching from next to nothing to a fairly steep monthly instalment. You might want to keep in mind that you generally get only as good as you are willing to pay.

Your potential suppliers

Armed with some knowledge of the solution you require and how much you are prepared to pay for it, you may be in a position to narrow down the list of potential suppliers.

The solution or solutions offered by each of your potential suppliers needs to be evaluated. The evaluation is likely to centre on the extent to which each meets your needs and your budget. Once again, it might be helpful to include your key personnel in the evaluation of each solution and the extent to which it meets any of the questions raised by them in the earlier steps.

Considerations may include:

• the security and backing up of any Cloud-based solutions;
• does the supplier offer 24/7 support?
• is free training included? Etc.

Also, if the software will be used on a number of devices (eg; iPad or smartphone as well as a PC), trial the software out to make sure it works just as well on these other devices.

Your solution

Following the evaluation of each of the potential suppliers you may be in a position to decide which of the solutions meets your particular needs and circumstances.

It may be worth reminding yourself that the chosen software represents the best solution for your own requirements and that if you have any questions about the capacities or performance of your chosen solution, this is the time to ask them.