Software evaluation determines if software or a combination of programs is the best solution for a customer’s needs. It considers compatibility with hardware and existing applications to increase efficiency and streamline essential functions. Consultants can assist in the evaluation process.
A software evaluation is a type of evaluation that seeks to determine whether software or a combination of software programs is the best possible solution for a particular customer’s needs. The idea is to closely examine the resources and tools provided by the software currently in use or under consideration as a possible addition to the programs already in use by that customer. Based on a prepared list of criteria along with some hands-on experimentation, a software evaluation helps determine if the products would be beneficial to the customer or if some other combination of software products would be more beneficial.
There are several factors to consider with any software evaluation. It deals with the compatibility of the software with the hardware resources already present on the customer’s network or IT equipment. Here, the focus is on the type of operating system the software requires to run, as well as how much memory and capacity the hardware currently provides. This is especially important if there is no budget for hardware and memory upgrades that could accommodate the software under consideration.
Another key factor in software evaluation is how the proposed software package will interact with other already existing applications. For example, if it were discovered that a proposed word processing program could not easily import and export data from the sales database currently in use by the company, this would mean additional time spent preparing parts by mail to customers and prospects clients. Similarly, if the software used to process customer orders is not downloaded to your accounting software, this can add extra manual steps to invoice preparation. The right combination of software programs can streamline essential functions, allowing employees more time to spend on other activities that help improve the revenue generation process.
Software evaluation is necessary to ensure that all software used by an individual or business actually increases the efficiency of the operation rather than creating additional workloads. While individuals and businesses may conduct this type of assessment themselves, there are also consultants who may engage in evaluating products and software for a client, making suggestions for any changes or additions that would be in the client’s best interest. This approach can often surface issues that would otherwise be overlooked, saving the business a great deal of money in labor and other types of operational costs.
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