Did you know that the average employee costs a business anywhere from 125% to 140% of their total salary? For example, the actual costs of an employee with a salary of $50,000 per year are likely between $62,500 and $70,000.
The good news is that using certain types of business software can help you minimize the number of employees that you hire.
For this reason, many entrepreneurs choose to use case management software to save as much time and resources as possible. Not everybody understands what to look for in a case management application, though.
Let’s explore everything you should keep in mind before you make your decision.
1. Make Sure the Software Fits Your Needs
The case management software you choose should fit your specific needs as a business owner. For example, if you need to manage a high volume of cases, you’ll want an application that can easily handle that amount of data.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a solution to keep track of customer information, you’ll want a program that has robust customer management features. Determining your needs before making your decision will help ensure that you purchase the right program.
2. Consider the Price Tag
Case management software can vary in price, sometimes reaching thousands of dollars per year. Make sure to consider the cost of the software as well as any additional expenses, such as licensing fees or annual maintenance costs.
This is especially important for smaller businesses that do not have an abundance of resources to work with.
Keep in mind that you often get what you pay for when choosing this type of software. However, this doesn’t mean you should always choose the most expensive option.
A reasonably priced application should be able to fulfill your needs under most circumstances.
3. Review the User Interface
When you’re looking at case management software, take some time to review the user interface (UI).
The UI is the part of the software that you’ll be interacting with on a daily basis, so it’s important that it’s easy to use. If you’re not sure how to use a particular feature, the answer should be easy to find and understand within the software’s accompanying documents.
If the software isn’t intuitive to use, you won’t be able to get the best results from it. It will also be harder to train your team members on how to use the application.
4. Test the Software Out
Case management software is often a large investment for your business, so it’s important to test out the software before you buy it. Many vendors offer free trial versions of their software, so take advantage of that opportunity and see if the software is a good fit for your business.
This is also a good time to see how well you can integrate this type of software into your business.
5. Make Sure the Software Is Compatible With Your System
Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of purchasing software they cannot actually use. For example, let’s assume that you have only Apple computers at your company.
It’s entirely possible that certain case management software is only available on computers that run Windows. As you might guess, this won’t do much to help the case manager who works with it.
You should also check which operating system has the most current version. Sometimes, developers update their applications for one operating system far more often than the other.
6. Only Use Certified Software
Case management certification is a sign that the case management software has been evaluated and approved by an independent organization. When you’re looking for case management software, make sure to choose an application that’s certified by a reputable organization like the Case Management Society of America (CMSA).
You can check out this resource to learn more about vocational rehabilitation software that your company may find useful.
7. Check the Reviews
Always read the reviews of your potential case management software before you make your decision. Chances are, if a program is popular, there will be plenty of reviews available online.
By consulting this information, you can get a good idea of what features users like and don’t like about different applications. This will provide insight into the type of experience you will have when working with it. Of course, you should be wary when looking at online reviews.
Any feedback that is overly positive or overly negative may not be representative of the software. This is due to the fact that companies sometimes plant positive reviews to boost their reputation.
Similarly, industry competitors may place negative reviews to damage their reputation.
8. Make Sure the Software Is Still Supported
Case management software is constantly evolving, so it’s important to make sure that the software you choose is still supported by the vendor. Make sure to ask the vendor how often they update their software and what kind of support they offer for updates. It is highly recommended that you do not use software that is no longer supported by the developer.
Unfortunately, software that does not receive ongoing support will eventually become a security liability. Hackers are constantly developing new techniques, and they often aim to exploit outdated software.
There’s also the chance that it might not work at all one day once you update your operating systems. It should not come as a surprise that either of these scenarios could be potentially catastrophic.
Using the Right Case Management Software Is Essential
Case management software can be a valuable tool for your business, but only if it’s the right application for your needs. By following these tips, you’ll be able to find the right application and get the most out of it.
Feel free to check out the rest of our blog for other high-quality articles about running a successful business.
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