SMEs in India: 5 Must-Have Apps To Streamline Business Processes In 2018

Technology is a must-have for any business. It saves time, effort and can actually help a business get more efficient.

The focus of SMEs in India is on growth, and there are tools and apps that have been specifically designed to help entrepreneurs make the leap from small to big.

The market is full of tailor-made apps that can give a business a competitive edge, but choosing the right technology is critical for the business. Here are five must-have apps to streamline your business this year.

  1. Quickbooks

Simply put, Quickbooks is cloud accounting for small businesses. This app has been conceptualised and designed by Intuit, and it takes care of all the accounting and bookkeeping needs for small businesses.Quickbookslets you track your business’s expenses and sales, pay employees, view financial statements, track unpaid invoices and much more. With Quickbooks in your arsenal, you can focus on running your business while being able to keep a finger on the financial health of your company.

  1. Slack

Every business needs Slack. Abusiness messaging app, this allows users to share large files and enjoy instant messenger for seamless communication between all team members.You can integrate it with Dropbox, Google Drive, Salesforce and more, thus bringing everything together, to one app. Messaging, archiving and search, everything gets streamlined under one tool, putting knowledge in everyone’s hands, in real-time. Conversations, decisions and work are easily accessible, even when on the go.The result is less stress, more team alignment and greater productivity.

  1. GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is an immensely useful tool for businesses whose employees often work out of different locations.With this app, you can hold meetings and conference calls, and even conduct training workshops. Participants can join inform anywhere using their phone, tablet or computer.The GoToMeeting interface is simple and easy to use, and gives you a professional solution to your business meeting requirements.

  1. TripIt®

Does your business require you or your team members to travel frequently for business?Then you need TripIt.This appwill help keep your travel plans organised. Simply forward all your reservation confirmation emails – flight, hotels, cabs, etc. The app will create an itinerary that you can access while on the go.All your travel plans are now consolidated into one master itinerary that can be accessed on any device, any time. You still have complete control and can modify your plans manually. The app will also send you real-time alerts on flight times, weatheror delays,and can even help you find direction. If you wish, you can share travel plans with others too.

  1. HootSuite

Maintaining a social media profile is crucial for any business. However, keeping up with the numerous channels is time-consuming and needs way more planning than you’d like.HootSuiteis the answer to your social media challenge. It allows you to combine all mediums, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, in one interface, giving you a single-window access to them all.There are comprehensive reporting and analysis tools that enable you to track and measure the impact of your social media campaigns. Engage with your customers and become part of their conversations. With Hootsuite, you can be on social media 24 hours.

Many of these apps are available free. For the others, make that slight investment, and make your business process more efficient this year.