Half of all startups in the world bite the dust in the first five years, and never arrive in a safe business haven. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though: a growing number of innovative software solutions tailored for those trying to boost their business productivity. Whether it’s the monitoring of expenses or delivery of products that you seek to improve, online applications are a must-have tool for any modern businessman.

A numbers game

Research shows that a majority of mobile device users has utilized their gadgets to make an online purchase. This fact should be a signal for businesses both big and small to make an effort to stay ahead of the dashing tech game.  When choosing the right software option, one should take into account the price, mobile access, ease of use, customization options and automation capabilities.

In a business world, numbers cut both ways. But, most often, a ballpark number doesn’t suffice, as you need the exact facts and figures, even more so if you are dealing with a lot of financial reports and data.  So, why don’t you let the app do the math and organizing, while you focus on important decisions and upcoming meetings?

Keeping track of finances is a job requiring a great deal of time and energy, indeed, but applications like Concur make this process effortless. They integrate multiple accounts and equip you with expense-reporting tools that will make sure you don’t overlook a single detail. These financial management apps are a joy to use and even those who are not adept at modern technologies shouldn’t worry.

A ticket to success

Another area where your business could use a bit of tech overhaul is customer relations. Small businesses are looking for low cost solutions, but sometimes you can take your operations to the next level without paying a cent. Zoho CRM is a powerful tool that is free up to 10 users and loaded with some premium features.

With its mobile application you will be able to access your data from virtually anywhere and adapt to the challenges and opportunities of the mobile-centric age. Retailers should also check the Vend Register POS application which turns their mobile devices into point of sale systems and allows them to integrate them with barcode scanners and receipt printers.

On top of that, apps like Vend Register allow you to conduct inventory management, engage in sales analysis and gain insights on how to improve them. Ultimately, you will make your customer’s life easier and increase their satisfaction by reaching out to them online.

Many other operations like selling and delivering tickets can be still done the old-fashioned way. But, managing a big eager crowd at the door minutes before the big event can turn into an ordeal of commotion and frustration. With Tickera, an excellent WP event ticketing platform, you can still use the barcode to check in tickets. But doing this via mobile application expands your abilities to deliver services in a timely and efficient fashion.

Get down to business

Online tools enable you to boost the productivity and they make turbulent daily tasks much less painful, allowing your projects to be in full swing. Pens and papers are becoming obsolete in a world of smartphones and killer software solutions, but one does have to cut through all the noise of online tools to find the right one. And those who fail to utilize the great potential of latest application will quickly lose ground in a business environment where many like to play hardball.

Author's Bio: 

James D. Burbank has worked for years in traditional as well as online marketing. He has worked in Central Asia, Europe and Australasia in recent years.