Buying any kind of software is a complex decision to make as there are many pros and cons that you have to examine.
If you are looking for a specific type of software then chances are that there are many alternatives in the market all catering to different needs.
To simplify this decision a little bit, here is a list of important factors to consider.
Organization Needs
If you are on the hunt for RTO software then you have identified a need for it. However, you need to have a clear idea of what you are looking for.
The best thing to do before you even talk to a software vendor is to analyze your organization’s needs. Make a checklist of everything that you could want the software to do.
Most people will make this list and then move on to finding someone who meets these needs. However, you should take it one step further and prioritize the list.
Figure out what items on the list are must-haves, nice to have, and deal breakers. Not only will this list make it easy to weed out potential rejects but also help you understand how your needs will change.
Customer Service And Support
Great customer service is one of the most important factors to consider when making your decision. But the truth about technology is there is always a learning curve.
For example, if you are an educational institution preparing for a big production and are facing technology challenges that you cannot solve alone, you need a software service that cares about you and can solve your problems quickly.
Try reaching out to customer service early and examine how useful the offered solutions are. You can also get a general sense of customer service efforts and the amount of resources available to the team by doing this.
Demos And Free Trials
With a sense of your needs and support quality, the next step is to request a demo of the platform you are considering.
Almost all software services will allow you to access demo features for a trial period or set up a call with a salesperson to walk you through the software. They may even offer a freemium model to start.
Maximize this chance to use the software for free and see if you can do everything that you would want to do with the software by setting up workflows that you use often.
Take your needs checklist and see if the software is meeting the criteria that you outlined. If you’re satisfied with the features offered then compare it to another software and how well it is meeting your needs.
Budget and Costs
Price is probably top of mind for you as you choose your RTO software. While the budget is often tight for companies just starting or looking to scale business, you may need to think about more than just price.
You may need to consider how this software will scale with your organization and if it can keep up with the growth you are expecting. It is only natural to see the price tag and make a decision but take a minute to examine how much business this will generate in return.
Thinking of it from the big-picture perspective might help you make a better decision. There is nothing worse than choosing cheap software now only to have to change it later since it could not keep up with your organization’s growth.
Conclusion
In short, the decision-making process can often be long and confusing but keeping these things in mind might help simplify the process. Make sure you do not sacrifice quality for a temporary monetary benefit as it might cost a lot more to change the software