News in the Channel - Issue #6

BACK-OFFICE SOFTWARE

and version control and speed of locating documents for legal and compliance.”

Future trends There are also trends that resellers need to be aware of, which can help them to maximise their sales. In the next 12-18 months. Paul says there are several trends in back-office software to look out for. “I see an increase in the update of software which allows for secure and safe hybrid working,” he says. “For many businesses this is now the normal yet with documents they can be easily lost as users keep local copies and version control and document security is a high risk to all companies of any size. “The time saved using back-office software in this context can give companies a return on investment once it’s installed. Cloud access to data is also on the increase as companies downsize offices therefore saving money on property expenses.” Another trend to be aware of is the implementation of technology based on artificial intelligence (AI), David adds. “AI can analyse financial data, create reports and generate sales and purchase orders that require approval, making it an ideal tool for those tasks,” he says. “AI is already used by many businesses in their operational departments. For instance, in healthcare, AI is used in diagnostic image processes and drug discovery. Similarly, manufacturing companies also use AI for tasks such as predictive maintenance, material forecasting, and robotics. “The marketing department is utilising generative AI for creating content, images and videos. Moreover, all the ad platforms rely on AI for their targeting models. “Overall, back-office software can be a great asset to any business. It is important for resellers to understand the needs of their customers and how they could benefit from such technology. AI has already made its mark in the operational departments of many businesses and is slowly expanding into marketing as well. “With so much potential, it will be interesting to see what trends emerge over the next 12-18 months when it comes to using back-office software solutions. Resellers should stay informed on these developments if they want to provide their customers with an efficient system that meets all of their requirements now and in the future.”

Selling the benefits Paul adds that resellers should approach conversations on back-office software with customers by identifying the benefits of having that software – as not all businesses appreciate the effects that can have on a business. “Often this will be about being more efficient, saving time, being more secure and therefore more responsive to customers,” he says. “However, it’s also important that the software actually works well. It’s not great when someone decides to invest and the software doesn’t work, isn’t compatible or the company investing doesn’t want to invest in any relevant training to educate staff. “For us particularly, we flex our message depending on a customer’s requirements; such as document security and GDPR for HR, AI and processing with workflow for finance,

It’s not great when someone decides to invest and the software doesn’t work, isn’t compatible or the company investing doesn’t want to invest in any relevant training to educate staff. “ ”