Technology has changed the way our world works. Laptops used to be scarce, and had far less features than today, and came in limited design options. Phones were for calls alone and did not have touchscreens.
In the past few decades, certain things that were once a luxury have become a daily need. Even children have access to mobile tech. Not only is there higher accessibility for these devices—in price, brand, and type—but they also bring better specs. You also see many of the companies joining some of the top startup accelerators addressing those segments.
A great addition to the tech world has been the applications that are offered. Applications facilitate communication, encourage relaxation, and create community. With 669,000 apps on the Microsoft store, 2.96 million in the Google Play store, and 2.2 million in the Apple App store, there is an app for everything.
While apps vary from picture edition and candy crushing to social networks, there are many application options for entrepreneurs. An app is entrepreneur-friendly when it helps the user remain organized and efficient without taking too much of their time.
If you have been looking for the perfect app to maximize your work efficiency, look no further. Here is a list of four apps perfect for entrepreneurial use.
1. Slack
A great communications app with a simple interface, Slack has been helping office teams connect since 2013. Originally a tool for Tiny Speck, a game design company, Slack offers users multiple chat rooms organized by topic, private groups, direct messaging, and other communication options.
Depending on the features you are looking for, Slack offers four pricing options.
- The free section offers 10,000 messages at a time, 1:1 voice and video calls, and 10 integrations with other apps for a small team.
- For $6.67 a month, the Standard option offers small and medium-sized businesses complete message history, unlimited integrations, the same call options with up to 15 teammates, and secure collaboration with outside organizations.
- For $5.83 more, the Plus option allows large businesses or endeavors with greater administrative needs the same features of the Standard packet plus advanced identity management and other extra features that are also included in the Enterprise Grid packet.
Slack is a perfect app for teams of any size who need quick communication. Plus, it lets you send gifs and emojis.
2. QuickBooks
A well-known app among accountants, the QuickBooks software helps small and medium-sized businesses track their financial health. Developed by American software company Intuit Inc., QuickBooks is available for every device.
The dashboard links the user to all their bank and credit card accounts (in addition to PayPal, Square, and other virtual accounts) allowing them to view how their business is doing with a simple look. QuickBooks lets you send customized invoices and allows customers to pay directly. Its user-friendly phone app gives you an easy way to track expenses and record receipts, while the software automatically sorts everything into a tax category. In addition to tracking income and expenses, the app sorts these out for you, together with the tags you create for every factor coming in or going out.
Though it offers five different price packages—including one for freelancers—all QuickBooks plans include receipt capture, strong customer support, and app integration. Besides their many features, QuickBooks offers free, live webinars for users with questions, no matter how long they have used the app for.
3. Trello
A well-known productivity app based in New York City, Trello offers entrepreneurs a Kanban board-like platform to organize their tasks in a collaborative way. It is the perfect to-do list software for entrepreneurs. Back in 2011, the software earned Wired’s title of “7 Coolest Startups You Haven’t Heard of Yet.” By 2014 it had raised $10.3 million in funding and was sold to developer Atlassian for $425 million by 2017.
Trello allows users to create task boards and divide them into specific columns. Each column can be filled with cards that designate a specific job. The task cards can be moved around from column to column, allowing users to delegate work and mark completed assignments. Any participant can attach documents and links, add comments, due dates, and other features to each card.
Thanks to Trello’s acquisition of Butler in 2018, users have access to automated help. Butler offers rule-based triggers, custom card and board buttons, calendar commands, and due date commands.
The best part about Trello? It is completely free. But if you are hoping for better features, Trello Business Class includes app integrations, increased file attachment size, other Butler automation tools, and additional security features for only $9.99 per user per month.
The Trello Enterprise packet offers everything the previous packet has, plus single sign-on access and additional security features. Its cost varies based on the number of users in the team.
4. Salesforce.com
Based in San Francisco, California, Salesforce provides its users with one of the best customer relationship management (CRM) software in the world. No matter the market-sales, IT, service, or marketing—Salesforce facilitates the resources every team needs to work better. It helps entrepreneurs of both small and big businesses connect directly with their customers no matter where they are. All the customer information is channeled into one integrated platform where the user can track and manage it.
With its 15+ solution packets, the integrated CRM allows all teams to connect and gives them accessibility to Salesforce’s connected apps. Users can create relevant, digital marketing strategies, track their sales, launch, and scale eCommerce, and provide great customer service. Some of their most renowned users include fashion company Brunello Cuccinelli, BBVA, T-Mobile, Unilever, and Transamerica Financial Network.
Salesforce is available online and its mobile app is just as user-friendly. The pricing depends on the solution you choose for your team.
Any one of these four applications can help you take full advantage of your team’s ability. Use them to teach your team better and clear communication skills, for task delegation, tracking of your venture’s growth, and time management.
