Internal-facing software is the software developed and used by your business for internal use only. This means it is not used or accessed by your clients but is critically important to your business operations all the same. Streamlining it, as with other important business operations, is essential.
Patch the Software
If you developed your internal-facing software yourself, you will be responsible for updating it and working out any bugs that might be in the programming. Security updates will be especially important so hackers cannot gain access to sensitive data stored on your internal software. Bugs will cause the program to not work as intended at times and may need to be patched out of the code.
Encourage Feedback
Because internal-facing software is used by your employees, you should always be encouraging feedback from them regarding how well the technology is working. You can even send out occasional surveys asking whether the software in use helps or hinders business operations, what employees like or don’t like about it, and if they have any suggestions for improvement. The information you get from asking these questions can help you streamline the software.
Use Supportive Software Tools
Supportive software tools exist to help you manage any internal software you are using. These include active directory management tools to better map and utilize directories in your business software. This can be for users, photos, links and other aspects of databases that require easy access. They can even be used to generate reports so you can have a clearer picture of the effectiveness of your software.
Have a Dedicated IT Team
If your business is heavily reliant on technology to function and even using software you have developed yourself, you will need to have dedicated IT staff. These professionals will have intimate knowledge of your software needs as a company and be able to troubleshoot problems, recommend solutions and keep your software working at ideal levels. They can also be in charge of developing new internal-facing software to provide solutions for your business.
Replace It If Necessary
Technology marches on very quickly, and so you will eventually need to upgrade or replace any software your business is using, including internal-facing software. If this software is no longer meeting your needs, or causing more issues than it is fixing, you need to consider replacement. You can replace the software you are currently using with commercially available options or develop new programs yourself.
You should always be looking for ways to streamline usage of any software critical to your business operations. Ask questions, determine possible solutions and take decisive action. Your internal-facing software can serve you well if you manage it correctly.
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Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.
