Using Older Business Management Software is Not The Best Idea: Here’s Why

 

It's easy to become attached to your aging business software. You know how it works, what it helps you find, and those screens are so familiar and comfortable in an ever-changing world. As much as you love what's in place, the day will come when you need to invest in new business management software. Will you resist? If so, these are some things you must face about your aging software.

 

Updates Can Only Accomplish So Much

 

It’s true that you get regular updates on several software programs. That’s great, but they can can only do so much. Underneath those updates, it’s still the same basic package that you purchased years ago.

 

Think of it as being the digital equivalent of patching an old pair of jeans. The patches allow you to get more use, but they can’t hide the fact that the jeans are no longer appropriate for certain occasions. Since you will need to make a change eventually, why not start checking out newer software before adding one more patch causes the entire program to fail?

 

Newer Software is Often More User-Friendly

 

There will be a learning curve with the new software. What you may not realize is that it won’t be a difficult as you may think. Don’t be surprised if the new product is actually easier to use than the old one.

 

This often happens when software designers pay close attention to what customers say about past products. The result is that a task that used to take three or four clicks or swipes now takes two. Once you get used to the new process, going back to the old one will be out of the question.

 

Consider the case of appointment booking software that allows clients to select dates and times, and receive confirmations that the appointments are locked in. Newer software may confirm appointments in real time while adding them to the day’s schedule. Even if a client needs to reschedule an appointment, the process remains simple. Best of all, everything updates on your end so there is less potential for scheduling conflicts.

 

It’s Also More Feature-Rich

 

Newer software will likely have features that are not found in older versions. This is particularly helpful if you’re managing something manually because the current software lacks the capability. You’ll find that the new software still does everything you’re used to having in place. Adding in new features allow you to manage tasks with greater ease. Think of what that will do in terms of keeping things organized.

 

Which Allows Your Employees to be More Productive

 

The combination of easier operation and being able to do more with the newer program is good for your employees. They can accomplish more in less time. It’s easier to assist clients quickly, find information needed for a report or project, and in general manage assigned tasks with less difficulty. That leads to getting more done each work day, something that ultimately benefits you,your team, and your customers.

 

Support For Your Older Versions Won’t Last Forever

 

Whether you like it or not, the day is coming when the manufacturer will no longer offer customer support to those older programs. At that point, you're left to troubleshoot on your own. Even if you know the software like the back of your hand, can you really handle any issue that may arise? In most cases, the answer is no.

 

What would you do if an issue arose and there was no longer support for your old software? Remember that it's not just an issue for you and your staff. Some issues may also affect your customers who have been long-term Mindbody clients. Do you really want to inconvenience the people who keep the revenue stream going? If not, don’t hang on to the older software when you know the support is ending soon.

 

Decreasing Support Translates to More Security Risks

 

No more support means more than potential operational issues. It also means that the data stored in those programs is at a greater risk. We live in an age when hackers are looking for any way to get hold of proprietary data and use it for their own means. Just as older versions of security software may have vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit, the same is true for your business management software. Newer versions simply have more protections and ongoing support ensures that those protections only get better.

 

Still not convinced? Talk with a business owner who kept putting off investing in new software. Ask about what challenges came about as the result of that decision. When you hear more about how aging software can adversely affect operations, company security, and even customer satisfaction, it’ll be easier to understand why new software is one of the most practical investments that you can make.