101 ways to make money
using business software
There are loads of money-saving and profit-finding tips here.
We'd like you to see details for how you can profit from software systems' immense power.
See the key below to get started.
Key to symbols
Adding to the bottom line
Savings on labour costs
Savings on administrative costs
Savings on stock levels
Other financial gains
Indirect benefits
Smaller lead times
Better decisions
Increased accuracy
restructuring benefits
1. Designing the workflows and functionality of your system will raise fundamental questions about company strategy, project scope and operational culture. This will align company strategy with business change, producing project and software savings on wasted resources and improving the chances of success
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
2. The design process should visit and consider alternative best practices and approaches for different aspects of the company serving an educational and thought-provoking role. This will help management form better decisions about company operation, providing opportunities to save money and take advantage of opportunities.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
3. The design process will facilitate the formation of a realistic step-by-step plan to implement the system and changes to the organisation’s life. This will save on wasted resources and improve the chances of success.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
4. The design process will naturally direct attention to analysing some aspects of the company and the examination of actual procedures taking place inside the company. Learning about workers’ eye view reality will help management form realistic goals and changes. This will save on wasted resources and improve the chances of success.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
5. The design process usually involves some negotiation between different individuals, teams and departments bringing to the surface internal power lines, operational reality and motivation in workers for improvements. This facilitates management to form better plans saving on wasted resources and improving the chances of success.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
​6. The system design process coupled with executive level business change project strategic decisions will help avoid over-ambitious and fruitless steps for the system implementation project. This will save on wasted resources and improve the chances of success.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
Modelling
1. A system can be built so that it represents a kind of virtual replica of important aspects of the company. This model, coupled maybe with forecasts and preset assumptions enables the company to test different scenarios. Based on the insights provided by the outcome, management can choose the appropriate strategy minimising waste and maximising output.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
2. Designing and operating a model facilitates a clearer understanding of inherent relationships between the variables and their likely outcome. The better understanding of the company can lead to better decisions with strategy and in the everydays of business. This saves money on waste and improves opportunities.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
3. Modelling can also give you insights into timelines. How long will it take to respond and raise the question, what will happen in the meantime? This helps management to choose the appropriate strategy minimising waste and maximising output.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
​4. Assessing the actual results achieved, against the ones predicted by the model, will help provide early warnings of unforeseen problems as well as enabling the project’s success to be measured. It also helps improve the model, if need be, to have an even better tool for the future.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
Change Management
1. The system can support the introduction of new procedures by guiding staff in the new workflows. This saves on training and can reduce the stress of change.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
2. The Change Management process of a new system installation can be aided by incremental implementation of scope and functionality. The costs saved on staff resistance and the stress of change could easily outweigh the added costs of software development and training.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
3. When planning to reform a business, the software project can give clearer guidelines in tasks and deadlines for staff. This makes it more likely that the change will actually take place inside the company, saving on wasted efforts.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
4. Key influencers of staff can be invited to the design process, making it more likely for them to support the installation of new software and change. This saves on wasted efforts.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
5. The new workflows can be guarded by the system, making it harder or impossible for staff to fall back into old habits. This can cement higher efficiency into everyday life saving on costs and increasing output.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
6. Welcoming feedback from key users throughout the implementation can improve the system and will gain their support, saving on staff resistance.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
7. The system can be used to “communicate” objective goals for departments, teams and individuals. Guiding their attention to key metrics can change their attitude and focus, improving efficiency and alignment with company strategy. This can save on costs and increase output.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
8. A system can deliver information between people and departments drawing attention to otherwise overlooked details. This can save on waste and helps spotting opportunities.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
9. Some “messages”, for example feedback on performance, can be delivered by the system. This takes pressure off management who then can place themselves more into a mentoring role. This can save on labour costs and can reduce stress at the workplace.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
10. The design process can be an ideal way to check whether inputs and outputs of different jobs form an elegant flow, with every stage adding value.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
System Related Operational Risks
1. If the developer is no longer available, or the technology is not supported anymore, installing a new system will save on operational costs an unexpected system failure could cause.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
2. If some or all of the business depends on spreadsheets, their technical limitations, and with increasing size their growing obscurity, can be an impediment, costing the company on lost efficiency. Also, you can miss out on a number of standard software modules with some of their natural advantages and best practices.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
3. If the current system has risky data security problems, either inside the company or to the outside world, the new system can save on the losses of data capital.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
4. An integrated system with just one software house could be cheaper to operate than the combined licence fees paid to several vendors of standalone solutions.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
5. An integrated system can save money on permanent data export-import costs.
labour
admin
lead times
decisions
stock
accuracy
other
6. Bandaging the old system can cost more than replacing it with a new system.