Purchasing Resources for Planning And Scheduling Software

Planning and Scheduling Software

Find affordable, functional software to keep your business on track
By Toni Klym McLellan, Freelance Writer & Editor Toni Writes As businesses grow, they also outgrow desktop calendars and dry-erase boards. This is particularly true if you or your staff frequently work off site. Whether you need to touch base occasionally or frequently, good planning and scheduling software centralizes the "where" and "when" components of doing business.

Good planning and scheduling software enables you to:

1. Plan and forecast business developments and growth
2. Schedule appointments for yourself and staff
3. Set calendar reminders of important appointments and events
4. Coordinate multiple schedules among employees

 

For entrepreneurs with or without employees

A few simple programs can run almost your entire business.
Try: ACT! Contact management software (available for single users or corporate workgroups) and e-mail and calendar tool Microsoft Outlook remain the juggernauts of small business planning and scheduling. Check out SJR Productions' ACT! Add-on Store, featuring an advanced scheduling system add-on to the software. The GroupReady Web site offers a free trial of its office-wide time management and scheduling software.

Industry-specific software

Get your particular needs met with software designed for your niche.
Try: Landscaping businesses use Gopher billing and scheduling software. Construction companies use VirtualBoss. Businesses that frequently schedule customer appointments will value Web-based AppointmentQuest scheduling software. Or search through software by industry on the DMOZ site.

Read reviews and decide where to shop

There's ample help finding reputable, user-friendly products through unbiased product reviews. Once you've settled upon the best product for your company, do a price comparison and choose a retailer with fast shipping and a solid return policy.
Try: See reviews from PC Magazine. When you're ready to buy, search Yahoo! Shopping for either planning or scheduling software and find price comparisons and reviews of retailers. Major retailers such as CompUSA, OfficeMax, and Best Buy sell software both online and brick-and-mortar style.

• Talk to colleagues and competitors to learn what software works for them and ask for recommended retailers.
• Many retailers offer sales tied to specific events like "back to school," Father's Day, or holiday giving; check fliers for deals around these times.
• If the software you like best lacks a key feature, such as the ability to download to your PDA, call the manufacturer and ask if any software "plug-ins" or downloads exist.
• Check manufacturers' Web sites for coupons and special discounts.
• Sign up for email updates from your software company to keep abreast of upgrades and special offers sent only to existing customers.
• Ask retailers if they'll match or beat competitors' pricing or honor their coupons.