What to look for when purchasing software

What is the technical support like?

We were shocked to find that some companies do not offer support via the telephone! This is a must, even if you are a computer guru; you will no doubt have some questions during the setup phase of your niche market software. Further, do the hours of the technical support coincide with your availability? If not, is there training available to prevent the need to call? Training is really important, and can help you see results much faster than only reading a manual. Do not settle for email support only.

Upgrades?

When was the last time the software was upgraded, when is the next upgrade scheduled for release? Know the answers to these questions as this will give you a good idea of how interested the company is in keeping their program up to date with the ever-changing needs of our industry. Furthermore, because it is important to always be using the latest version of a program, does the company offer an upgrade plan to keep the costs of upgrading affordable?

Features?

Are there any features you are unsure of, if there are, what are the work-a-round’s offered?D

Integration?

Does the program you are looking at integrate with other aspects of your business, or will it become one more place you have to enter data?