4 Apps to Boost Your Small Business

Let’s face it-more and more business transactions are being done online. Not only that but majority of a business’ potential target market are also online.

These facts being true, there is no doubt that being able to manage the online aspect of your business are something worthwhile. 

Technology is heading in the direction where anything and in the future perhaps everything can be done in from your smart phone. For the businessman who is too busy keeping on top of things, the smart phone may be his one true friend and by choosing the right apps out there, that phone may turn out to be all you’ll ever need.

Here are just four Apps that every entrepreneur and small business owner should consider downloading.

1.    Google Drive

This is Google’s new App that allows you to access your drive from your phone. Not only that but you can also import and edit files from PC to tablet to Smartphone. This software is also a virtual drive app that allows you to store up to 5 GB of data.

User feedback say the App has a great interface and is easy to use. On the other hand, the App lacks features such as ‘swipe file to delete’ and ‘hardpress file to open’ options as well as a preview grid for comment notifications or viewing photos.  In a nutshell, this App is useful and allows you to access your files on the go.

2.    Bump

Since everything is happening in the virtual world, why pull out those business cards? The Bump App that works on Android 2.1 and up is one of the most convenient way of sharing anything you like without having to use Bluetooth. Users can trade contact info, files, photos etc simply by bumping phones together-is that cool or what?

The disadvantage with the App is that it requires excellent internet connectivity (at least 3G or Wifi) to work. In addition connection is not possible if you are on the move. Despite these cons though, Bump is no doubt the most innovative and easiest way to transfer data.

3.    Local Vox

 The purpose of this App is to help local businesses market themselves easily online. Whatever kind of business you have, you will be able to publish news, events, announcements and the like with a single click and send the updates across multiple online channels. 

This all-in-one marketing tool spreads your business on social media sites, directories and email newsletters.

Local Vox is not a free tool and pricing ranges from monthly charges of $349 (doesn’t have the mobile App), $549 (allows the option of dealing on Mobile iphones) or the $699 package that allows both the search cast and mobile cast.

4.    Expensify

How about an App that actually helps you manages finances? Expensify syncs your credit card, bank account directly and logs any expenses. Not only that, the App allows you to scan and upload receipts and reports created.

User reviews on the App point out the problem of the scanned receipts being too zoomed in and the inability for minor changes (renaming) of reports. Other complaints include the hassle in requiring a password confirmation every time you log in and that some features are only accessible on the website.

These are just four of the great Apps that every businessman ought to have on their smart phones. True, there are many factors that will determine the kind of Apps that will work for you such as the nature of your business but generally speaking, these are useful to anyone regardless of the business.

They may not totally remove the ‘human factor’ involved in business but they indeed make life a lot easier and isn’t that what we all want?

Image Credit: joshb