3 Things to Consider While You Build Your Software Budget

When it comes to the efficiency of your print shop, you can’t disregard the cost of running your business. Moreover, you can’t disregard just how much money you’re losing in revenue when things don’t work properly.

Thus, you might find yourself in the market for newer, more robust MIS software.

And if that’s the case, you may also find yourself wondering the same question that many of your colleagues have asked before you: How do I put together a budget for new software?

Don’t worry, we know it can feel overwhelming, but we’re here with a few things to keep in mind if you want to simplify the process…

#1 — Assess Your Obstacles

Take a moment to think about the bumps in the road you and/or your employees run into on a regular basis. Once you have a specific list of challenges, stop and ask yourself: Which ones are cutting into your print shop\’s bottom line?

For example, if you’re still taking orders on paper and using those to keep your workflow moving, you might have found that small errors in pen ink can end up costing you more than you expected. Worse, if you lose the paper order, it can cost you an entire business relationship.

In this case, you’d want to look for MIS software that offers you a digital means of receiving, organizing, editing, and tracking your orders (and therefore delighting your customers).

Another example would be your payment options. If your customers are calling and emailing you to pay you for their orders, you might find yourself waiting longer than expected to be hitting your expected revenue — or even putting in the wrong numbers while manually entering their payment information.

If this were the case, you might want to consider software that offers a seamless online payment option.

#2 — Consider Customizable Products

When it comes to custom, the basic rule you’re working with is simple: pay for what you need, and don’t pay for what you don’t.

Thus, when it comes to building your budget, we recommend you start by compiling two lists:

  • A list of what your top software deficiencies are
  • A list of what is already running smoothly and needs no fixing

For example, do you need a customer portal to help streamline your customer relationships? If so, what kind of accessibility do you want your clients to have online? And what would you prefer to keep on the backend and in your hands? These are the questions worth asking now.

This way, you can informatively search for a software package that offers you greater control of the deliverables. After all, your MIS should be tailored to your shop… meaning you shouldn’t pay for more than what you need.

#3 — Reach Forward in the Print Industry

Last but not least, consider how many software solutions you want to pay for. The more you have to integrate, the more you’re likely to pay.

And, in that case, why not go with a customizable software package that offers all of the MIS solutions you need in one place — like with Print Reach?

Whether you’re a small-to-medium print shop or a large print shop, we have a variety of different packages to suit your needs. Not only will you experience state-of-the-art advancements with our team, but we can also…

So, are you ready to reach forward and delight your customers? If so, we’d love to help you learn more and/or schedule a demo! Simply reach out to the Print Reach team today by visiting us online or calling 888-581-3100.

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