There are many different types of enterprise platform solutions on the market today. These platforms can be used to build your online business and help you generate leads, increase sales and boost productivity. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to narrow down your choices and find the right one for your needs.
Thus, here are some key things you should look for when choosing an enterprise platform solution for your online business.
What is an Enterprise Platform?
An enterprise platform is a software solution that allows you to manage your entire business from one location. You can use it to automate tasks, store data and create reports, generate invoices and accept payments.
A good enterprise platform should allow you to connect with customers on all the channels they prefer, like social media, email marketing, etc. It will also enable you to monitor customer behavior in real-time, so you can deliver personalized experiences that meet their needs.
With the help of the Enterprise Platform, businesses of any size, whether newly founded or well-established, can create an effective workflow for managing documents across departments.
You can also securely share data with partners in real time via mobile devices like smartphones and tablets with the help of an enterprise platform like the one here. They help businesses to plan and build the future by fusing human-centered design with forward-thinking engineering.
Furthermore, platforms like these offer full-service corporate system development regarding security, data management, and system functionality testing.
Ease of Use
While you want your digital transformation to be successful, it’s crucial not to overlook the human side of the equation. Your end users should be able to access and use their enterprise platform with ease.
According to Statista, Enterprise Software’s revenue is anticipated to reach USD 126.80 billion in 2022. By 2027, the market is projected to reach a value of USD 178 billion at a 7.02% annual pace (CAGR 2022-2027). With such huge potential and growth, the solutions it provides are remarkable and significant.
The IT team will also have a large stake in ensuring that it is easy for them to manage and maintain this new system. The best way to succeed in this area is through automation tools and pre-built integrations. It allows them swift access to specific areas of the platform without having to copy/paste information from one application into another.
Finally, business users need to be able to easily navigate complex processes. It is because they can focus on their core job functions instead of struggling with clunky software interfaces or outdated user experiences that don’t align with modern consumer expectations.
Flexible Integration
Flexible integration is a key factor to consider when choosing your enterprise platform. Integration with existing systems can be a way to keep costs down, while integration with new systems may be necessary to meet business goals. You need to evaluate whether any existing systems could benefit from being connected or if you have any plans for new applications requiring an integrated system.
Additionally, it’s important to remember that your organization could grow over time and may need additional platforms or third-party applications. If this is the case, you should look for an enterprise platform solution that allows easy integration with other platforms. Also, with cloud services, so as not to limit the future growth capabilities of your company.
Security
Security should be a top concern when you are choosing an enterprise platform. It is for the same reason that the Enterprise Strategy Group’s 2022 Technology Spending Intentions Survey indicates that businesses are prioritizing security.
Supporting it is the fact that 69% are planning to increase their cybersecurity spending in 2022. Therefore, the data stored on the platform, whether customer information or financial data, needs to be secure.
Enterprise platforms should have security features integrated into their core architecture so they can use them as soon as they start using the platform.
Enterprise platforms should also have certifications from security companies like ISO27001 and SOC2, which test for compliance with standards set by these organizations. These certifications show that the company is trying to maintain security standards across all its products and services.
Finally, third-party auditors should conduct regular audits that check for compliance with these certifications at least once every year or two years, depending on your risk tolerance.
Scalability
The ability to scale, or the capacity to grow as your business grows, is critical when choosing an enterprise platform. Scalability is the ability of a system to adaptively increase its resources in response to changing demands. While all platforms offer some level of scalability, the question isn’t whether you can scale but how well you can do so and at what cost.
Scalability is vital as it enables businesses with limited resources to handle more users and data than would otherwise be possible on an individual basis.
Data has always been an essential asset for any organization, so much so that Grand View Research estimated the size of the worldwide enterprise data management market to be USD 82.25 billion in 2021.
Furthermore, it is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 14.0% from 2022 to 2030, which states how solutions by enterprise play a key role in Data management and scalability.
Suppose your company has plans for rapid growth in terms of users or application usage. In that case, scalability will significantly determine which platform offers you the most value overall.
Affordable Pricing
Affordable pricing is one of the most important factors when choosing a platform. The pricing structure should be based on your company’s size, needs, and budget. If you are a startup, remember that discounts may be available for early adopters or first-time users.
Alternatively, suppose you are looking for an enterprise solution for your business that is not yet monetized and, therefore, cannot afford to pay full price. In that case, some platforms also offer free trials. In addition, they also provide money-back guarantees on their software so that they can demonstrate their value proposition before receiving payment.
Finally, don’t forget about payment plans. Many platforms allow you to pay monthly installments if needed. It can help spread out costs over time while avoiding any additional fees or penalties associated with paying upfront in full at once.
Make the Right Choice in Enterprise Platform Solutions
It is not an easy job to find the right enterprise platform solution for your business. There are hundreds of enterprise platforms on the market, each with specific features that can help you achieve your goals. You can use this guide to know whether or not a particular solution is right for your online business. It will help you understand what to look for in an enterprise platform and how to choose the right one based on your needs.