Streamlining aspects of your business can be a great way to help save money, time and other resources. However, it can be difficult to determine where streamlining would be most useful or how to implement more streamlined workflows and processes. One of the areas streamlining can be most effective is in software management. Here are five ways you can streamline your software management.
1. Automate What You Can
Automation tools can be used across all parts of your network, from endpoints to databases. Tools such as Microsoft MDR can be used to monitor your network as a whole, but there are other tools meant to monitor specific programs or systems. Depending on your business and its workflows, you may not be able to automate all repetitive or rote processes, so you should do a thorough review of your systems and workflows. This will help you determine what can be automated and how you should automate.
2. Streamline Communications First
Software management streamlining cannot be implemented successfully without ensuring that internal communication is also streamlined. Look for a software management tool that contains communication technology so all work can be performed within the tool and people can coordinate and review their discussions and records without needing to leave the tool. This ensures that communication is more efficient. You should also introduce guidelines for effective communication outside of the tool, such as when to mark emails as urgent and lists of who to include in email recipient lists.
3. Get Organized
Organization can help not only your personal workspace, but also your company as a whole. You should minimize the number of technological tools your company uses and remove extraneous tools. For example, if you have multiple software management or monitoring tools used across departments, you should choose the most effective tool and use only that one. Retire the others. Choose the tool that has the best user interface and meets your needs in the most efficient, well-organized manner. Make sure documentation related to your software is in an easily accessed, easily navigated location.
4. Standardize As Much As Possible
Standardize everything you can. Clearly and succinctly write and distribute information on your software management strategy, standards and user policy. This will ensure you don't need to handle anything in a vacuum. If there is an issue with your software or your strategy, you will have documentation to refer to for guidance or examples. You should also clearly state how employees should navigate workflows and what your management hierarchy is. People should be aware of their roles on teams and who they report to.
5. Find Ways To Increase Efficiency
Streamlining is, at its core, about increasing efficiency in your workflows and systems. You should gather a team to brainstorm ways to increase your software management's efficiency. Some people find checklists and lists of pros and cons helpful while others may prefer to test products and workflows in real-time. It's important to avoid making streamlining decisions in a vacuum. What makes sense for you may not work for someone else. It may not also make sense to implement something at the organizational level that works for one person. Whether you're attempting to streamline a single tool or an overarching strategy, you need to make sure it will work across your organization.
When you implement a strategy for streamlining your software management, you need to make sure your employees are aware of any changes that will affect them. For most employees, the changes will involve their responsibilities being altered so they have fewer rote and repetitive tasks and more time for creative and strategic work. If employees aren't aware of such changes, then streamlining won't be as successful or helpful.