When you look for software for your business, you probably have certain goals in mind. For example, you might look for an application that accomplishes the same thing as another app you already have but at a cheaper price. Or, you might be searching for something entirely new. Either way, it's crucial that you make all of your software decisions carefully because it's not just the features that matter.

Some developers never innovate.

If you have a choice to go with software created by developers that continually innovate in the industry, it can pay off later.

Let's say you settle on an application for managing your clients, and a few months later, you realize you also need invoicing software. It would be convenient if the developers of your client management application also produced invoicing software, but they don't. So, you have to find something else, and they probably won't integrate.

On the other hand, if you went with a company that does innovate—like Cetaris—you would have had immediate and automatic integration. All you'd have to do is add the new invoicing app to your existing account, and it would all work together.

The difficulties that come from having disjointed software applications are vast. To maximize efficiency, try to integrate your needs into one platform or at least one company that offers integrations.

Software apps have unique user interfaces.

The user interface matters more than features because people will simply stop using an application with a poor interface. Amazing features don't matter when you can't get your team to use the app.

You can find the most feature-rich, amazing software application that does everything you want and need, but if the user interface is bad, your team will struggle. When your team gets frustrated with an application, they might start using unapproved, underground applications.

It's risky to have employees using their own rogue software solutions because you can't vet the security of those third-party apps if you don't know they're being used. Your team could be uploading sensitive company data to those unapproved apps, risking your company's and client's privacy.

A poor user interface increases the risk of human error, can cause confusion and frustration, slow your team down, and lower productivity levels. On the other hand, a strong user interface supports your team's efficiency without even being noticed.

When searching for applications to run your business, it's crucial to pay close attention to the user interface because if that doesn't hit the mark, you'll struggle to make sure it gets used.

Sometimes, the software is vulnerable.

There are thousands of ways hackers can get into your software and either steal your data, hold it hostage, or destroy it before you can catch on to what's happening. Sometimes, the most popular brands release the most vulnerable applications, like Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter, and even Quora.

It's important to realize that you can't actually trust a piece of software just because it's branded with a well-known company. With that said, some companies do have reputations for being secure. Often, companies have to be hit with a data breach first in order to tighten down on security, but most handle it quickly.

You need to know a developer will fix bugs and other problems as they are reported and release new, stable versions along with essential security patches periodically. No matter how perfect an application is for your business, if it doesn't get updated regularly, it's vulnerable.

If you choose to use vulnerable software, you'll be putting your business at risk. The most common threat to small businesses is ransomware, which happens to be one of the most devastating attacks.

Although they have been on the decline since 2021, 13% of small businesses got hit in 2022 by ransomware, and you can't afford to risk being one of these statistics. If you get hit, you could lose your data, confidential company information, and more, even if you pay the ransom (which is never advised). On top of that, you'll probably have to pay massive regulatory fines that can be tens of thousands of dollars.

Choose your business software wisely.

Now you know more about why it's crucial to research and demo every piece of software you're considering buying for your business. Sometimes, the best software has the worst security, and vice versa. To protect your business from cybersecurity threats and wasted dollars, always do a thorough inspection of the software application and its developers before making your purchase.