AppDirect, Small Business Web partner
“At AppDirect, we believe that a company’s size should never be a barrier to its success, especially when it comes to technology,” said Daniel Saks, president and co-CEO of AppDirect. “Through our partnership with the Small Business Web, we’re able to help small businesses find, try and buy the best applications for their companies.”
The Directory will allow small businesses to highlight their products and reach other small businesses; it is created in an open API fashion, making it simple to integrate SMB applications and simplifying the functionality for users.
How can a small business pick the best apps for their solutions? Here are AppDirect’s top 3 tips:
First, select apps that meet your needs – not necessarily apps that have high popularity ratings.
“Small businesses should identify their exact pain point and then consider software that addresses it most effectively. Multi-functional applications–such as invoicing software that also does sales forecasting and accounting–can be expensive and complex. Consider a less costly app that solves your main problem, invoicing,” writes the company.
Second, educate, educate, educate – make sure employees and partners know how the app works.
Third, invest in management.
“Using multiple cloud applications can quickly get out of hand, especially if the software comes from multiple vendors. That’s why using a central location–such as an application marketplace–to manage all of your apps is critical. Many application stores offer time-saving functionalities like single sign-on, where users only have to remember one username and password to access all of their applications. Many telecom companies, ISPs, and other providers offer tools like these, with more portals set to come online in the coming months and years,” writes AppDirect.
