Top 10 Services Every Startup Could Make Good Use of in 2023
Let's set the records straight–startups are not as easy to kickstart off the ground but are worth every investment if you start one. At the initial stage, you're bootstrapping, using existing resources such as your personal savings or computing equipment. Like every other business owner looking to maximize profit and reduce loss, you'd want to avoid incurring extra costs for your business to grow.
We're in a digital world, and it is no longer news that emerging startups are now automating their processes. This gives plenty of advantages over competitors that still operate manually. Additionally, the right tools can help your team increase productivity and save more time and resources. At the same time, you concentrate on serving your customers better. If you want to scale your business with the right services in 2023, I'd consider you lucky to have found this piece. Let's dive right in.
Top 10 Services Startups Should consider in 2023
1. Enterprise Resource Planning Software(ERP)
You're asking- what's that, and how does it benefit my startup? An ERP system contains software components known as modules. Each module focuses on an essential business function that helps automate processes and lets you run your business's different aspects from a central database. From production to supply chain, procurement, HR, finance, or even customer relationship management (CRM). The idea is to have your entire business's data stored and managed in a single hub.
ERP tools for startups are typically in the cloud and easy to use. All you need do is use the particular modules you need to run your business and get deeper insights, boost productivity, and lower risks for your business. As a startup with the customer's interest at heart, an SAP e-commerce solution is an ERP service that helps you innovate, satisfy your customers, and boost profits. Other popular ERP solutions for startups include– SYSPRO ERP, Oracle Netsuite ERP, and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
2. Applicant Tracking system for HRs
Hiring and finding a good fit for your startup could be a long process or a pain in the butt if you don't know how best to do it. If you want to save more time for yourself and your prospects when hiring, you need an ATS.
What is an applicant tracking system for HRs?, I hear you ask? Simply put, it’s a software application that helps companies structure and organize their hiring process.
Utilizing an applicant tracking system for your startup can help you save time, cut costs and hire suitable candidates. ATS allows businesses to collect information, organize prospects according to their experience and skill set, and filter applicants. With the automated mail feature, you can schedule interviews with candidates who can choose a time that works for them. Fantastic, right?
ATS reduces time-to-fill. It is beneficial for companies finding it hard to manage a large pool of applicants' workload. This is because the streamlined process is very much effective. Some ATS software you may want to utilize include–recruitee, breezy HR, Gohire, and workable.
3. Social media management services
For any startup in 2023, a robust online presence is vital. The proper management of your social media pages is also critical. Don't be a startup founder that does not care about the online presence of your business. Hence, you'd be hurting your business. Think of it this way–who owns a business and doesn't want to be patronized? Absolutely no one!
With tools such as buffer, social pilot, or Hootsuite, advertising your business on social media cannot get any easier. They are social media marketing and management tools that allow users to monitor and respond to activities across several social media platforms simultaneously. This means you can host and manage your LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram business pages directly with the tools.
You'd also monitor analytics on new engagements, follows, and clicks. However, do not spend excessive time on your social media. Ensure to reduce your screen time while you improve your productivity. If you find it challenging to keep up with posts across all your social media accounts, that's the solution. Social media management tools consolidate your marketing efforts into a single location.
4. Accounting Services
Utilizing accounting software can help your startup a great deal. It enables you to keep track of day-to-day expenses and income. At the same time, you also clearly understand both profit and losses incurred in the business. With this service, you can also create and send invoices, manage assets, accounts payable, and accounts receivable, and generate various financial statements, including balance sheets, or statements of stakeholders' equity.
What's more? You do not need to be a financial expert to use them. They are available to save you more time while you focus on growing your business. Some examples of accounting software you can try are–Quickbooks, wave, Freshbooks, stripe, gusto or Xero.
5. Communication Software
Communication is as vital as anything in an organization. We are in an era where every bit of information is at the tip of our fingers. The most effective communication software is easy to use, help to get your message across quickly, and only needs some technicalities to operate. It's easier for your team to stay in touch all day while you keep the conversations out of your inbox..
To enjoy a hassle-free communication experience with your team, you need to get one that fits your team and your budget. Furthermore, some of the best internal communication tools allow you to also integrate other tools your startup uses, such as Gmail, google drive, and other software tools. It also allows for file sharing. Slack, Flock, connect team, troop messenger and Microsoft teams are some communication services you may want to try.
6. Project Management Services
Keeping up to date with the activities for your brand takes a lot of work. Moreso, getting so much done for your business can also be overwhelming. For you to achieve more in your business, proper management is vital. Every organization needs to take planning seriously. You don't want to be that unorganized team lead that rumbles all the activities and tasks across the startup. When it comes to business, there are many tasks and activities to actualize.
As your business progresses, you need project management tools to help you keep track of the activities; hence, you'd need help. Project management tools come in handy. They help to organize all your projects in quite accessible locations. They also provide you the details of the project and the progress recorded on it. What's more? You can also assign tasks to employees and monitor how they're going.
Managing deadlines becomes seamless as teammates communicate the projects at hand from time to time. This would not only help to achieve tasks faster and would drive innovation and growth. You can try out tools like Trello, Asana, Wrike, or basecamp.
7. Design Software
As part of your marketing strategies, designs are phenomenal. Designs often distinguish your brand from another, from website design to a logo, brand name, and brand colors. Your design often depicts to your clients what your offerings are. Sometimes, you may need some designs on your social media pages. How do you do all of these without breaking the bank? Design software is it!
For your logo, you can bank on tools like canva and brandCrowd. You could customize the colors, layout, fonts, and more. Up next, you'd download and start sharing. As easy as that! Most design tools also have several social media design templates you can customize. You can also tweak ready-made templates to pass and maintain a consistent brand message.
Furthermore, tools like Squarespace and WordPress can help build an excellent business website without coding knowledge. Another design tool is the web flow Designer, which could be used to create completely custom databases for any type of website. It's fast, reliable, and can help scale your business.
8. Customer Relationship Management Software(CRM)
CRM tools can keep track of your engagements and communications with your customers at any time. You can maintain your customer records, send out emails, and more. Your customers are the soul of your business. They are the driving force, so you need to manage them well. When you manage them well, retaining them won't be a hassle, and you'd also be able to attract more referrals and leads.
CRM tools also allow you to shout out to your clients on their special days while splitting the time between acquiring new clients and maintaining existing ones. To get the most use of CRM tools, try pipe driver, copper, salesforce, zoho, or sage.
9. Contract Management Software
Creating, negotiating, and managing contracts is an integral part of a startup. You'd often need to onboard newer clients or employees, and a good contract management tool can help you save more time to automate the contract signing process. For contract management software, use HelloSign, DocuSign, PandaDoc, or ContractWorks. The software enables you to draft, sign, and manage documents once they're completed.
10. Email Marketing Software
Email marketing tools can help you run your email and SMS campaigns from one dashboard. You won't rely on third-party tools to automate and send emails and text messages. You can also keep your audience up to date with your offers and services. The newsletter feature is another benefit of email marketing software. If you want to scale your startup, here is an effective and affordable tool. Try out sender, Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign.
Let’s wrap things up. There you have it. The 10 top tools to launch your startup idea in 2023. You could start utilizing these services almost immediately. It is also important to note that there are many other excellent services that can help you grow your startup. However, the above services are good enough to get you started while you discover other great tools. You are sure to have an impressive startup experience.