Websites, marketing automation, and CRM systems. Document management and collaboration systems. ERP and accounting systems. With so many different kinds of applications designed to streamline business systems, it can be difficult to select the right technology for your specific needs. All these business-focused applications can perform a number of roles and be customised to suit your individual requirements.
The Detail Department only recommends Apps that are right for your business aims. We want to seek out and implement the Apps that will move your business forward as a platform to help you grow. These are some of our favourite Apps.
Google Apps
The Google platform for business includes Email, Calendar, Docs and Spreadsheets, Sites, and many other Apps that can be integrated into your business. Google Apps runs on your domain, and everything is cloud hosted – no more running email servers in the back of your offices.
CRM Apps
Apart from Salesforce, the CRM Apps that we love working with are Nimble, One Page CRM, Highrise, and BatchBook. Other CRM apps that we have worked with include Zoho CRM, Capsule CRM, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. No matter what size of business you are, there is a CRM tool that is right for you.
Survey and Form Apps
Surveys and forms are crucial for many businesses. We use Survey Gizmo or specific Salesforce Apps like Form Assembly and Clicktools. For large enterprise-level surveys we use Qualtrics.
Reporting Apps
Reporting has come a long way since the days where our only tool for reporting was Excel. Now you can have a live dashboard of all your key business data using a product like Klipfolio – and you can even see your dashboard on your iPad.
Web Platform Apps
Apart from WordPress, there are a number of other website platform Apps we can recommend. While we do recommend WordPress there is definitely a place for Drupal, or even a full business-in-a-box App like Business Catalyst.
For e-Commerce applications we recommend Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.
Development and Testing Apps
Web application testing is sometimes difficult, but tools like Selenium help automate the testing.
Microsoft Apps
Microsoft CRM
Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a very powerful full-featured CRM, and while we don’t work with it, we can advise you if it is right for your business and set you up with a great team to help you implement it.
SharePoint
We work with SharePoint but will always ask: “Why? What do you want SharePoint to do for you?” If the answer is “everything,” then we are not the right business to help you. SharePoint is not the answer to every problem for every business and is great at what it does, but it does have its place.
Excel and Word
Good ol’ reliable Excel. The amount of businesses that run core business applications from Excel is staggering. While our mission at The Detail Department is to get you into Apps that can be integrated with the rest of your business, there is still a place for Excel.
Word is so underutlised in businesses. There is so much it can do, and by integrating it into other Apps you can produce fantastic client communications.
SQL Server
A database is at the heart of every custom application. Even if you just need some help getting some simple queries or reporting out of your database, we can help. For complex Business Intelligence or SQL Server optimisation we can put you in touch with the right people to help.
Custom Development
At The Detail Department we work with developers that can build a fully customised App for your business. We will do the full specification, project management, testing and training for the App.